Baker Tilly takes on US market leaders
The rebranding of Baker Tilly's international network has seen the firm attempt to edge in front of rivals Grant Thornton and BDO International in the United States.
The recently-merged firm belongs to global accountancy network Summit International, which rebranded in November as Baker Tilly International.
HLB Kidsons – Baker Tilly’s merger partner in the UK – pulled out of the deal to become part of the rebranded network but it still leaves BTI with a total global fee income of $1.3bn (£906m).
BTI’s chief executive Geoff Barnes said rebranding was the first step towards further cohesion.
Although there are no formal ties between firms in the network, mainly due to conflicts of interest in the US, Barnes added: ‘I foresee a situation where there are economic bonds across the network.’
He told Accountancy Age: ‘Provided there is a business rationale, I am convinced that our partners will support the moves.’
Rebranding, he said, also gave BTI a chance to ‘say to business we can deliver internationally’.