Paris, 28th July 2025 - 9:00 am
Artefact, a global provider of data and artificial intelligence (AI) consulting services to large, blue-chip enterprises, today announces it has entered exclusive negotiations with Cinven, an international private equity firm, for the sale of a majority stake valuing the business at over €1 billion.
Established in 2014 and headquartered in Paris, Artefact empowers leading global businesses to navigate technological change and unlock the competitive advantages of data and AI-led transformation. Today the company employs more than 1,700 individuals in 31 offices across 25 countries.
Combining deep expertise in data science and AI, Artefact partners with leading enterprises to design and implement innovative, AI-driven strategies. With a powerful blend of data, AI and technology capabilities, the company supports its clients to realise the full value of their data to enhance decision-making, drive growth and deliver personalised customer experiences at scale.
Strategic partnership to reinforce international leadership
The investment by the Cinven funds, made in partnership with Artefact’s Founders, Management and the broader Artefact Partner group, draws on Cinven‘s deep Business Services expertise and strong track record in France.
This partnership represents a strategic step forward, enabling the company to become the leading global independent consulting firm and one of the largest international players in data and AI consulting, with a fast-growing presence across all continents, including Europe, North and South America, MENA, Africa, Asia, and India. The investment by the Cinven funds will provide strategic advantages including accelerated expansion through ambitious acquisitions and recruitment plans (ambition to triple its size by 2030 with 100 new senior partners and 20 bolt-on acquisitions), as well as investments to accelerate internal assets and technologies.
The investment by the Cinven funds is underpinned by several attractive characteristics including Artefact’s leading position in the large, high-growth data and AI consulting sector, impressive financial track record with high-quality revenue streams from blue-chip customers, a differentiated and scalable global platform reinforced by a successful M&A track record, and strong senior management team led by co-founders Vincent Luciani and Guillaume de Roquemaurel.
Vincent Luciani, co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Artefact, and Guillaume de Roquemaurel, co-Founder and M&A Lead, stated:
“We are delighted to welcome Cinven as our strategic partner. The partnership with Cinven reinforces our commitment to driving technological transformation and delivering tangible results for our clients. Cinven’s experience, international networks and deep resources will be instrumental in supporting us to scale our operations globally and continue our trajectory of rapid growth and investing in innovation. We look forward to the opportunities that this partnership can deliver and the greater value we can provide to our customers while further cementing Artefact’s leadership in the industry. Our core values, our strategic direction, our independence and our commitment to our clients and employees remain unwavering. In fact, this partnership will enable us to continue our journey with even greater momentum and resources. Finally, I would like to thank Ardian for their steadfast support and partnership over the last years.”
Rory Neeson, Partner and Head of Cinven’s Business Services sector team, said:
“Cinven is proud to make this investment in Artefact, a company that perfectly aligns with Cinven’s strategic vision and investment criteria, and to partner alongside its excellent and dynamic Founders, management team and broader Partner group. We believe that Artefact’s leading-edge expertise in data and AI, coupled with its excellent people, strong culture and global footprint, positions it uniquely within its market.”
Pierre Estrade, Partner and Head of Cinven’s French Regional team, added:
“We are thrilled to partner with Artefact’s founders, Vincent Luciani and Guillaume de Roquemaurel, as well as the management team and highly talented partners and teams across the company. Together, they have built a truly differentiated platform in data and AI consulting, with a clear focus on delivering measurable business impact through an end-to-end approach.”
About ARTEFACT
Artefact is a leading global consulting firm dedicated to accelerating the adoption of data and AI to positively impact people and organizations. We specialize in data & AI transformation and AI/data-driven marketing to drive tangible business results across the entire enterprise value chain – with a focus on top and bottom line business value. Artefact offers the most comprehensive set of data-driven solutions per industry, built on deep data science and cutting-edge AI technologies, delivering AI projects at scale in all industry sectors. From strategy to design to implementation, we offer an end-to-end approach and solutions: data & AI strategy, data quality and governance, data platforms, AI Factory, data-driven customer experience and marketing ROI. Our 1700 employees operate in 25 countries (Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East, India, Africa) and we partner with 1000+ clients.
Learn more at www.artefact.com.
About Cinven
Cinven is a leading international private equity firm focused on building world-class global and European companies. Its funds invest in six key sectors: Business Services, Consumer, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrials and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT). Cinven has offices in London, New York, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Guernsey and Luxembourg. Cinven takes a responsible approach towards its portfolio companies, their employees, suppliers, local communities, the environment and society. Cinven Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Cinven Fund Management S.à r.l. is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. In this press release ‘Cinven’ means, depending on the context, any of or collectively, Cinven Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cinven Partnership LLP, and their respective Associates (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) and/or funds managed or advised by any of the foregoing.
For additional information on Cinven please visit www.cinven.com and www.linkedin.com/company/cinven/.
Get in touch
Artefact
Julia Friedlander
Tel. +33 6 83 00 97 55
Email. teamartefact@taddeo.fr
Cinven
Clare Bradshaw
Tel. +44 (0)7881 918 967
Email. clare.bradshaw@cinven.com
Alison Raymond
Tel. +44 (0)7826 856198
Email. alison.raymond@cinven.com
Brunswick Group (Advisers to Cinven) – Cinven@Brunswickgroup.com
Joanna Donne
Tel. +44 (0)7834 307 881
Email. jdonne@brunswickgroup.com
Max McGahan
Tel. +44 (0) 7834 502369
Email. mmcgahan@brunswickgroup.com