The appointment of Pete Madsen as partner and head of the firm’s advisory arm in January was a highly strategic decision for Bentleys SA, as it continues to broaden the services available to their clients.

“We are committed to delivering a complete and modern advisory solution for our clients,” says Michael Ruggiero, managing partner.

“Over the last few years, we have introduced several specialisations, including research and development tax incentives, taxation consulting, wealth management and finance and banking, to our service mix.

“Today, the appointment of a dedicated advisory team, led by Pete Madsen, reaffirms our commitment to delivering the complete range of advisory services, geared to improving the performance of local businesses.”

Madsen’s relationship with Bentleys began while he was working for a local construction company, where he formed a deep working relationship.

In 2016, Madsen started an advisory business of his own and continued to work closely with Bentleys, where their relationship became increasingly symbiotic.

“I was supplementing a capability that, at the time, Bentleys didn’t have, and Bentleys had resource, which I didn’t have, so it was a good marriage,” Madsen says.

 “Today it feels like a natural fit to be part of the Bentleys team,” he says.

When setting up the advisory practice within Bentleys, it was important for Madsen to make the distinction between consulting and advisory, the latter of which he believes to be critical in helping his clients excel.

“I was pretty clear on the fact that we should call it advisory,” Madsen says.

“The difference, as I see it, is that a consultant fixes a pre-identified problem. In contrast, an advisor investigates and diagnoses the problem, and then designs a bespoke solution to enable sustained, improved business performance.

“From an advisor’s viewpoint, every client has their own unique set of circumstances, so each project is very different. Sometimes projects require a focus on strategy, transformation, risk or project management, or any of the above.

“As an advisor, you’re not with the client forever, you shouldn’t be. Instead, the focus is on leaving the client with an enduring legacy.”

Michael Ruggiero has clear aspirations for Bentleys.

“We can be very influential for businesses, and dare I say it, I think we already are given the iconic projects that we’re working on and the extent to which we are facilitating change for businesses,” Ruggiero says.

“I believe Bentleys will continue to be a positive influence for South Australian businesses and will contribute to shaping the local business landscape, by offering a fresh, accessible and contemporary alternative in the provision of professional services.”

“My legacy is, in five, 10 years’ time, to see two or three advisory practices that are really successful, and Bentleys is known as the go-to firm in the state,” says Madsen.

Bentleys has almost doubled in size in the last six years, growing from around 70 employees to almost 130, and it is through investment in its people that Ruggiero and Madsen plan to continue that growth and become an integral and transformative force in the South Australian business community.