Acquisition of CPI strengthens Grant Thorntons ambition and position in the financial services market
Consultancy firm specialising in Risk Management, Finance, Governance and Compliance & Integrity creates a boost to Grant Thornton’s Financial Services practice.
Alphen aan den Rijn, 30 March 2026 – Accountancy and advisory firm Grant Thornton Netherlands (Grant Thornton) has acquired the Hilversum-based consultancy firm CPI Governance B.V., thereby strengthening its position in the Financial Services market. Grant Thornton is expanding its presence in this sector, and CPI’s expertise and approach in Risk Management, Finance, Governance and Compliance & Integrity will enhance and broaden the service offering. CPI will continue as ‘CPI, a Grant Thornton Netherlands company’ in the Specialist Advisory practice and, as the Financial Services industry group, will report directly to the Board of Directors.
Growth in Financial Services
Marcel Blöte, CEO of Grant Thornton Netherlands: “We have been crystal clear about Grant Thornton’s growth ambitions. One of our key growth markets is the financial sector.” In 2025, Grant Thornton set up a dedicated Financial Services team and actively expanded its service offering in this market. The organisation positions itself as ‘refreshingly different’: an accessible and pragmatic partner that swiftly responds to the challenges faced by financial institutions today, from increased rules and regulations to technological innovation. “Our existing expertise and experience in audit and assurance provide a solid growth foundation. The Digital and Business Risk teams in our Specialist Advisory practice will benefit from a powerful catalyst. We have found the perfect match in CPI. They have a robust and proven network, as well as the relevant expertise,” says Marcel Blöte.
CPI as a powerful catalyst
For Grant Thornton, the addition of CPI serves as a strong catalyst. For two decades, CPI has been driving strategic acceleration based on the ‘Power of Real’: genuine attention to the people who must spearhead the change. This commitment is underpinned by a cohesive team of over 500 experienced consultants. Their experience on both sides of the boardroom table enables them to seamlessly translate complex theories into daily practice with remarkable efficiency.
Gert Jan Kroese, Managing Partner at CPI and soon to be Industry Lead for Financial Services: “The move to Grant Thornton feels very natural to us as we share the same values: people-focused, entrepreneurial and driven to make a real and lasting impact. By joining forces, we create a proposition that offers clients immediate benefits: pragmatic expertise, international clout and an effective approach. The CPI team and I are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to help even more organisations move forward together.”
Simone Heidema, founder of CPI: “When I founded CPI twenty years ago, my goal was clear: to break away from traditional consultancy by making sure that people are once again the focal point. We built a community based on values, freedom and genuine connection. This philosophy is the ‘Power of Real’ still today. I am immensely proud of the movement we have created with over 500 consultants. Joining Grant Thornton offers a great new platform to accelerate this people-centred approach on a large scale. As an ambassador, I will continue to be fully committed to this mission.”
Cultural alignment
The cultural alignment between the cultures of Grant Thornton and CPI is a key factor in this match; an appreciation of culture and a people-centred approach have been essential elements in the takeover negotiations from the very outset. Marcel Blöte: “At Grant Thornton, we go beyond ‘business as usual’ to create a distinctive experience. More personal, more flexible and more proactive. Our pursuit of different perspectives enables us to arrive at better solutions, which facilitates our people, clients and communities to develop the future positively.” CPI, which stands for ‘Connecting People with Impact’, fits in seamlessly with this. “Change only happens when people truly connect and are willing to take up the challenge to take decisive action together, which is something I see every day at CPI. That’s why this step with Grant Thornton feels so powerful: the same dynamic, the same people-centred approach and the same drive to help organisations move forward,” says Gert Jan Kroese.
Collaboration
Alvarez & Marsal, Marktlink and Burggraaf & Hoekstra provided advisory services for the transaction. The acquisition has been approved by the Supervisory Board and the Works Council of Grant Thornton Netherlands. Further details will not be disclosed.