Grant Thornton launches an Asian Desk in the Netherlands

Grant Thornton has expanded its strategic focus on Asian clients in the Netherlands with the launch of an Asian Desk.

The global accounting and advisory firm already had a China Desk in the country, and with the hire of experienced professional Christina Cheng the focus has now been extended to cover the entire Asia region.

The move sees the Dutch wing of Grant Thornton follow in the footsteps of many other members firms, including the US, the UK and Germany, who all have dedicated teams aimed at serving multinationals with Asian roots. The firm’s Asian Desk helps companies with the full range of business challenges they may face when operating in or doing business in the Netherlands.

The Desk helps clients with, among others, setting up in the Netherlands, dealing with taxation, investment support, transfer pricing with other company entities, as well as advice on strategy, operations, finance, acquisitions and more. Unique to the Desk is that services are overseen by Asian-origin experts, ensuring that the different business cultures between the respective nations are bridged. 

The new Dutch Asian Desk is led by Christina Cheng, who joined the firm from Deloitte, where she spent the past sixteen years in its Tax / Transfer Pricing team. She specialises in international taxation and inbound investment projects from Asia to the Netherlands, and topics such as transfer pricing audit and compliance, and tax dispute resolution. 

“We are very pleased with her arrival,” said Jacob Mook, Head of Tax at Grant Thornton Netherlands, “because her expertise provides us the opportunity to expand the service field of the former Dutch China Desk into the new Dutch Asian Desk.”

Commenting on her new role, Cheng said: “Grant Thornton gives me the opportunity to explore and develop service offering strategy to Asia originated multinationals. Grant Thornton works closely with its Asian clients and goes extra miles in terms of understanding corporate culture. It gives me confidence that we can make it happen together.”

For growth-hungry Asian corporates, the Netherlands is an important market for consideration within Europe. While a relatively small country (population of 17 million), the Netherlands is for many a gateway to the continent, with an advanced economy, a mature physical and digital infrastructure, an appealing fiscal climate, and a good multi-lingual talent base.