Grant Thornton Australia joins Asia-Pacific platform

Grant Thornton Australia has joined the multinational platform operated by Grant Thornton Advisors, adding 1,500 professionals and six offices to its Asia-Pacific presence.

The transaction expands a cross-border structure that already includes nearly 20 aligned firms across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. It also builds on the platform's existing regional presence, which included Grant Thornton New Zealand and its 300-person team.

Grant Thornton Australia will remain part of the Grant Thornton International network, which covers more than 150 markets. The platform brings together more than 25,000 professionals, a figure expected to rise further if its separate agreement to acquire CBIZ in the United States is completed.

The Australian business provides audit, tax and advisory services and is one of the larger national firms in its market. Its addition broadens the platform's footprint in a region where international firms are seeking stronger cross-border delivery as clients expand operations and deal activity across multiple jurisdictions.

Regional leadership

Alongside the transaction, Said Jahani has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Asia-Pacific region for the platform while continuing as Chief Executive Officer of Grant Thornton Australia. He will also join the Executive Committee of Grant Thornton Advisors and report to Chief Executive Officer Jim Peko.

In the new role, Jahani will oversee the platform's regional expansion, services, client experience, quality, technology and delivery across Asia-Pacific. The appointment takes effect immediately.

Jahani has been with Grant Thornton Australia for two decades and became Chief Executive Officer in July 2025. Previously, he held several leadership roles, including National Managing Partner for Financial Advisory.

Peko said the Australian deal supports the group's broader expansion plans.

"This transaction opens a new door for our platform's growth - bringing us the leadership, talent and quality we need to further expand our singular model within the Asia-Pacific region," said Jim Peko, Chief Executive Officer of Grant Thornton Advisors. "This is about building capabilities at scale across worldwide markets so we can move and grow with clients, while investing in the best technologies and creating even more opportunities for our people."

Broader expansion

The Australian transaction follows an earlier announcement at signing in April and comes amid a broader reshaping of the Grant Thornton business in several markets. In July, Grant Thornton Advisors entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CBIZ in the United States.

If that deal closes, the multinational platform is expected to span more than two dozen countries and territories and include more than 35,000 professionals. That would create a larger cross-border grouping within the Grant Thornton network, with a stronger presence across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Professional services firms are under increasing pressure to offer consistent support across borders as clients seek accounting, tax and advisory work coordinated across several markets. That trend has pushed firms to strengthen regional ties, standardise internal systems and widen access to specialist staff across national businesses.

Grant Thornton Advisors describes its multinational platform as a group of firms within the wider international network that operate with aligned standards, technology and delivery expectations. The firms remain separate entities, but the model is designed to connect priority markets more closely.

Jahani said Asia-Pacific would be central to the next phase of that effort.

"The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most dynamic growth markets in the world, and we are building a platform with the talent, technology and connectivity the region needs," said Said Jahani, Chief Executive Officer of Grant Thornton Australia and Chief Executive Officer of the Asia-Pacific region at Grant Thornton Advisors. "I'm proud to be helping create new opportunities for our clients and our people. Together, we'll move faster, operate more confidently and succeed across borders."