RSM International

RSM International
	RSM's brand logo
Company type	Member firms
Industry	Professional services
Founded	1964
Headquarters	London
Key people	Jean Stephens, CEO
Products	Audit ; Accounting; Tax; Consulting ; Financial advisory
Revenue	$3.62 billion USD (2008) [1]
Number of employees	30,200
Website	www.rsmi.com

RSM International is a global network of professional service firms. Member firms operate in over 70 countries worldwide, employing over 30,000 people. Total revenues for 2008 were in excess of $3.6 billion USD, placing RSM International in the top 7 global accountancy firms. ^[1]

Unlike the Big 4 accountancy firms, member firms of RSM International operate in their home countries under their own firm names. Member firms that meet a number of membership requirements are permitted to adopt RSM as a prefix as part of their firm name.

History

RSM International has been in continuous existence since 1964, when it began as a small network that was originally called DRM. In 1993 the organisation restructured and changed its name to RSM International.

Historically, the prefix ‘RSM’ was derived from the initials of 3 of the original member firms of the organisation: Robson Rhodes (UK), Salustro Reydel (France) and RSM McGladrey/McGladrey & Pullen (USA). This historical foundation, however, no longer bears any relevance to the organisation today and RSM has now become a name in its own right. Of the three founding members, only RSM McGladrey remains a member of the international organisation. Robson Rhodes is now part of Grant Thornton and Salustro Reydel is part of KPMG.

With effect from 1 January 2006, RSM International appointed Jean Stephens as its CEO for a five-year term. ^[2] This made her the first woman chief executive of a top 10 global accounting network.^[3] Jean Stephens replaced M.Sabry Heakal, who had held the post for 10 years from 1 November 1995.

RSM Salustro Reydel

In 2004, RSM Salustro Reydel, the former French firm merged with KPMG and resigned from RSM International.^[4]

RSM France was created as the new French member firm with offices in Paris.

RSM Robson Rhodes/RSM McGladrey merger

In 2006, RSM Robson Rhodes, the former UK firm, and RSM McGladrey announced they were to merge. However, delays in completing the deal due to financial problems at H&R Block, the company which owns RSM McGladrey, led RSM Robson Rhodes to terminate the deal.

On April 29, 2007, the partners of RSM Robson Rhodes announced they were to merge with Grant Thornton UK LLP, the UK firm of Grant Thornton International and 6th largest accountancy firm in the UK. The merged entity adopted the Grant Thornton brand and Robson Rhodes resigned from RSM International. The deal was completed on July 1, 2007.^[5]

Bentley Jennison later joined the RSM International network as its British member to replace Robson Rhodes, becoming RSM Bentley Jennison.

International expansion

During 2008, RSM International admitted new member firms in several countries. These included RSM China CPAs, the 5th largest firm in China ^[6] and RSM Germany, a network of 11 firms based in the key cities throughout Germany ^[7]. Also admitted were Shiff Hazenfratz & Co in Israel ^[8]; RSM Italy S.p.A and Synergia Consulting Group in Italy ^[9] and RSM Sawamura & Co in Japan.