This growth underscores the need for the visionary leadership exemplified by this year’s awardees, who bring deep expertise in digital transformation, strategic growth, and risk management. By helping organizations develop innovative products, embrace new business models, and navigate evolving workforce dynamics, these leaders are shaping the future of the insurance industry and ensuring long-term success for their clients.

Among this year’s awardees, Ronald Engel, Partner at Arthur D. Little, stands out for his deep expertise in converging insurance-related projects with other industries to create innovative solutions that drive value across sectors. Chris Raimondo, Partner at EY, is recognized for his leadership in transforming core business operations for major insurance carriers through technology. Wendy Shapps, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, is noted for her deep expertise in forensic accounting and fraud investigations, playing a crucial role in resolving complex disputes within the insurance industry.

This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical nomination process and careful consideration of each candidate’s career track record and industry contributions. Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Insurance Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Alissa Ristic
Firm: KPMG
Title: Managing Director

Alissa Ristic is a Managing Director in KPMG’s Customer and Operations practice with almost 20 years of consulting and insurance industry experience across the value chain, including claims, underwriting, insurance product, and broking. She also has an extensive background serving in senior leadership roles within insurtechs. 

Ristic has worked in both the US and UK insurance markets driving digital transformation, enhancing carrier speed to market across multichannel distribution models, and customer and operational excellence. She currently leads KPMG’s Digital Insurance practice, where her focus is providing insurance clients with more personalized, convenient, and cost-effective services by using digital technologies to make improvements to process, products, and services.

Ristic holds a master’s degree in risk management and insurance, is a Chartered Insurance Broker, and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. She was recognized as a Top 25 Insurance Consultant and Leader in 2023 by The Consulting Report as well as a Top 50 Women Leader of Boston by Women We Admire. She also takes part in the KPMG Executive Leadership Institute for Women and provides mentorship to female talent developing their careers.

2. Chris Raimondo
Firm: EY
Title: Partner

Chris Raimondo is a Partner in the Ernst and Young LLP Insurance sector and currently serves as the Americas Insurance Consulting Leader. In his role, he leads the overall portfolio of solutions and capabilities EY provides to its insurance clients, consisting of business, technology, risk and actuarial, and people consulting. He has more than 20 years of global experience in the insurance industry, with a focus on transforming core business operations through the implementation of technology. 

Chris has a strong track record of building high-performing, diverse teams and delivering complex transformation programs at major domestic and international property, casualty, life, and annuity insurance carriers. Prior to his current role, Chris led technology consulting for the EY Insurance sector. 

Chris was also a founding member of the EY Guidewire Alliance practice and served in leadership roles in the EY finance and property and casualty businesses in the insurance sector. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and entrepreneurship from the Miami University of Ohio and a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul University.

3. Ram Menon
Firm: KPMG
Title: Partner

Ram Menon is a Partner at KPMG LLP, the US member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited. Menon serves as a global advisor to C-level executives and senior management teams in the global insurance industry, providing M&A, strategy, corporate development, and divestiture related advisory services from strategy through to execution for global insurance industry clients. 

With over 30 years of global experience at KPMG’s financial services industry practices in leading financial centers worldwide, including New York, London, Singapore, and Dubai, Menon serves as the Head of KPMG’s Global Insurance Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures practice, where he built a global franchise, leading cross-functional teams of industry professionals across North America, Europe and Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. 

Menon is focused on KPMG’s priority clients in the global insurance sector, aiming to drive sustainable profitable growth as part of KPMG's global growth strategy. His responsibilities span across KPMG’s cross-functional advisory, tax, and audit businesses, with a focus on expanding KPMG’s industry-wide network of relationships and enhancing overall client experience and brand awareness. 

Menon serves on the Business Advisory Board for St. John’s University Board of Overseers at the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science. He is also a frequent speaker at KPMG-sponsored industry events and conferences, focusing on insurance M&A, strategy, cross-border investments, and global and regional economic trends. Menon is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant and holds a bachelor of commerce in finance and accounting from the University of Bombay.

4. Christian Kinder
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner

Christian Kinder leads Bain and Company’s insurance practice group across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. With over 25 years of experience in management consulting, he advises clients on various aspects of their business, focusing on strategies at both the group and business unit level. His consulting expertise includes digitalization and artificial intelligence, customer and distribution strategies, and growth initiatives. 

Kinder also guides clients through organizational development, claims management, and performance improvement projects. Kinder has been with Bain since 1999 and holds a degree in business mathematics and a doctorate in finance and baking from the University of Augsburg.

