Introduction
In the ever-evolving consulting landscape, key appointments, strategic expansions and market shifts are shaping the future of the industry. This month, notable developments include PwC has appointed Hugh Man as Partner in its Corporate Finance team, Grant Thornton has initiated a leadership transition in the US, and Teneo has launched its Financial Advisory Practice in Spain. The sector is also witnessing significant acquisitions and collaborations, such as Databricks’ purchase of Dataiku and EY-Parthenon’s expansion, both reinforcing the drive for innovation and growth. Additionally, leading firms such as FTI Consulting, Roland Berger and Alvarez & Marsal are strengthening their capabilities with new talent, particularly in sustainability, M&A advisory and business transformation.
Key People Moves
PwC has appointed Hugh Man as Partner in its Corporate Finance team within the Deals Practice. Based in London, Man brings over 20 years of experience in insurance M&A and capital raising. He joins from Jefferies International, where he was Managing Director and Head of EMEA Insurance, and has also held senior roles at Credit Suisse, Fosun, UBS and Deutsche Bank. Man will focus on advising clients in the insurance sector, reinforcing PwC’s strategic commitment to this growing area.
David Hanfland has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at Point B. A consulting veteran with over 30 years of experience, Hanfland joins from Kearney, where he spent the past decade on the global leadership team, including roles on the board of directors and leading the Americas region. He brings a wealth of expertise in strategy and corporate development to his new role at Point B.
EY-Parthenon has appointed Thomas Barzan as a Partner in its Strategy Team. With over 15 years of experience in the consumer and life sciences industries, Barzan joins from Bayer, where he served as Strategy and Chief Transformation Officer at Bayer Consumer Health. He was also a Partner at BCG and held various roles at Procter & Gamble. Barzan will lead EY’s Strategy & Transactions offering for the Consumer and Life Sciences industries in Western Europe. His expertise spans corporate strategy, turnaround transformations, operations, supply chain and leadership effectiveness.
Oriane Schoonbroodt has joined Deloitte Luxembourg as Leader for Sustainability and Emerging Assurance. She brings extensive expertise in ESG strategy and sustainable finance, previously serving as Sustainability Leader at EY Meena. Oriane co-founded Label R and has also worked with the European Parliament and the United Nations. She will now focus on advancing sustainability practices and strategic collaborations in financial services.
FTI Consulting has appointed Matthew Swan and Marcelo Botelho as Managing Directors in the Business Transformation practice. Matthew Swan brings nearly 15 years of transformation experience, specialising in digital, procurement, and operational performance improvement. He was previously an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company and has advised on multiple large-scale change programmes.
Marcelo Botelho, with over 20 years of experience, has led major transformation projects across sectors including consumer, life sciences, and manufacturing. His expertise includes financial transformation, M&A, and restructuring, with prior roles at global advisory firms and as a CFO.
Their appointments enhance FTI Consulting’s capabilities to support cross-sector transformation for clients.
Interpath has appointed Neil Siri as CEO of its DACH Business, tasked with driving the firm’s growth in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. A veteran with over 30 years at PwC, Siri brings extensive experience in advising private equity and corporate clients on transactions and advisory services. Based in Munich, he will also lead Interpath’s private capital offerings globally and join the Executive Committee. Interpath, which recently expanded into the DACH region following its acquisition of Kerkhoff, now aims to scale and establish a market-leading presence in the area.
Alvarez & Marsal has welcomed Jennifer Fountain as a Managing Director in its London office. Fountain brings 19 years of experience in M&A and digital transformation, with a strong track record working with private equity-backed companies. She has also held interim CTO and CIO roles across portfolio businesses and large listed firms, further strengthening the firm’s technology-enabled value creation capabilities.
