Respect for the DNA of local branches
PIA Group is at the forefront of the wave of consolidation within the accountancy and advisory sector. The group was founded in Belgium in 1999, expanded into the Netherlands in 2022 and has now established a presence in Luxembourg. PIA Group is the first and only player in the industry to expand internationally under its own name.
PIA Group integrates accountancy and advisory firms while preserving their identity and their way of working. Steven Brouckaert: “This clearly sets us apart from the other actors in the Benelux and the rest of Europe. PIA Group believes in the entrepreneurship of its partners. Not only the customers but also their employees made a conscious choice for their advisory firm’s DNA and that is why we respect it. We strive to help our partners within PIA Group write the next chapters in their own unique growth story, backed by our support services such as HR and IT.”
Our presence in Luxembourg is a must
Consultancy firm Neoviaq was established in Luxembourg in 1989, quickly developing into a highly regarded name in its home country as well as in Belgium and Germany. The cross-border structure of Neoviaq, with their head office in Weiswampach and further branches in Luxembourg City, Pommerloch, Brussels, Eupen, Sankt-Vith and Malmedy, demonstrates that the consultancy firm aims to be present where its customers operate. Steven Brouckaert: “That is an obvious commonality between Neoviaq and PIA Group. We also attach great importance to being close to our clients. Luxembourg is not only a financial centre but also an international trade hub where ideas take shape, businesses grow and entrepreneurship is second nature. Belgian and Dutch entrepreneurs have always been made very welcome here and that is why establishing a presence in Luxembourg was a must for PIA Group. We are already looking forward to our next acquisitions in the Grand Duchy.”
Mutual added value
Neoviaq’s 75-strong team focuses on SMEs, offering them cross-border and multidisciplinary expertise in accounting, taxation, payroll services and advisory. Depending on the client, the service is tailored to either Belgian or Luxembourg regulations and laws – or both, of course. Erwin Schröder, cofounder and partner of Neoviaq, sees significant added value in joining PIA Group, both for his clients and for those of PIA Group. “PIA Group’s clients who wish to operate across borders will find a single point of contact in Neoviaq.” The expertise of our professionals is just as deep as that of our Belgian colleagues and that is something our clients genuinely appreciate. We have no doubt that Belgian and Dutch clients of PIA Group will quickly experience the benefits of our multidisciplinary approach. Conversely, Neoviaq’s clients now also gain access to the expertise of PIA Advisory.”
Challenges are better faced as a group
For Erwin Schröder this was the right time to join a group with Neoviaq. “Our profession as accountants and advisors is evolving at a rapid pace. This offers opportunities for everyone who wants to get ahead. Within this context, talent recruitment and retention becomes a strategic priority. That is why we made a deliberate decision to join a strong and visionary group. We are convinced that through collaboration, sharing expertise and a common drive, we will find the best answers to the challenges of tomorrow and that together, we can reinvent our profession with ambition and enthusiasm.”
Simon Boskin of Neoviaq adds: “For us it was absolutely essential to preserve the core of Neoviaq: our unique DNA, our multidisciplinary approach, our cross-border anchoring and a business culture that sets us apart. From the initial discussions, it was obvious that PIA Group shares our vision and that respect for our identity would be guaranteed. Joining such a strong group while remaining completely ourselves was the ideal combination. Our clients in Belgium and Luxembourg can rest assured: Neoviaq is retaining its soul, its close client relationships and its commitment – bolstered by the impact of an international group.”
Ready for new countries
PIA Group’s new international move into Luxembourg is also warmly welcomed by Baltisse, the family office of Filip Balcaen who, alongside Steven Brouckaert and the partners, is one of the accountancy and advisory group’s shareholders. Benjamin Biesmans, Senior Investment Manager at Baltisse: “PIA Group, the market leader in the consolidation of accountancy firms in Belgium and the Netherlands, is now entering foreign markets with a proven model that marries local expertise with international economies of scale. With extensive experience, technological strength and a partner-driven approach, PIA is ideally positioned to bring together the highly fragmented markets in neighbouring countries as well. Local offices retain their identity, while gaining international clout and growth potential.” PIA Group is serious about its international plans, as underlined by the creation of an international management layer, which will oversee and steer growth in new markets. The first names of this team will be announced together with PIA Group’s entry into Luxembourg.
PIA Group welcomes Arno Schalck (Group CIO International) and Joris Dierick (Group CFO)
Arno Schalck and Joris Dierick are joining PIA Group International. They will oversee PIA Group’s further international expansion in a transnational leadership capacity.
Arno Schalck has been appointed Group CIO. His role is to direct the acceleration of AI-driven and tech-enabled services across the countries, thereby strengthening PIA Group’s position as a frontrunner in the digitalisation of the accountancy and advisory sector.
Arno joins from McKinsey & Company, where he specialised as Engagement Manager in digital strategies and technological transformation. Prior to that, he worked at Addestino Innovation Management, where he contributed to various innovation projects. Arno obtained his Masters in Science and Engineering from Ghent University.
Joris Dierick is taking on the role of Group CFO. He is an experienced financial and operational executive with a career spanning both multinational corporations and private equity firms. He began his career at Microsoft in 2001, where he held various financial roles over 18 years, including CFO for the Netherlands and later CFO for Central and Eastern Europe.
After his time at Microsoft, Dierick joined TBAuctions as CFO in 2019, where he led the financial transformation within a private equity context. In December 2020, Joris became Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Your.Cloud.
His academic background includes studies at renowned institutions such as Harvard University, London Business School and INSEAD, with a focus on technology, entrepreneurship and business strategy.
About PIA Group
In a market based on economies of scale, PIA Group aims to be a leading provider of accountancy and advisory services whilst retaining a personal connection between its staff and clients. We therefore drive our growth forward with a continuously expanding group of enterprising partners. The mutual interaction between those partners and our expert teams enables each PIA office to offer entrepreneurs up-to-date services and expertise that really contribute to their professional success and personal happiness. PIA Group was founded in Belgium in 1999 by Steven Brouckaert. The group operates in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, with a total of almost 100 branches and 2,300 staff across these three countries. In 2024 PIA Group realised a turnover in excess of €250 million in Belgium and the Netherlands.
www.pia.be
www.neoviaq.com
For more information about this press release please contact Stefan Knecht, stefan.k@pia.be, +32 495 54 60 82.
