Andersen launches global consulting practice
Andersen, a San Francisco-based tax consultancy, yesterday announced the launch of Andersen Consulting, a global consulting practice offering business strategy, digital transformation, and AI-driven technology solutions.
Andersen was founded in 2002 as Wealth & Tax Advisory Services (WTAS) by former Arthur Andersen tax practice partners as a subsidiary of HSBC USA, following the collapse of Arthur Andersen due to its involvement with the Enron and Worldcom accounting scandals.
In December 2007 a management buyout made WTAS an independent firm.
In 2013 the firm launched WTAS Global as an association of independent professional services firms. In 2014, deeming enough time had elapsed to render the Arthur Andersen brand less poisonous, WTAS changed its name to Andersen Tax LLC and WTAS Global became Andersen Global. Andersen Tax later rebranded as Andersen in 2019.
Andersen today has more than 2,000 professionals across 24 cities in the US. The firm provides tax, legal, valuation, and global mobility services to individuals and companies.
Andersen Global has more than 19,000 professionals and 500+ locations via its member and collaborating firms.
Now, the Andersen Consulting brand is being resurrected. Its initial run took place from 1989 to 2000, when Andersen Consulting split off from Arthur Andersen and rebranded to Accenture.
Further reinforcing that time is a flat circle, the leader of Andersen Consulting will be George Shaheen, who led the original Andersen Consulting between 1989 and 1999. Andersen in a press release said that Shaheen is being joined by senior leaders from “other top-tier consulting firms.”
“With the largest physical footprint in professional services – a presence in 179 countries – Andersen provides an unmatched global platform,” said Shaheen. “This reach enables seamless cross-border solutions, integrating technology and advisory services across industries and geographies.”
Andersen Consulting will combine strategy, digital transformation, and AI solutions with Andersen Global’s tax, legal, valuation, and global mobility expertise.
“Our clients are looking for innovative strategies to stay ahead in an evolving marketplace,” said Mark Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen. “Andersen Consulting was built to help businesses navigate this transformation. In just six months, we’ve established a consulting practice in 66 countries with 3,000 professionals, aiming for $1 billion in revenue within three years.”
The firm says the consulting practice, which is fully independent, won’t face the same conflict-of-interest issues as the Big Four accountancies because it does not provide attest services.
“This freedom allows for truly objective, strategic guidance helping clients to drive efficiency, improve decision-making, and transform operations,” Vorsatz added.