OC&C Strategy Consultants has welcomed Ben Gregory as a Partner in its UK Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) Team. He joins from Teneo, where he was Managing Director and EMEA Client Lead in the private equity growth practice. Gregory brings deep expertise in growth strategy, pricing, revenue models and post-deal value creation, strengthening OC&C’s capabilities as demand grows across the TMT sector.
FTI Consulting has appointed Katherine Garvey as a Managing Director in its Transactions team.
With over 13 years of experience in the financial services deals industry, she brings deep expertise across deal analysis, diligence, integration planning, and strategic implementation. A CPA in New York and a Villanova University graduate, Katherine strengthens FTI’s ability to deliver end-to-end support for private equity and corporate clients.
Roland Berger has strengthened its North American chemicals consulting capabilities with the appointment of senior partners Pedro Caruso and Rohit Singh. Based in Houston, they join Juan Trebino to enhance the firm’s expertise across specialty chemicals, industrial gases and advanced materials. With deep experience in operational efficiency, sustainability and strategy, their arrival reinforces Roland Berger’s commitment to delivering transformative and execution-focused solutions to chemical sector clients.
Arthur D. Little has welcomed Christophe Meunier as a Partner. With over 20 years of strategy consulting experience, Meunier brings deep expertise in telecommunications, IT services, network equipment and aerospace. He has led major initiatives in strategic transformation, turnaround, post-merger integration and operational improvement.
Teneo has welcomed Daniel Kravitz as a Managing Director in its Management Consulting Business. Kravitz will lead Sales and Marketing for Teneo’s global Private Equity Growth Practice. With over 14 years of experience in commercial strategy, sales execution and market expansion across industries such as private equity, technology and financial services, Daniel will play a key role in strengthening Teneo’s capabilities. Prior to joining Teneo, he was a Principal at the Alexander Group and a Manager at Ernst & Young.
Alvarez & Marsal’s Global Transaction Advisory Group (Global TAG) has appointed Mike Eledjam as a Managing Director in France. With 20 years of experience advising private equity and corporate clients on complex, cross-border transactions, Eledjam brings deep expertise across media, technology, consumer, industrials and education. His appointment reflects our continued investment in senior talent and further strengthens our ability to support clients in an increasingly dynamic M&A landscape.
Alvarez & Marsal’s Global Transaction Advisory Group (Global TAG) welcomes Kathryn Alexis Jörgensen as the practice’s first Managing Director in Denmark – marking a key milestone as we formally enter the Danish market and continue our Nordic expansion. With over 15 years of experience in the region, Kathryn brings strong expertise in cross-border M&A, integration, separation and due diligence across multiple industries. Her deep regional insight and proven ability to scale transaction advisory capabilities make her a valuable addition to our growing team. We’re proud to welcome Kathryn as we strengthen our presence across the Nordics and broaden our support for clients in this dynamic region.
Patric Kirchner has joined CIL in Munich, bringing over 20 years of experience in pricing and commercial excellence. He will support the firm’s efforts to expand its offering in response to increasing demand for strategic pricing and value creation services. Patric joins from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, where he was Global Head of Pricing, and has previously held roles at Accenture, PwC, and Simon-Kucher. His background spans both consultancy and in-house roles, with a strong focus on B2B and B2B2C sectors.
Arthur D. Little has announced the appointment of Sundeep Khanna as a Partner in its Performance Practice. With over 15 years of experience in the region and more than 30 years globally, Sundeep brings deep expertise across retail, fashion, luxury, health & beauty, electronics and department store models. He has held senior leadership roles in both industry and consulting, including with Deloitte Middle East and Landmark Group. His experience spans digital and technology strategy, operating model transformation and value chain optimisation. Sundeep will be based in Dubai and focus on opportunities across the Middle East in retail and other consumer facing sectors.
EIGHT ADVISORY has welcomed Kay Wüste as a new Partner in its Frankfurt office. With over 25 years of experience, Kay brings deep expertise in transaction advisory and financial consulting. He joins from Accuracy, where he spent more than two decades, following earlier experience at EY.Kay’s appointment strengthens EIGHT ADVISORY’s presence in Germany and reinforces its commitment to delivering high-quality financial and strategic advisory services across the DACH region.
