HLB International

HLB International is a global professional-services network whose independent member firms provide audit, accounting, tax, and business advisory services. The network operates across 155 countries on five continents and collectively represents 1,398 offices and 55,538 partners and staff. Its executive office is based in London, while client work is delivered by locally established member firms rather than by a single centrally owned operating company. The network was formed in 1969. Its name originated from three early participating firms or firm groups: Hodgson Harris in the United Kingdom, Mann Judd Landau in the United States, and Brands & Wolff in the Netherlands. The three names reflected in the original identity later disappeared through mergers and other changes in the participating firms. In 1990, the organization shortened its name to HLB International, creating the brand used today. HLB occupies the mid-tier segment of the international accounting-network market. Its model is based on combining the local knowledge, regulatory standing, and independent ownership of member firms with cross-border coordination under a shared international brand. This structure allows member firms to support multinational and internationally active clients while retaining their own legal identities and local management. The service portfolio spans assurance and financial reporting, accounting, taxation, transaction and business advice, and other forms of professional advisory work, although the exact offerings differ by member firm and jurisdiction. The network’s history in the United Kingdom illustrates the evolution of its membership model. Earlier UK participants included firms associated with the Hodgson and Mann Judd names. The firm that later became HLB Kidsons left the network for Baker Tilly in London in 2002. HLB subsequently admitted Numerica as its UK member, but Numerica’s financial difficulties led to its mostly being taken over by Vantis in 2005. Vantis became the UK member, but entered failure at the end of June 2010 and was broken up. HLB then moved away from relying on a single publicly traded consolidator and developed a federation of local partnerships. UK firms joining or being associated with this renewed model included Menzies, Hazlewoods, Lovewell Blake, Hawsons, Beever and Struthers, and French Duncan. Governance is carried out through bodies including a Council, a Chairman, an Executive Committee, and specialist technical committees. International technical work is organized principally around advisory, tax, and audit and financial reporting. In February 2010, Rob Tautges succeeded Peter Frost as chief executive. In April 2017, Marco Donzelli succeeded Tautges and became chief executive. The network also coordinates initiatives related to sustainability, community engagement, and talent development. Its HLB Sustainability Programme supports member-firm community outreach, volunteering, fundraising, and environmental initiatives. HLB WinA, or Women in Accounting, focuses on sharing practices intended to help member firms attract, retain, and advance female professionals. HLB International is also a member of the Forum of Firms, an association connected with international audit-quality cooperation. As of January 2025, the network reported worldwide revenue of US$6.67 billion; this figure is a collective network figure rather than revenue attributable to a single centrally owned corporation. HLB’s present identity therefore rests on international reach, locally independent member firms, coordinated technical capabilities, and a mid-market alternative to the largest global accounting networks.

HLB International was established in 1969 as an international association of accounting and professional-services firms. Its original identity drew on the names of three early participants: Hodgson Harris in the United Kingdom, Mann Judd Landau in the United States, and Brands & Wolff in the Netherlands. Hodgson Harris traced its origins to 1877, while Mann Judd Landau developed from Fred Landau & Co, founded in 1926. Brands & Wolff supplied the third element of the original name. Over time, mergers and organizational changes caused all three names to disappear from the participating firms, and the network adopted the shorter name HLB International in 1990. HLB’s structure has consistently differed from that of a single integrated accounting corporation. Its member firms are independent businesses operating under local ownership and regulation, while the international network provides a framework for cooperation, referrals, technical coordination, and a common market identity. The network has expanded to 155 countries across five continents. By the reported January 2025 figures, its members operated 1,398 offices and included 55,538 partners and staff collectively. The United Kingdom provides an example of the network’s changing membership arrangements. The founder firm Fuller Jenks Beecroft & Co merged with Mann Judd in 1975 and subsequently left the network to join Touche Ross, now part of Deloitte. Hodgson Harris later became the UK member, and successive mergers produced the names Hodgson Impey, Kidsons Impey, and HLB Kidsons. That firm departed in 2002 to join Baker Tilly in London. HLB then invited Numerica, a listed accountancy consolidator, to serve as its UK member. Numerica encountered financial difficulties and was mostly taken over by Vantis in 2005. Vantis assumed the UK membership but itself failed at the end of June 2010 and was broken up. Following the Vantis failure, HLB changed its approach in the United Kingdom. Rather than depending for several years on the expansion plans of a public consolidator, it developed a federation of local partnerships. Firms associated with this renewed UK presence included Menzies, Hazlewoods, Lovewell Blake, Hawsons, Beever and Struthers, and French Duncan. This evolution reflected the broader network principle of combining independent local firms with international coordination. Governance includes a Council, a Chairman, an Executive Committee, and technical committees. The three principal international technical areas are advisory, tax, and audit and financial reporting. The executive office is located in London. Leadership changes recorded for the network include Rob Tautges succeeding Peter Frost as chief executive in February 2010 and Marco Donzelli succeeding Tautges in April 2017. Beyond client services, HLB coordinates programs intended to support social responsibility and professional inclusion. The HLB Sustainability Programme brings together member-firm community outreach, volunteering, fundraising, and environmental initiatives in countries including Australia, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. HLB WinA, the Women in Accounting initiative, addresses the recruitment, retention, and advancement of female accounting professionals by sharing practical approaches among member firms. HLB is a member of the Forum of Firms and remains positioned as a major mid-tier international accounting network. It reports combined network revenue rather than the revenue of a centrally owned company. As of January 2025, that worldwide figure was US$6.67 billion. The network’s continuing identity is based on broad geographic coverage, independent member-firm operations, coordinated audit and advisory capabilities, and a global alternative to the largest accounting networks.

