Boston-based financial consulting services firm CRA International recently made consultant staff reductions, saw the end of selected practices, and closed offices. Along the way, Paul Maleh was promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer.

In his new role, Maleh will be responsible for all areas of the company’s global consulting operations and the administrative functions of marketing, business development and human resources, including recruiting.

Maleh joined CRA in 1989 and has led the Finance Practice since 2000.

The company plans to reduce its consulting staff by approximately 75, to exit the Capital Projects and Legal Business Consulting practices, and close offices in Austin and Dallas, Texas, and Melbourne, Australia. It will reduce its office space in Houston. Activities related to the Melbourne office will now be served by CRA’s Hong Kong office.

These actions are expected to generate savings of approximately $11.5 million, the company said. As a result of the changes, the company plans to take a fourth-quarter restructuring charge of approximately $4 million to $5 million.