The Advanced Group, a professional staffing, consulting, and outsourcing company headquartered in Chicago, named CFO Jim Johnson as chief operating officer. Johnson will be responsible for the company’s staffing business units across the US, as well as the organization’s shared services functions. The COO position is a new role within the firm.

Johnson joined Advanced in 2002 as CFO. He will continue to serve as the firm’s CFO, in addition to his new COO role.

Advanced Group ranks on Staffing Industry Analysts’ list of fastest-growing staffing firms, with a compound annual growth rate of 31.1% and $99.5 million in 2014 US staffing revenue.

“Jim has built an impressive track record of strategic and operational accomplishments at Advanced,” said CEO Leo Sheridan. “He is a successful and trusted leader who brings to this position a strong reputation for developing people and inspiring teams. His wealth of knowledge about our industry will be a valuable asset as we continue to accelerate growth and nurture our culture. Jim embodies the deep bench strength that we have developed at Advanced, and I could not be more pleased about his appointment to this critical role at this important time.”

Johnson began his career with Arthur Andersen in 1989. He Left Andersen as a senior manager in its Enterprise Group and joined Starbelly.com, which was subsequently acquired by HALO Branded Solutions.