• 2025

  Network reports US$6.67 billion in worldwide revenue

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  As of January 2025, HLB reported combined worldwide network revenue of US$6.67 billion.

• 2017

  Marco Donzelli becomes chief executive

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Marco Donzelli succeeded Rob Tautges as chief executive.

• 2010

  UK federation model developed

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  After Vantis failed and was broken up, HLB moved toward a federation of local UK partnerships.

• 2005

  Vantis replaces Numerica as UK member

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Vantis became the UK member after mostly taking over Numerica amid Numerica’s financial difficulties.

• 2002

  HLB Kidsons leaves the network

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The UK member departed HLB and joined Baker Tilly in London.

• 1990

  Name shortened to HLB International

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The network adopted the shorter HLB International name after the original constituent names disappeared through mergers.

• 1975

  Fuller Jenks Beecroft & Co merges with Mann Judd

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The UK founder firm merged with Mann Judd and later left the network for Touche Ross.

• 1969

  Network formed

  [1]HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  HLB International was established as a network of independent accounting and professional-services firms.

An international mid-tier accounting and advisory network that combines global coordination with locally independent member firms.

• Professional services

  Audit and assurance

  HLB member firms provide audit, assurance, and related financial-reporting services under local professional and regulatory requirements. International coordination enables member firms to support assignments involving multiple jurisdictions, while the actual engagement is performed by the relevant independent local firms.

• Professional services

  Accounting and financial reporting

  Accounting services across the network support financial information preparation, reporting, and related compliance needs. Scope varies by member firm and market, reflecting local law and the operating requirements of clients with domestic or international activities.

• Professional services

  Tax services

  HLB member firms offer tax advice and compliance services. The international network’s geographic coverage allows local specialists to coordinate tax-related work across jurisdictions, although services and legal responsibilities remain with the relevant independent member firms.

• Professional services

  Business advisory

  Business advisory work is part of HLB’s international service offering and may include support for business decisions, transactions, and other corporate needs. The network presents advisory capabilities alongside audit, accounting, and tax services to serve organizations operating across borders.

• HLB Sustainability Programme

  Australia · Austria · Denmark · France · Germany · Japan · Spain · United Kingdom

  A network-wide social-responsibility program through which member firms undertake community outreach, volunteering, fundraising, and environmental or green initiatives.

  Outcome. The program has supported initiatives across multiple member-firm markets; a single consolidated outcome is not specified.

  Source
• HLB WinA (Women in Accounting)

  International HLB member-firm network

  An initiative focused on sharing good practices to help member firms attract, retain, and promote female accounting professionals.

  Outcome. The initiative is intended to improve talent development and retention, but no quantified outcome is specified.

  Source

• 2010

  Build a federated UK partnership structureStrategy

  Background

  Vantis, the UK member, failed and was broken up at the end of June 2010 after several years in which HLB had depended on public-company expansion plans.

  Action taken

  HLB developed a federation of local UK partnerships and added firms including Menzies, Hazlewoods, Lovewell Blake, Hawsons, Beever and Struthers, and French Duncan.

  Aftermath

  The UK model became more closely aligned with HLB’s broader independent-member-firm structure.

  Source

• 1990

  Adopt the HLB International nameStrategy

  Background

  The names of the three early participating firms had disappeared through mergers and organizational changes.

  Action taken

  The network shortened its name to HLB International.

  Aftermath

  The shorter name became the network’s continuing international identity.

  Source

1. 1HLB Internationalen.wikipedia.org