Introduction
The consulting sector is undergoing dynamic evolution, marked by strategic investments, leadership realignments, and geographic expansion. Firms are doubling down on innovation by embracing AI-powered insights, healthcare analytics, and digital reinvention to meet rising client demands. Acquisitions and investments signal a push toward data-driven decision-making, while new office openings reflect continued global growth. At the same time, leadership changes across practices highlight an emphasis on deep expertise and cross-sector collaboration. Whether through transforming client operations, enhancing technology strategies, or driving turnaround efforts, firms are positioning themselves to deliver greater value in an increasingly complex environment. These moves underscore a broader industry shift toward agility, resilience, and future-focused service models.
Key People Moves
Nikolaus Helbig has joined EY-Parthenon as Partner in their Automotive practice. With over 20 years of experience, he brings a unique strategic transformation capability to help clients shape their future with confidence during times of change. Helbig has previously worked with several colleagues at EY-Parthenon and looks forward to driving automotive transformation in his new role.
Alessio Sabbatini has joined EY as Partner in the Technology Strategy & Transformation practice. Bringing over 20 years of experience, Sabbatini is passionate about guiding clients through complex technology transformations from IT strategy and implementation to managed services. He will collaborate closely with colleagues across Cybersecurity, Cloud, AI & Data, and SAP to help organisations in Switzerland and beyond navigate their digital journeys with confidence.
Bain & Company has appointed Christina Ellringmann as Managing Partner for Germany and Austria.
Ellringmann succeeds Walter Sinn, who steps down after 11 years in the role and will become Chairman for the region. Having joined Bain in 2002 and promoted to Partner in 2012, Ellringmann currently leads the Insurance practice group across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She advises clients on business strategy, organisation, large-scale transformations, and performance improvement, with expertise in sales and customer strategy. Under Sinn’s leadership, the firm’s revenue and headcount in the DACH region have more than tripled, with expansion into new offices and services. Ellringmann looks forward to continuing Bain’s growth by delivering measurable value through industry expertise and strong execution.
Portage Point Partners has appointed Coley Brown as Managing Director in its Turnaround & Restructuring Services practice.
Brown brings over 20 years of experience from Huron Consulting Group, advising debtors, secured lenders, and unsecured creditors through complex financial restructurings, corporate turnarounds, and asset sales across diverse industries including oil and gas, retail, technology, and aerospace. He joins Portage Point at a key growth phase for the TRS practice and will contribute his deep expertise to support clients through challenging transactions.
Mark White has joined FTI Consulting, as Senior Managing Director, with extensive experience in the Managing and Construction industry. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mark spent the past 12 years at Hexagon, where he was the SVP of Portfolio Strategy for the Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division. Mark spent the first 20 years of his career with Faithful+Gould, where he leveraged his background as a Quantity Surveyor and aptitude for technology to build an external-facing technology consulting practice to design, develop and implement project management and controls technologies.
Richard Chen has joined Alvarez and Marsal as their Operational Due Diligence Practice Leader. Chen will be bolstering A&M’s ability to support PE with integrated, end-to-end value across the investment lifecycle. Chen’s in-depth waste, infrastructure, distribution, equipment rental and field/technician-based business sector expertise includes advising clients on carveouts, integrations and full operational turnarounds along with developing actionable growth strategies that drive change.
Julian Vincent has joined Oliver Wyman as Partner, focusing on TMT and M&A. Julian was at Kearney for 15 years prior to joining, and is aiming to contribute to the development of CTT (Consumer, Telco and Technology) and M&A practices for OW.
EY-Parthenon has announced the appointment of three new Partners. Fiona Hutchings has joined their Transaction Corporate Finance team as a Partner. Jan Muella has joined their Strategy & Execution team as Partner, joining from BCG and Michael Wharfe has also joined Strategy and Executions, in the UK.
Christian Ramme has joined Alvarez & Marsal Corporate Finance as Managing Director in their German team. Christian joins as Managing Director with expertise in software and technology transactions.
Fabien Terraillot has joined Alvarez and Marsal’s Restructuring team in Paris. Fabien brings 15+ years of experience leading high-impact industrial transformations across sectors including aeronautics, automotive, healthcare, retail, TMT, and more. He specialises in turnaround situations, with deep expertise in social reorganisation and cash excellence programmes.
IBM Consulting has hired EY veteran Andy Baldwin. Andy has significant experience and led the execution of the EY global strategy and had overall responsibility for three geographic areas and four service lines.
Julie Bon has joined AlixPartners as a Senior Advisor in their Economic Advisory wing. Former Competition and Markets Authority expert Julie Bon brings two decades of knowhow to the firm. Speaking on the appointment, Matt Hunt, global co-leader of economics consulting at AlixPartners, commented, “Julie’s extensive knowledge of competition policy and authority decision making combined with her first-class economics expertise will further strengthen our team’s capabilities. We are thrilled to welcome Julie to the firm and are excited that our clients will benefit from her unique blend of hands-on experience and strategic thinking.”
Market Intelligence
Oliver Wyman announces it is acquiring analytics consultancy Validate Health. Founded in 2017, Validate provides analytics solutions to healthcare providers and accountable care organizations (ACOs) to grow market size, increase margins, optimize programs, and manage risk. The firm’s solutions reconstruct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) methodology using computer models for various accountable care programs, then simulate impacts of multiple scenarios at different organizational levels, time horizons, and decision frequencies. “By combining our deep actuarial and policy expertise with Validate Health’s data-driven solutions, we are at the forefront of building an analytics platform that helps clients improve healthcare delivery and drive efficiency,” said David Weinsier, partner, global life and health leader for Oliver Wyman Actuarial.
Bain & Company has invested in AI-driven market researcher, Outset. Bain & Company’s Future Back Ventures was part of a $17-million series A round for Outset, an AI-moderated research platform. The round was led by 8VC, with Future Back Ventures being a new investor in Outset. Returning investors in the series A round included Alt Capital and Y Combinator. The 14-person San Francisco startup has now raised $21 million since its founding in 2023.
Digital consultancy Netlight is launching a London office. International consulting firm Netlight has confirmed its expansion into the UK market. The firm will open a new office in London in the autumn of 2025. Founded in 1999, Netlight has expanded to offices spanning Europe and North America. Since its entry into Canada in 2024, its 2,000 staff have been spread across locales in Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Zurich, Frankfurt and Toronto.
Accenture Song has moved into a new Reinvention Services line. The launch of Reinvention Services has prompted a number of key shifts. Droga recently announced he would step down from leading Accenture Song, and once the entity realigns within Reinvention Services, it will be headed up by Ndidi Oteh. Other key changes will see Jason Dess, current lead of CFO and enterprise value, will become group chief executive of consulting. And Rajendra Prasad will lead technology, succeeding Karthik Narain, who is leaving the business.