A-LIGN opens London hub as EMEA AI compliance surges
A-LIGN has expanded across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, opening a London office and growing its regional team as demand rises for cybersecurity and AI-related compliance services.
It has grown its customer base across the region and increased EMEA headcount by nearly 40% since 2024. Bookings have also risen, with new customer bookings up 45% year on year and existing customer bookings up 60%.
The London office is part of a wider push to serve multinational customers facing more complex regulatory expectations. A-LIGN pointed to rising scrutiny of cyber risk and governance as organisations operate across multiple jurisdictions and supply chains.
Regulatory pressure
A-LIGN cited new and expanding European rules as a key driver of compliance spending, including the EU AI Act, the NIS2 cybersecurity directive, the Digital Operational Resilience Act, and Germany's C5 framework. It said these regulations are changing how organisations approach assurance and governance.
The company also pointed to its research suggesting AI concerns are reshaping compliance priorities. Nearly three quarters of companies are highly concerned about AI's impact on compliance, it said, and 75% are seeking AI audits or certifications.
Industry advisers say AI governance is increasingly intertwined with established assurance programmes such as information security management and risk controls. Many organisations now treat AI systems as part of the same oversight regime as other critical technology, particularly where data protection, model risk and third-party suppliers overlap.
For firms in regulated sectors, challenges often include gathering evidence and demonstrating repeatable controls across subsidiaries and business units. Audit readiness can also be harder when organisations rely on a mix of cloud providers, specialised AI tools and outsourced development.
London hub
A-LIGN described the London office as a regional hub for EMEA customers with cross-border operations. It expects a local presence to help customers interpret and implement new rules alongside existing frameworks such as ISO standards and assurance reports used by suppliers and buyers.
The company is also positioning London as a base for expanded commercial coverage and partner engagement. It reported customer and partner growth in the region and said the new office responds to what it described as unprecedented demand for compliance across EMEA.
Scott Price, chief executive officer of A-LIGN, linked the investment to the pace of regulatory change and the need for local expertise.
"A wave of emerging regulations like the EU AI Act, NIS2, DORA, and C5 represents a fundamental shift in how global companies approach trust and governance."
Price also referenced A-LIGN's audit management platform, A-SCEND, and its work across certifications and assurance standards, including ISO 27001, SOC 2 and ISO 42001.
Leadership hires
As part of the regional build-out, A-LIGN has made senior hires across sales, marketing and alliances. It named Darin Welfare as DVP, EMEA Sales; Helen Spicer as Head of International Marketing; and Harvey Flather as Director of Alliances, EMEA.
The expansion reflects a broader trend among compliance and assurance providers responding to customers who sell across borders and need consistent evidence for buyers, regulators, and business partners. In practice, this often means aligning security controls, policies and monitoring with recognised frameworks that procurement teams and regulators can validate.
A-LIGN said the appointments will support audit delivery for multinational organisations and expansion of its partner ecosystem across the region. Partnerships with consultancies and technology providers are a common way to scale compliance projects, particularly when customer needs span multiple standards and assessments.
Customer demand
A-LIGN highlighted its growing customer base in EMEA and cited Synthesia, an AI video platform, as one example. It said Synthesia worked with A-LIGN on ISO/IEC 42001 certification, a standard focused on AI management systems and governance.
Synthesia's Head of Security, Martin Tschammer, said the work addressed a shifting compliance environment.
"Partnering with A-LIGN enabled us to navigate the evolving AI compliance landscape and achieve ISO/IEC 42001 certification with confidence," said Martin Tschammer, Head of Security at Synthesia. "Their expertise helped us further strengthen our security posture and reinforce our commitment to responsible AI - deepening trust with both our clients and the market."
A-LIGN expects EMEA demand to remain strong as more organisations seek assurance for AI systems alongside established cyber controls, and as regulators expand oversight of digital and operational risk.