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.
The acquisitions mean businesses controlled by Forté currently sit behind GPA representation in the US, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark. GPA has confirmed to Inavate that Forté’s departure will include all of the Regional Business Units covered by the company.
GPA has not yet detailed how it will replace Forté’s representation in those markets after the partnership ends. The US represents a particularly significant gap for GPA to address, given the role of the market in originating multinational AV programmes that require delivery across multiple territories.
Forté’s evolution from GPA’s US operation into a business with its own growing international footprint also provides important context to the separation. The confirmation means GPA will need to address representation across a cluster of territories that has grown under Forté through acquisitions since it first joined GPA as the US RBU in 2020. However, neither organisation has suggested that Forté’s expansion or acquisitions contributed to the decision to end the partnership.
Inavate has asked GPA how it intends to maintain representation in those markets following the separation. Forté has also been asked about its plans for international delivery once the GPA partnership ends.
In their joint announcement, the companies said existing projects, active engagements and customer commitments would 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.
Both organisations said they would work together through the transition to maintain continuity for customers and partners 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