Improven buys Search & Interim practice of Grant Thornton

Dutch management consultancy Improven has acquired the domestic Search & Interim practice of Grant Thornton, in a move that extend the firm’s service portfolio into new terrain.

Utrecht-based Improven already had a strong presence in het consulting market, focused on advising its clients on topics at the cross-section of finance, risk management and digital transformation. The firm also has a young professionals arm, which has been a success story since its launched just two years ago. Today, Improven has around 20 young professionals that take part in its two-year traineeship programme.

According to Jan Bosman, the Managing Partner of Improven, the consultancy was sitting on expansion plans for a while. “We were increasingly being asked by clients for support on the executive front, both in terms of interim as well as fixed placements,” he said.

Earlier this year, the firm embarked on a search for a potential partner, which it pushed through despite the corona crisis – “in spite of the challenging market we are performing well”, said Bosman. “From the very start we focused our targets on firms that are active in the top of the market, who hold quality in high esteem. Many of clients are CFOs and CIOs, and so we looked mainly at players in the executive segment.” 

The process led the consultancy to the Search & Interim practice of Grant Thornton, a familiar name for the firm. The two companies had worked together on a number of occasions in the past, with Improven sourcing in recruitment expertise for its clients, and vice versa, providing consultants to relations of the accounting firm.

Following top-level negotiations, early September the deal was signed, and formally announced this morning. “This will significantly strengthen our market position and service portfolio,” said Bosman. “We expect that the joining of forces will also provide us with new opportunities, fuelling further growth.”

Commenting on joining the now 100-strong Improven, Jan Sinoo, Head of Search & Interim practice, said: “Our search assignments often fit within a broader transformation agenda. In Improven we have found a partner who complements our expertise with consulting, project-based chnage and execution power.”