Independent Governance Group has bought evaluation and operational governance consultants KGC Associates for an undisclosed sum. KGC will remain on the market as its own brand.   

The deal, together with several senior hires, follows investment from mid-market private equity firm ECI Partners in October 2024. IGG said it will “continue to evaluate complementary acquisition opportunities”.  

KGC offers services such as benchmarking, market review, operational governance and management consulting to pension schemes. Managing director Kim Gubler, director Lesley Carline and head of research Hayley Mudge will stay on after the acquisition by IGG.  

“I am very pleased to welcome Kim, Lesley and Hayley to the IGG group. The first-class reputation they have built within the industry is based on deep expertise, while their focus on independent evaluation and operational governance services is a natural fit for our existing offering,” said IGG chief executive Andrew Bradshaw.    

Gubler said: “I founded KGC to give trustees and employers truly independent, practical insight they could rely on. Over the years, we’ve become known for clear thinking, rigorous analysis and strong working relationships. Our values of integrity, evidence-based judgment and high governance standards align closely with those of IGG. It’s a natural fit, and we’re ready to create even greater impact for our clients.”   

ECI partner Michael Butler said the acquisition of KGC will allow IGG to offer end-to-end governance services, adding: “Furthermore, bringing Kim, Lesley and Hayley into the IGG fold also strengthens the bench of experts within the business – an area where IGG already stands out as a business prioritising breadth and depth of industry expertise. We look forward to continuing to support the IGG growth story, through this acquisition and beyond.”