Ince Group expands its consultancy practice into the Middle East
International professional services firm the Ince Group has expanded its consulting business into the Middle East.
Formerly known as Gordon Dadds Group, the Ince Group is a listed conglomerate of professional services firms generating revenues of around £100 million. The firm’s heritage lies in the legal services sector with brands including Alen-Buckley Solicitors, Gordon Dadds, Ince and White & Black, but over the years, The Ince Group has expanded into the accounting, financial advisory, consulting and pensions segments.
At the head of The Ince Group’s consulting division stands Mark Tantam, a 20+ year Deloitte veteran who formerly led the firm’s then 400-strong Forensic practice in the UK, and Vice Chairman of the Deloitte Legal division globally. He oversees the group’s legal and management consulting offering, in the UK, Europe, Asia and now also in the Middle East.
“We are pleased to launch our consultancy business in the Middle East,” said Tantam. The unit, based in Abu Dhabi and fully regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (a hub for financial services), will help clients with transaction and advisory services, with a focus on financial needs.
Initially, Ince Consulting Middle East will target clients in the shipping and marine sectors, with expansion into the aviation industry next in line. Tapped to lead the new venture is Knut Mathiassen, who brings a wealth of consulting, financial advisory and transaction experience in the maritime industry to the firm.
Prior to joining Ince Consulting, Mathiassen was a leader at Wärtsilä – a $5 billion sustainable technology provider – based in Dubai, and before that he held Director roles at Standard Chartered Bank in the UAE and Natixis in France. Tantam: “Knut brings an impressive advisory track record and capabilities to our business.”
Mathiassen will lead offerings including; sourcing bank and alternative finance for their vessels across the full vessel age range, providing maritime transaction support at all stages of the transaction lifecycle, and providing specialist financial maritime advice for organisations at key stages of their corporate lifecycle.
For Adrian Biles, the Chief Executive of the Ince Group, the launch comes at the right time for the industry, as players grapple with the financial challenges thrown up by the Covid-19-induced downturn. “We have identified a unique opportunity to launch a new practice based in the Middle East, to advise clients on how to successfully navigate through this turbulent environment over the coming months and years.”
Commenting on his new challenge, Mathiassen said: “I look forward to undertaking the challenge of setting up a new business with the ambitions of delivering the exceptional levels of service Ince continues to pride itself on. I am confident that this new consultancy business will be a successful venture for the Ince Group.”