People Promotions
Horváth has appointed long-standing partners Heiko Fink and Niko Hofmann to its Executive Board, now leading a global team of 1,400 consultants.
– Mr Hofmann, in his role as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer, oversees finance, IT services and procurement across the Horváth Group, and supports operations in Germany, Hungary and Romania. He also leads efforts across the automotive, aerospace & defence, industrial goods and transport sectors—ensuring a strong foundation for sound management decisions and continued growth.
– Mr Fink, as Chief Sales Officer, focuses on business development and expanding Horváth’s market presence. He leads the Strategy & Transformation and Operations practice areas and supports subsidiaries in Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Internally, he strengthens sales management and oversees research and knowledge functions, helping turn market complexity into value-driven outcomes for clients.
Interpath has promoted Sam Birchall, Natasha Harbinson, and Gareth Slater to Managing Directors as part of the firm’s largest round of promotions to date, underscoring its continued investment in talent.
– Sam Birchall is a corporate finance and restructuring specialist, leading Interpath’s special situations M&A practice across the UK. He has been involved in several high-profile restructuring and distressed M&A transactions in recent years.
– Natasha Harbinson is a key figure in Interpath’s London restructuring team, with more than 12 years of experience advising distressed companies. She recently advised on OutsideClinic’s restructuring plan, which was sanctioned by the court in March 2025.
– Gareth Slater brings over 25 years of experience in restructuring, with a focus on London and the South West regions. He has played a central role in several successful restructurings, including the £700 million sale of Toucan Energy’s solar portfolio to Schroders Greencoat. Slater will also head up the Bristol office, expanding Interpath’s presence in the South West and Wales.
Market Intelligence
Databricks has announced the acquisition of Dataiku for $4.2 billion, to be paid in Databricks cloud credits. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi stated that the acquisition is not driven by strategic fit, but rather aims to disrupt the competitive landscape, particularly targeting rival Snowflake. Florian Douetteau, founder of Dataiku, noted that he intends to use the Databricks credits to support the development and training of a large language model, further emphasizing his commitment to advancing artificial intelligence. This acquisition represents a bold move within the cloud and AI sectors, intensifying competition in the data analytics and machine learning markets.
EY-Parthenon has significantly expanded its global presence by acquiring EY’s Strategy & Transactions team, bringing its headcount to over 25,000 employees across 150 countries. This acquisition strengthens its capabilities in financial advisory, performance improvement, and business transformation, complementing its established corporate strategy and M&A services. The move broadens EY-Parthenon’s service offerings to include corporate finance, transaction support, restructuring, and value creation, positioning the firm to better address shifting client demands amidst geopolitical instability and rapid technological changes.
With this expansion, EY-Parthenon now surpasses competitors such as Oliver Wyman and Bain & Company in terms of employee numbers, though it still trails behind McKinsey & Company and Boston Consulting Group. Additionally, EY-Parthenon has unveiled a new brand identity and committed $250 million to enhance its AI tools and data capabilities, with a focus on integrating technology into its consulting practices.
Tailscale, a Toronto-based zero trust network access provider, has raised $160 million in Series C funding, led by Accel, bringing its valuation to $1.45 billion. The funding will support Tailscale’s efforts to expand its platform, enabling decentralised network control and segmentation within larger, more complex organisations. Founded in 2019, Tailscale has now raised over $275 million and employs 177 people. The company plans to refine and scale its existing product to meet the evolving needs of enterprise clients, particularly those in AI and multi-cloud environments. As Tailscale focuses on capital-efficient growth, it aims to increase revenue without significantly expanding its headcount, while maintaining high product quality and providing free user support.
