The American Institute of CPAs has hired Lakecia Foster Stickney as director of congressional and political affairs. She is responsible for representing the AICPA before Congress, the Administration and other major public policy organizations, and for implementing advocacy initiatives of the accounting profession.

Jim McGinnis, a former Intuit executive, has joined the Tax and Accounting division of Wolters Kluwer. McGinnis takes on the job of EVP and GM of the medium and large segment for the business unit. He will report to the tax and accounting group's CEO Jason Marx.

Grant Thornton has named Karen Hudson as chief sales officer. Hudson will lead the firm's sales enablement center of excellence and oversee the business development team. Based in Minneapolis, Minn., she reports to Nichole Jordan, national managing partner of markets, clients and industry.

Xero, the New Zealand-based cloud software vendor, has had turnover in key positions in sales and marketing in the United States this year. Most recently, Paul Miller, Xero's chief marketing officer for the Americas, left in August while Greg Volm,VP of sales for the U.S, took a new job in April.