Forté and GPA will end their six-year partnership on December 31, 2026, with GPA confirming the separation will include Forté-controlled Regional Business Units in the US, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark.
The two organisations announced the decision on August 12, saying their future strategies would be best advanced independently as each pursues its own growth priorities.
Forté has worked with GPA since 2020, with the partnership supporting AV projects and programmes for multinational customers around the world.
The US represents the most significant territory affected by the move. Forté, formerly AVI Systems, is currently GPA’s Regional Business Unit in the country, with GPA listing 41 US locations and more than 1,300 staff.
Forté’s position within GPA has also expanded beyond the US as the company has built its own international operation through acquisitions.
GPA currently lists Forté Germany as its German Regional Business Unit. Its directory names System Video as GPA Ireland and Informationsteknik as its business in Sweden, while Informationsteknik also covers Denmark.
However, Forté acquired System Video and German integrator GMS in April 2025, with both businesses set to adopt the Forté brand. It followed this in September 2025 with the acquisition of Informationsteknik, including its operations in Sweden and Denmark.
GPA has confirmed to Inavate that Forté’s departure will include all of the Regional Business Units covered by the company. Forté has separately confirmed that the transition will apply to its operations in Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark.
The move comes as Forté increasingly develops an international delivery platform of its own. In comments to Inavate, the company said its growth strategy includes expanding its global presence to support customers through a “more direct, consistent and scalable global delivery model”.
Forté added that, as its international business has grown, it has developed capabilities that allow it to support enterprise customers more effectively through its own expanding platform.
The company will not, however, move entirely away from partner-led delivery. Forté said it would continue to rely on partnerships in regions where there is a mutual focus on providing global customers with speed, predictability and transparency.
Forté declined to disclose its plans for future geographic expansion, saying it would continue to evaluate opportunities that support customers, strengthen its service model and align with its long-term growth strategy.
The separation leaves GPA with questions to address around representation in a number of markets. The US represents a particularly significant gap, given the scale of Forté’s operation in the country and GPA’s focus on multinational organisations requiring consistent delivery across international locations.
GPA has not yet detailed how it will replace Forté’s representation in the US, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark after the partnership ends. Inavate has asked GPA how it intends to maintain coverage in those markets.
Forté’s evolution from GPA’s US operation into a business with its own growing international footprint provides important context to the separation. However, neither organisation has suggested that Forté’s acquisitions or expansion created friction within GPA or directly contributed to the decision to end the partnership.
Both companies have stressed that continuity for customers will remain a priority. Existing projects, active engagements and customer commitments will continue to be supported through agreed transition arrangements.
James Shanks, managing director of GPA, said: “Our relationship with Forté has been an important part of GPA's journey, and we are grateful for the contribution the Forté team has made to our organisation and our customers over many years.”
GPA said it would continue to support global customers through its network of Regional Business Units and strategic partners.
Jeff Stoebner, chairman and CEO of Forté, said: “Our journey with GPA this past six years has been one of the most rewarding experiences for Forté and we are proud of what we’ve accomplished together in support of our customers around the world.”
He added that developing global delivery had been critical for Forté and that GPA had accelerated that capability.
Forté told Inavate that GPA had been a valued partner and said both organisations were working closely with customers and partners to ensure continuity of service and a smooth transition.
Both organisations said they would continue working together through the transition until the partnership concludes at the end of the year.
Top image [L-R]: James Shanks, managing director of GPA; and Jeff Stoebner chairman and CEO of Forté