Accounting firms Baker Tilly and Moss Adams are in advanced discussions about a potential merger, which would include private equity investment. The combined entity is projected to generate more than $3 billion in annual revenue, based on 2024 figures, making it the sixth-largest accounting firm in the United States. If the merger goes through, leadership would be drawn from both firms, with the deal strengthening Baker Tilly’s presence on the US West Coast while expanding Moss Adams’ international footprint. Additionally, it would mark Moss Adams’ first step into private equity ownership, following Baker Tilly’s 2023 sale of a stake to Hellman & Friedman and Valeas Capital Partners. In 2024, Baker Tilly reported US revenue exceeding $1.8 billion, ranking 11th nationally, while Moss Adams followed closely with $1.3 billion. Together, they audit more than 110 SEC-registered clients. The deal is still under negotiation and could either fall through or attract interest from other firm
Global design and engineering firm Stantec has acquired Irish consultancy Ryan Hanley, a 150-person engineering and environmental firm with offices in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Castlebar. The acquisition builds on a joint venture between the two firms, which began in 2020 and has included support for Uisce Éireann, Ireland’s national water utility. The deal is intended to strengthen Stantec’s position in Ireland, particularly in the water sector, by leveraging Ryan Hanley’s local expertise and relationships. The two firms have shared an office in central Dublin since 2024. Ryan Hanley will continue to offer services across infrastructure, utilities, and environmental projects, serving a broad client base that includes government departments, local authorities and private sector organisations. The acquisition is part of Stantec’s wider strategy to grow its operations in Ireland.
Cynozure has formed a partnership with business intelligence platform Omni to help organizations maximize the value of their data investments. The collaboration combines Omni’s business intelligence and embedded analytics tools with Cynozure’s expertise in data strategy, implementation, and management. Omni enables users to analyze data using SQL, spreadsheets, AI, and point-and-click interfaces, supported by a semantic layer to ensure consistency and accuracy. Cynozure, specializing in data strategy, architecture, engineering, and AI, will assist clients in integrating Omni into their broader data ecosystems. This partnership comes at a time when business intelligence is a top priority for data leaders, with 46% identifying it as a key focus area for 2025. Together, Cynozure and Omni aim to deliver scalable, self-service analytics solutions that meet immediate business needs while laying the foundation for long-term, data-driven transformation.
IBM is set to acquire Hakkōda, a fast-growing data consultancy founded in 2021, to further enhance its AI-driven consulting services. Hakkōda brings deep expertise in Snowflake, AWS, and SAP, with a strong track record in cloud data migration, business intelligence modernization, and industry-specific data solutions—particularly in healthcare, financial services, logistics, and the public sector. This acquisition aligns with IBM’s ongoing investment in AI-enabled consulting, which has now surpassed $5B in bookings. Hakkōda’s 350+ professionals will join IBM Consulting Advantage, bolstering IBM’s capacity to deliver value at scale through its AI-powered delivery platform. As organizations continue to accelerate their digital and data transformation initiatives, this move further solidifies IBM’s position as a leading partner in helping clients unlock value through intelligent data strategies and next-generation technologies.
Teneo has launched its Financial Advisory business in Spain, appointing experienced professionals Javier Ibáñez and Francisco Alba to lead the practice in Madrid. The new Financial Advisory services, which include mergers and acquisitions, financial transactions, and restructuring, will now be available to Spanish clients, further expanding Teneo’s global reach across its 40 offices. Ibáñez, with over 25 years of experience, joins as Senior Managing Director. He previously spent a decade at KPMG as a restructuring partner and also led Kroll’s Restructuring practice in Spain. Alba, who joins as Managing Director, brings over 15 years of experience from roles at KPMG, Kroll, and Borealis. This expansion is part of Teneo’s broader growth strategy, following the successful launch of its Financial Advisory business in Latin America. Ibáñez and Alba plan to focus on building out services such as crisis management, insolvency, fundraising, and supporting business growth in Spain.