BrazilSia Partners expands in Ireland and Scotland with Pathfinder deal
French origin consulting firm Sia Partners has expanded its footprint in the UK & Ireland with the acquisition of Pathfinder, a consultancy with 50 consultants in Dublin and Edinburgh.
The move is the Sia Partners’ fourth deal in the UK & Ireland since launching in the region, as part of its strategy to claim a leading position in Europe’s second-largest largest consulting market after the German-speaking region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. After purchasing Molten in 2016, two years later Sia Partners also bolted-on the boutique consultancies Inzenka and SKT Consulting.
The Pathfinder acquisition – the firm’s tenth worldwide since 2015 – adds a team of 40 consultants in Ireland (Dublin) and 10 in Scotland (Edinburgh). They specialise in business transformation and change management services, with a focus on clients in banking, insurance, life sciences, utilities, transport, agri food and retail.
Pathfinder was founded in 2006 by Managing Partners Mike McKay (ex-Deloitte) and Gary O’Sullivan, and as part of the integration, they will join the management team of Sia Partners for the UK & Ireland. “This deal underpins our joint ambitions to become the largest independent consulting firm in Ireland, and also strengthens our presence in Scotland,” said Irene Molodtsov, CEO UK & Ireland of Sia Partners.
Commenting on the joining of forces, O’Sullivan said that the added scale brought by Pathfinder will enable the firm to better serve its clients. “Joining Sia Partners means being part of a global network of expertise and resources, which will enhance our capabilities with our existing clients.” Meanwhile, it will “provide opportunities for our employees,” he added.
Globally, Sia Partners has over 1,650 consultants in 17 countries, generating annual revenues of around €265 million. The firm’s founder and CEO Matthieu Courtecuisse said: “This acquisition is testament to our global growth strategy and ambitions. Our strong position in the UK and in Ireland means we are better placed to help our clients navigate Brexit successfully and brings us a step closer to becoming a leading tier-one consulting firm.”
