Sia Partners acquires Irish consulting firm Pathfinder

Irish origin management consultancy Pathfinder has been bought up by Sia Partners. The news sees Sia Partners look to strengthen its presence in Dublin and Edinburgh, while both firms aim in the long-term to become the biggest independent consulting firm in Ireland.

Global consulting firm Sia Partners has over 1,500 consultants across 16 countries. Commanding an annual turnover of €260 million, recent years have seen the firm working hard to expand its presence in Europe’s largest consulting market – the UK. Following a number of acquisitions and the launch of its own startup and incubator investment arm, the firm now boasts a strong presence in Britain.

At the end of 2019, Sia Partners moved into a new office in London in preparation for a period of strong demand from financial services, growth and innovation, and transformation clients. Boasting excellent views of the capital’s skyline, the new Bartholomew Close premises also features a number of well-being spaces, a bar and even an outdoor patio area.

Now, as the firm looks to build on its strong momentum, Sia Partners has further strengthened its presence across the UK and Ireland by acquiring consultancy Pathfinder. The move underpins the firms’ joint ambition to become the largest independent consulting firm in Ireland, while notably bolstering Sia Partners’ presence in Scotland – especially in the banking, insurance, utilities and energy sector.

Matthieu Courtecuisse, CEO of Sia Partners said, “We already have a world class client list, which we’re excited to expand with Pathfinder’s client base in Ireland and Scotland, now with the added ability to service their global ambitions. This acquisition brings us a step closer to our US Tech clients headquartered in Dublin and will enable us to grow our presence in the Life Insurance and Banking sectors in Ireland. 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-1 independent consulting firm.”

Pathfinder was founded in 2005, looking to build a new consulting model which provided a more sustainable return on investments to its investors, clients and staff. Pathfinder subsequently came to embody both the intellectual capability and professionalism of consulting firms with the experience, speed and flexibility of dedicated specialists. With around 40 staff in Dublin and 10 in Edinburgh, the firm’s Managing Partners Mike McKay and Gary O’Sullivan will now join Sia Partners’ management team, under the leadership of Irene Molodtsov, CEO UK & Ireland.

O’Sullivan commented, “This operation is a natural fit for two independent consulting firms that share common entrepreneurial values. Joining Sia Partners means being part of a global network of expertise and resources, which will enhance our capabilities with our existing clients, broaden our new business prospects and opportunities for our employees. In parallel with the acquisition process, we have already started working with our colleagues at Sia Partners on client engagements and we’re looking forward to what the future holds.”