Forvis Mazars announces global CEO and chair appointments

23 December 2024 Consultancy.uk

International audit, tax and advisory services partnership Forvis Mazars Group has reshuffled its global leadership structure. Hervé Hélias will now serve as chair, while Pascal Jauffret steps into the role of CEO.

At the start of 2024, it was announced that international network Mazars was set to join forces with US player Forvis. The deal created Forvis Mazars – a firm with a combined $4.7 billion in global revenues, becoming the world’s ninth largest audit and advisory network standings, ahead of Baker Tilly and behind Crowe based on current take.

As Forvis Mazars looks to forge ahead, it has announced a new “evolved” governance model, which aims to enhance business operations. Consisting of a Group Governing Board (GGB) and a Group Executive Committee (GEC), the firm will now have two distinct heads.

Hervé Hélias will serve as chair, and will lead the GGB in governance, strategy setting, and oversight. Hélias, who joined Mazars in 1986, has been the company’s CEO since 2016, after serving in various leadership roles, including managing partner in France and co-CEO of the group. He also led the firm’s former Group Executive Board since 2018.

Hélias commented, “Stewardship is one of our core values and, as we have grown and strengthened our business, we have decided to evolve our governance framework. This will allow us to continue to grow our partnership as a distinctive and resilient force in the markets and societies in which we work and live.”

Pascal Jauffret, meanwhile, will serve as CEO, and head the GEC, focusing on leadership, execution of decisions, and day-to-day strategy delivery and implementation. Having joined the company in 1997, he has since taken on several key roles, such as managing partner of Italy and head of M&A – and was also on the Group Executive Board since 2019.

Jauffret added, “I have worked with Hervé for over 25 years. I am truly honoured to have been elected to this new role by the partnership and look forward to driving our strategy forward, sparking long-term growth and success in those business areas where we seek to excel and provide a bright future to our people.”

The international realignment also follows key appointments in Forvis Mazar’s national wings. Earlier in the autumn, Forvis Mazars appointed James Gilbey as its new UK CEO.