Deloitte brings EMEA firms together to form €20 billion integrated business
Following several years of closer regional cooperation, Deloitte has brough its European and Middle East businesses across 80 countries under a new structure. Deloitte EMEA will come into effect on 1 June 2026.
The combined entity will bring together member practices with combined revenues of €20 billion and boast a team of 6,000 partners and 132,000 professionals. Deloitte EMEA will have operations in more around 80 countries.
Richard Houston, currently CEO of Deloitte North and South Europe and Deloitte UK, will become CEO of Deloitte EMEA. Volker Krug, the CEO of Deloitte in Germany, will take on the position of Deputy CEO. Sami Rahal, CEO of Deloitte Central Europe, will serve as Chair, while Liesbeth Mol, Chair of Deloitte North and South Europe, will act as Deputy Chair.
Joe Ucuzoglu, CEO of Deloitte, described the EMEA merger as a “historic moment” for the company. “The EMEA region forms a critical component of the global economy – home to many of the world’s most influential companies, and a key market for multinationals headquartered around the globe. Our clients expect leading expertise wherever it is based, alongside seamless cross-border and technology-enabled delivery at speed.”
“The creation of Deloitte EMEA will enhance our ability to deliver the very best capabilities to the world’s leading companies.”
The establishment of the EMEA group builds on several years of deepening collaboration across the region, including the establishment of Deloitte North and South Europe (which is a looser grouping of about 30 national firms that excludes some large countries such as France and Germany), the Middle East business affiliating with the UK business, and several regional investment initiatives in areas such as banking and energy transition.
“Deloitte EMEA uniquely strengthens our ability to invest at scale across borders to accelerate innovation in areas that matter most to our clients. It builds on our market-leading local partnerships while supporting collaboration at a regional level,” said Houston.
From country partnerships to integrated business
In line with most large accounting and consulting firms, Deloitte traditionally operates as a network of national partnerships separately owned and managed by the partners in each country. But that model, which also is used by peers EY, KPMG and PwC, has become increasingly strained amid a need for integrated cross-border services expected by multinational clients, and the need for substantial technology investments.
Under the new framework, Deloitte country firms will retain responsibility for their own market, while coordinating more closely for region-wide investments and cross-border services.
EMEA investments
The first investment announcements have already been made: over the next four years, Deloitte EMEA expects to deploy more than €1.5 billion in additional investment. Funds will be directed to areas including generative AI, sovereign cloud capability, sector-specific solutions and technologies designed to help clients manage fast-changing markets.
The more streamlined structure will also aid Deloitte’s move to roll out AI tools cohesively.
In the EMEA business unit, Deloitte’s largest members firms include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Middle East, the Nordics, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Luxembourg, and Türkiye.
