GHENT, 29 October 2023 - Conny Vandendriessche, co-founder of Accent Jobs and House of HR, has been offered a seat on the board of directors of PIA Group, the fastest-growing accountancy and advisory group in the Benelux. Majority shareholders Steven Brouckaert and family office Baltisse are now being joined by an accomplished entrepreneur with generous experience in the international expansion of businesses.
Unique proposition as a growth engine
In recent years a major consolidation wave has swept the accountancy sector. Thanks to the unique proposition they take to local accountancy firms, PIA Group is one of the driving forces behind this evolution, both in Belgium and the Netherlands. Contrary to other players, PIA Group opts to preserve the individual character and identity of the agencies that join the fold. The owners’ brand of entrepreneurship is also left untouched. More even, it receives an extra boost thanks to the shared services of PIA Group, who provide support in the areas of HR, operations, IT, digitalisation, finance and sales & marketing.
Leading role in Belgium and the Netherlands
There is no denying that the concept of PIA Group has struck a chord. Today the group boasts over 60 branches and 1.200 employees in the Benelux, realising a joint turnover of nearly €150 million. In Belgium PIA Group is even the no. 2 in the mid-tier segment. The last quarter of 2022 saw PIA Group enter the Dutch market and just 12 months later, PIA Group has already acquired 4 partner offices and 17 branches in this market, firmly positioning itself in the Top 50.
International experience
Conny Vandendriessche has been invited to join the board of directors to help oversee this growth. She established a solid reputation as the co-founder of Accent Jobs and following the transformation into House of HR, the company developed into one of the leading HR players in Europe with a turnover of €3 billion. “I am very pleased that Conny accepted”, says Steven Brouckaert. “Conny and I go way back. There are plenty of parallels between the growth of Accent Jobs and the ambitions of PIA Group. If there’s anyone who knows how to develop a company from a small into a leading player, it’s her. I have no doubt we will benefit greatly from her experience.”
Familiar with the concept
Conny Vandendriessche is looking forward to sharing her know-how with PIA Group. “I am intimately familiar with the concept of PIA Group. Like Steven I started with a single branch back in the day and then expanded through organic growth and takeovers. I do know a thing or two about how to gear your people and organisation to that process. The importance of a transparent strategy is also not to be underestimated.” Conny Vandendriessche will take a seat on the board of directors of PIA Group International. That is the holding company that oversees the activities in all markets.
Baltisse is in it for the long haul
“In our opinion, PIA Group is one of the most enterprising and ambitious companies in accounting services today for SMEs in the Benelux region”, says Benjamin Biesmans, Senior Investment Manager at Baltisse. “As a family office we look to the horizon and our enthusiasm for the coming years is at least as great as for recent years. PIA Group is the perfect match for enterprising accountants who wish to join a group that can offer economies of scale while fostering their entrepreneurship.
Filip Balcaen agrees wholeheartedly: “Since 2019 we have contributed to the marked growth of PIA Group and we will continue to do so in the future. Our conviction is to continue the expansion of PIA Group into a prominent, technology-driven accounting service provider that is a leader in its market. PIA Group must remain the best possible advisor for SMEs as well as the best possible place to work. With the partners we have on board right now we can’t go wrong.”
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About PIA Group
In a market of scale-ups PIA Group aims to develop into a leading player in accountancy and advisory services while preserving the personal connection between employee and customer. That is why our growth is based on a continuously expanding network of enterprising partners. Thanks to the mutual interaction between these partners and our teams of experts, entrepreneurs benefit from an individual up-to-date service in every PIA branch, as well as know-how that makes a genuine contribution to their professional success and personal happiness. PIA Group was founded in Belgium by Steven Brouckaert in 2012. The group is active in Belgium and the Netherlands and boasts more than 60 branches and 1,200 employees.
www.pia.be
www.baltisse.com
