An independent firm supporting European economic sovereignty

Launched in early 2010 in the midst of the financial crisis, in a financial advisory market largely dominated at the time by the Big Four Anglo-Saxon audit firms, the creation of the firm was a real ambitious endeavor. And yet, 15 years later, with more than 1,000 employees in 15 offices providing financial, operational and strategic consulting services, Eight Advisory is now the leading independent consulting firm in Europe. Interview with Pascal Raidron, managing partner and co-founder of the firm.

Why launch a new consulting firm in 2010?

Eight Advisory was founded in 2010 with the clear vision of building an independent consulting firm offering cutting-edge financial expertise based on greater seniority and premium service quality. The initial premise was based on the idea of offering a credible alternative to Anglo-Saxon consulting firms, which are often perceived as large, complex organisations that are less agile and constrained by conflicts of interest with their auditing activities. The values of Entrepreneurship, Respect and Excellence were the foundation for the creation of Eight Advisory. Capitalistically independent, Eight Advisory was able to guarantee, from the outset, freedom of speech and diagnosis, as well as the total commitment of its partners and teams to its clients.

What developments has Eight Advisory undergone since its creation?

The first step was to establish the firm’s premium position in the transaction and restructuring markets by taking on cases of all sizes: specialised financial due diligence in the context of business acquisitions and disposals, and providing support to struggling companies, while avoiding encroaching on the areas of investment banking and specialist legal services.

The firm then gradually broadened its scope of activity by integrating specialised sector expertise, particularly in infrastructure, energy, real estate, transport and logistics, defence, commerce, banking and insurance, as well as new skills in taxation, corporate law, due diligence, big data, digital technology, capital markets, valuation, litigation, information systems, ESG, competition and antitrust, and actuarial science.

Thanks to the operational experience of its teams, Eight Advisory has also developed a division dedicated to business transformation. This division has more than 200 employees working in strategy consulting and value creation plans, as well as in the transformation of finance departments and supporting CFOs with day-to-day issues such as cash flow, working capital requirements and management and forecasting tools. Initially positioning itself to serve private equity firms, Eight Advisory has gradually expanded into the corporate sector, which now accounts for 60% of its business.

What are Eight Advisory’s ambitions for the next 15 years?

The firm aspires to consolidate its position as the leading independent consulting firm in Europe. To achieve this, it plans to strengthen its international presence, expand its strategic offering into new sectors and integrate new areas of expertise, such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and compliance, in order to respond to increasingly complex and uncertain markets. This will be achieved through both organic growth and external growth operations.

Eight Advisory also intends to continue its commitment as a socially responsible organisation and will continue to promote societal and environmental initiatives.

What makes Eight Advisory so different?

Unlike other global consulting firms, Eight Advisory is capitalistically independent and committed to a strong French and European identity. As a capitalistically independent firm, Eight Advisory guarantees its clients freedom of speech and positioning, free from external pressures.

In light of recent geopolitical events, Eight Advisory’s French and European identity is a significant advantage in the global market. The firm promotes sovereignty by developing solutions that consider local specifics and European regulations. We favour a collaborative approach to becoming a trusted partner for clients seeking bespoke solutions rooted in trust and responsibility. This combination of independence, a strong identity and sovereignty establishes Eight Advisory as a distinctive player in the consulting market.

As a one-stop shop offering strategic, financial, tax, legal and operational expertise, Eight Advisory provides business leaders and large groups with a fully integrated team capable of helping them make complex strategic decisions by understanding the present to better anticipate the future.