PKF International replaces executive team

Sajjad Akhtar has been named as Wolfgang Hofmann's successor as chairman of PKF International.

Previously Akhtar worked as managing partner and founding member of PKF-CAP and as chairman of PKF's Asia-Pacific board.
Akhtar 's predecessor Hofmann stepped down in March according to the network.

John Sim has also been appointed as chief executive of the network. Sim previously worked as regional executive partner for KPMG Asia Pacific.

The past 12 months have been challenging for PKF International as it lost its UK member firm in a merger with BDO UK, some of its Chinese partners left to join BDO China, PKF Australia East Coast practice merged with BDO International in Australia and PKF Belgium joined Gran Thornton International.

Akhtar said his focus will be on adding "highly qualified independent member firms" to the PKF network.

"PKF International has been approached by high quality firms in each of our regions seeking to align with the power of the PKF brand," Akhtar said.

"We have made excellent progress to replace firms in the UK and Belgium and will soon be in a position to announce new member firms in both of these countries and in several other key regions around the globe."

Sim said his first priority was to work with Akhtar to secure new firms in key countries around the world, and added "Over the last few weeks, I have been extremely encouraged by the positive responses from firms who share PKFI's vision of a network that offers the combination of genuine independence and a powerful brand."