What’s next for Forvis Mazars – press interview with our Chairman and CEO

This article was first featured in the April 2025 subscriber edition of the International Accounting Bulletin.

IAB: 2024 was a momentous year with the creation of Forvis Mazars. What makes you different and what has the response been to this market shake up from clients?

Pascal Jauffret (PJ): Forvis Mazars combines the strengths of Forvis in the USA (now Forvis Mazars US) with the global coverage of Mazars (now Forvis Mazars Group). Our shared culture of excellence and our deep industry knowledge drive us. We have the scale, capacity and coverage to support our clients across the globe, and now the agility which complements the collaborative mindset essential to deliver customised services to specific client needs, both globally and locally. By coming together, we are committed to delivering an unmatched client experience globally.

Hervé Hélias (HH):  There’s been resounding positivity from our clients, the market and our people since the creation of Forvis Mazars – we have successfully set up our network office in London and have already unlocked hundreds of new business opportunities in a short space of time.

The goal was to bring more choice to a dominated market. Clients are welcoming a new global player with extensive knowledge and credentials especially in highly regulated activities such as financial services or life sciences.

IAB: Alongside the launch, you decided to evolve the Group’s governance. Can you tell us why?

HH: Stewardship is one of our core values – it’s what our firm has been built on and what has enabled us to grow so successfully and strengthen our business in the way that we have. It’s been 30 years since we created the international partnership, and we are a much larger organisation now. Under the new Group leadership and governance framework we will continue to grow as a distinctive and resilient force in the industry, for the benefit of clients around the world.

PJ: The changes we’ve made aim to maintain our core values while enhancing our ability to navigate the future challenges organisations should be preparing for. We have modernised our governance model: oversight is provided by a Governing Board, and the Executive Committee is focused on executing our strategy. Hervé and I have worked together for many years, and we believe this creates a more effective and efficient framework for decision-making and collaboration, ensuring Forvis Mazars Group remains well-positioned for long-term success in a demanding and dynamic global business environment.

IAB: As you say, you’ve worked together for some time now – how do your roles differ, what strengths do you each bring to the team and how do you both work together with the rest of the Board and Executive Committee?

PJ: Hervé has a lot of experience from a long career and has a knack for getting the right talent through the door. As Chairman, he leads our Governing Board, having set the strategy and is responsible for governance and oversight of key topics. As CEO, I lead our Executive Committee, entrusted with leadership and strategic decisions alongside the day-to-day delivery and execution of the strategy across Forvis Mazars Group.

HH: Pascal has proven the strength of his leadership time and again, and some of the proudest accomplishments for the firm are a direct result – particularly as he accompanied our expansion in multiple geographies in Italy and in Asia. We’ve both experienced challenges and had some of the most demanding positions and responsibilities in the partnership. These have aided us and will continue to support us in driving forward our next set of goals.

IAB: What will be your top strategic priorities for the next three to five years – what’s the overall vision for the next phase of growth?

HH: Well, it helps to be starting from such a strong position. In the past four years, we’ve made major strides in all our areas of ambition, including the launch of our global network to strengthen our US position and achieve a combined global fee income of over €5 billion which puts us firmly among the largest players in our industry.

PJ: Ultimately, our differentiation is rooted in our international excellence, characterised by the quality of our people and culture, and shaped by a commitment to our industry in the competitive landscape we’re operating in. Now is the time for us to achieve this transition from a data-based organisation to a data-powered one. This means reinventing our operations, leveraging AI to enhance both our clients’ and teams’ experience, and offering an unparalleled environment for talent to develop within our organisation. Accompanying our clients in their ESG transformation ranks among our top drivers for the years to come.

IAB: Organisations and their leaders are facing some ongoing and newly formed challenges around the world. What are some of the things that keep you awake at night and should be a priority focus for other leaders?

HH: I mentioned earlier the importance and immense pressure we feel when it comes to stewardship. Our firm’s story has been one of collective and sustained growth and I firmly believe we have never been in a better position to provide exciting, rewarding opportunities for our people and to deliver the exceptional multidisciplinary expertise that our clients and the market need.

IAB: In what ways would you like to see the industry evolve in the future?

HH: Our business is to assist our clients and society in delivering transparent and sustainable conditions for their financial information. Such information is subject to major changes and transformation: AI, ESG, digital platforms and more. We need to adapt our frameworks, methodologies and regulations to ride these changes safely. It also offers multiple opportunities to our people.

PJ: The success of our firm is undoubtedly related to the quality of our teams and our ability to develop them. As we ride the challenges Hervé mentioned, we shall continue to offer unparalleled opportunities to our staff and our partners. At a time when many firms abandon their partnership structure, we proudly offer increased opportunities to talented individuals to embrace a true entrepreneurship experience and to join our international partnership.

While these are all things we will continue to work towards, you can be certain that Forvis Mazars is built for what’s next.