Our roots

Where we come from

From its humble beginning to the international Group that it is today, Mazars / now Forvis Mazars has always remained true to its founder’s spirit and values of deep ethical commitment, responsibility and belief that technical excellence is the key to success.

It is based upon these values that the generations which inherited Forvis Mazars managed to grow the organisation, through the co-optation of new partners, in Europe and around the world, and through mergers with firms that share the same values, vision, and objectives.

That well known national firms like Weiser in the USA, Neville Russell in the UK or Paardekooper Hoffman in The Netherlands, elected to join the partnership is proof that the way has indeed been an attractive and effective model. Now operating in over 95 countries across the globe, with over 47,000 professionals, Forvis Mazars has become a fully-fledged global player.

Key milestones in our history

• 1945: Robert Mazars starts its accountancy practice near Rouen, France.
• 1965: The "Cabinet Robert Mazars" limited liability company is created on January 1.
• 1973: The company moves its audit team to Paris.
• 1975: Mazars opens its first offices outside of France, in Germany and Spain.
• 1983: Robert Mazars chooses to resign. Patrick de Cambourg becomes Chairman of Mazars.
• 1995: Mazars merges with Guérard Viala. The merger also marks the creation of the Mazars CARL partnership, which gives the partners in each of the two firms the chance to be fully associated as equals in the development of the new organisation.
• 1998: Mazars merges with Neville Russell, one of Britain’s leading independent firms.
• 1999: Mazars & Guérard choose the brandname “Mazars”.
• 2000: Mazars merges with Paardekooper Hoffman in The Netherlands. With offices in most European countries, Mazars truly becomes an international organisation. Outside of Europe, Mazars is already present in Latin America - Brazil -, China and in a several African countries. The organisation also operates in many other countries, through correspondence agreements.
• 2003-2007: Mazars speeds up its international development, with new offices in Eastern Europe (including Russia), China, India and the Asia-Pacific area, Latin America - Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile,...-, Southern Africa and the Middle East.
• 2007: Mazars becomes one of the founding members of the Praxity Alliance bringing together over 100 independent firms in 75 countries.
• 2013: Mazars has offices in 77 countries and can operate in another 14, through agreements and representative offices.
• 2015: Mazars in Germany and RBS Roever Broenner Susat, whose roots date back to 1919, join forces.
• 2016: The Chinese firm ZhongShen ZhongHuan joins Mazars’ integrated partnership. Hervé Hélias becomes CEO of the Group.
• 2022: Mazars joins forces with German sustainability consultancy, Stakeholder Reporting. By integrating Stakeholder Reporting, Mazars expands its sustainability portfolio and strengthens its position as a leading provider in the sustainability services market. 
• 2023: Operating in more than 95 countries and territories around the world, we draw on the expertise of more than 47,000 professionals – 30,000+ in Mazars’ integrated partnership and 17,000+ via the Mazars North America Alliance. In Germany, Mazars is represented by 120 partners and around 2,000 employees at 12 locations. With an annual turnover of over €233 million, it is one of the leading multidisciplinary audit and advisory firms. 
• 2024: The international partnership Mazars, which operates in over 100 countries and regions, forms a professional services network with the leading US company FORVIS. Under the joint brand Forvis Mazars becomes the No. 8 in the global auditing and consulting market with a turnover of USD 5 billion and a total of 40,000 employees.