St. Louis Native to Lead Accounting Giant Ernst & Young.

Byline: Heather Price

May 12--A St. Louis native is set to take on the top job at the world's second-largest accounting firm. Jim Turley will succeed Philip Laskawy as chairman and chief executive of Ernst & Young. Laskawy is slated to retire in July 2001.

Turley, 44, is currently an area managing partner, heading the practice's business in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. In his 23 years with the company, he's handled big name clients such as American Express, publisher McGraw-Hill Cos. and retailer Target.

Turley was a member of Ernst & Young's Global Executive Board, and on July 1, he becomes deputy chairman of Ernst & Young LLP. He'll spend …