Aprio Enters Global Arena with New Alliance for Middle-Market Firms

ATLANTA, GA – March 03, 2026 – In a significant move to bolster its international capabilities, Aprio, the 24th largest business advisory and accounting firm in the U.S., today announced the launch of Aprio Global™. This new, structured international community is designed to unite professional services firms worldwide, aiming to deliver seamless cross-border support for the rapidly globalizing middle market. To spearhead this ambitious initiative, the firm has appointed industry veteran Tony Szczepaniak as its Global Services Leader.

The launch marks a strategic formalization of Aprio's international efforts, signaling a direct response to a market where mid-sized companies increasingly operate without borders and demand a level of advisory consistency previously reserved for multinational corporations. By creating a curated global platform, Aprio is positioning itself to compete more aggressively in a dynamic and crowded international advisory landscape.

A New Front in the Mid-Market Advisory Battle

Aprio Global enters a fiercely competitive arena. The global advisory space for middle-market companies is well-served by established networks such as RSM, BDO, and Grant Thornton, all of which have built extensive global footprints and brand recognition over decades. These powerhouses have long recognized the lucrative potential of mid-market internationalization, with firms like Grant Thornton reporting that a majority of mid-market businesses are actively increasing their focus on international expansion.

This competitive pressure underscores the strategic necessity behind Aprio's move. Simply participating in an informal network is no longer sufficient to meet client demands for integrated, technology-driven solutions across different legal and financial jurisdictions. The market requires verifiable quality, accountability, and operational synergy between member firms. Aprio Global's stated focus on being a "structured, globally aligned platform" is a direct answer to this demand, aiming to differentiate itself from looser, traditional associations by promising deeper collaboration and, crucially, a consistent client experience regardless of geography.

"Middle-market companies are expanding globally at an unprecedented pace, and they expect their advisors to meet them wherever they operate," said Richard Kopelman, CEO of Aprio. The launch of Aprio Global is the firm's high-stakes bid to meet that expectation head-on, moving from ad-hoc collaboration to a formalized, scalable global service model.

From Informal Collective to Formalized Powerhouse

Aprio Global is not being built from scratch. It represents the next evolutionary phase of ATLAST, a global collective co-founded by Aprio and the UK-based firm Cooper Parry. ATLAST was conceived as a gathering of like-minded, independent firms dedicated to innovation and challenging the status quo. It served as a successful proving ground, fostering relationships and a shared philosophy among firms in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

However, the evolution from ATLAST to Aprio Global signifies a critical strategic shift. Where ATLAST was a "collective," Aprio Global is being positioned as a "community" with more defined structures, governance, and accountability. This transition is designed to move beyond philosophical alignment to tangible, measurable results for clients. The goal is to ensure that a client engaging with an Aprio Global member in Germany receives the same caliber of service and seamless coordination as they would with a member in Japan or Brazil.

This move has the enthusiastic backing of foundational partners. Ade Cheatham, CEO of Cooper Parry, lauded the initiative, stating, "This new and dynamic international union is great news." He added, "As an integral part of the Aprio Global community, we see it as a brilliant opportunity to further accelerate our global ambitions alongside other high-calibre firms... This powerful, collaborative new platform will help us fulfil our wider global ambitions – at pace and with total confidence." Cheatham's endorsement highlights the appeal of a more structured platform for ambitious firms looking to compete on a global stage.

The Architect of a Global Community

Central to the success of this ambitious venture is its new leader, Tony Szczepaniak. With a career spanning more than three decades across Fortune 500 corporate tax, public accounting, and leadership roles within global accounting associations, Szczepaniak brings a wealth of experience in the precise domain Aprio needs: building and governing international networks.

His mandate as Global Services Leader is clear: to build a curated global community. The emphasis on curation suggests a selective, quality-over-quantity approach to membership. Aprio Global will not be an open-door association but a carefully assembled group of accounting, advisory, and law firms that share a commitment to structured collaboration and client service excellence. Szczepaniak's role will be part architect, part diplomat, and part governor, responsible for implementing the global strategies and governance needed to make the network function as a single, cohesive unit.

"Aprio Global is an opportunity to build something truly special alongside some of the most respected firms in the profession," Szczepaniak said in the announcement. "Together, we will create a global community where firms can work easily across borders and deliver exceptional experiences for the clients they serve." His leadership will be pivotal in translating this vision into a functional and effective reality.

A Unified Ecosystem for Growth

Aprio Global does not operate in a vacuum within Aprio's corporate strategy. It is designed to complement the Aprio Alliance, a well-established network of nearly 90 independent accounting firms across the United States and Canada. The Alliance provides its members with advisory resources, peer collaboration, and leadership development, strengthening their capabilities within the North American market.

Together, the Aprio Alliance and Aprio Global form a comprehensive, two-tiered ecosystem. The Alliance shores up the domestic and near-shore network, while Aprio Global provides the international reach. This structure gives both Aprio and its partner firms a powerful value proposition: the ability to serve clients seamlessly whether their needs are local, national, or international.

Dean Sengstock, Partner and National Leader of the Aprio Alliance, emphasized the synergistic nature of the new structure. "Tony brings strong experience building global communities that turn collaboration into growth," he noted. "His leadership will be instrumental as Aprio Global creates new opportunities for our member firms to pursue more complex cross-border work and deliver greater value to clients."

The ultimate goal, as articulated by Aprio's leadership, is to eliminate the friction clients often experience when dealing with international business matters. "Clients with international operations need advisors they can trust to deliver consistently across countries and service lines," explained Yelena Epova, International Practice Leader and Tax Partner at Aprio. "Aprio Global deepens collaboration with firms we know and trust, helping deliver a seamless experience for clients wherever they do business."