5. Cindy De Armond
Firm: Accenture
Title: Managing Director

Cindy De Armond is the Managing Director of Accenture, a leading global professional services firm that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services. With a presence in more than 120 countries, the firm focuses on innovation and talent to deliver value across various sectors.

6. John Szymczyk
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Managing Director

John Szymczyk is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s Audit practice, with over 17 years of experience primarily serving insurance and reinsurance clients. His clients have included public and private entities within the property and casualty, life and health, and captive and reinsurance industries. He has extensive experience in US GAAP, IFRS, SEC, and US statutory accounting and regulations, and has served some of the firm’s largest global insurance and reinsurance clients.

7. Fritz Nauck
Firm: McKinsey & Company
Title: Senior Partner

Fritz Nauck is a Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. McKinsey and Company is a global management consulting firm that advises leading businesses, governments, and institutions across the private, public and social sectors.

8. Robert Glasser
Firm: Berkeley Research Group
Title: Managing Director

Robert Glasser is a Managing Director in BRG Consulting’s Business Insurance Claims practice and is based in New York and Denver. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified in Financial Forensics, a Certified Insolvency and Reorganization Accountant, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. With over 40 years of diverse experience, he has specialized in economic management, insurance claims, accounting, and forensic fraud investigation experience at public and private companies.

Mr. Glasser helps insured businesses prepare and substantiate business interruption and property damage claims resulting from physical damage due to hurricanes and other perils. His experience spans a range of industries, including hospitality, real estate, manufacturing, retail, and service organizations. He has led several product recall claims involving domestic and international operations and leads domestic and international forensic fraud investigations involving alleged acts of employee dishonesty, embezzlement, and corruption involving the preparation of claims with insurance coverage. 

Previously, Mr. Glasser was a Managing Director at FTI Consulting in the Business Insurance Claims practice, helping clients with insurance claims, litigation support, and various loss quantification matters. He was also previously East Coast Regional Director of Aon Risk Solutions’ Property Claims Preparation, Advocacy, and Valuation Group, where he led the firm’s US East Coast Insurance Claims practice. Prior to Aon, Mr. Glasser was a Partner in Dempsey Partners’ New York office, where he led the firm’s US East Coast Property and Business Interruption Claims practice. 

Prior to Dempsey Partners, Mr. Glasser was with BDO Consulting, where he led the firm’s Insurance Claim Services practice and performed numerous forensic fraud investigations. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of an international telecommunications firm, as well as Chief Financial Officer of a product manufacturer and distribution company. He holds an MBA in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut. 

9. Chris Morbelli
Firm: EY
Title: Principal

Chris Morbelli is a Principal in the Insurance Consulting practice at Ernst and Young LLP, where he leads EY’s Americas Life and Group Transformation solution. He advises clients on business growth strategies, operating model design, customer experience design, and platform implementations. His clients include many of the leading life, annuity, and group benefits carriers.

In this role, Chris has guided his clients through successful end-to-end digital transformations in the life, annuities, and employee benefits sectors, focusing on new business, administration, and claims. These programs have resulted in a differentiated customer experience and business growth, while also driving sustainable operational expense reductions.

Prior to joining EY, Chris spent 20 years in the insurance industry, most recently serving as the Vice President of Strategy and Operations Transformation for a leading global life insurance company. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from SUNY Binghamton and an MBA in finance from Rutgers University.

10. Martin Spit
Firm: EY-Parthenon
Title: Principal

Martin Spit is a Principal at EY-Parthenon, a global firm that leverages data and technology to support clients in over 150 countries. As the Americas Insurance Sector Leader for EY’s Strategy and Transactions practice, Spit advises clients on all issues relating to organic growth strategy and inorganic acquisitions and divestitures. He also has deep experience in organizational structuring and operational integration and separation. 

Previously, Spit was a Managing Director at Accenture and before that a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group. Earlier in his career he worked with Ernst and Young Consulting as a Manager. Spit holds an MBA from INSEAD and a master’s degree in computer science from Twente University in the Netherlands.

11. Mathew Tierney
Firm: Grant Thornton
Title: Global Insurance Practice Leader

Mathew Tierney is the Global Insurance Practice leader for Grant Thornton. Tierney maintains offices in both New York City and Philadelphia and also serves on Grant Thornton’s Partnership Board as well as on the Global Business Consulting Leadership team for Grant Thornton International Ltd. Tierney oversees the firm’s go-to-market strategy for the insurance industry, which includes creating industry-centric solutions, establishing service delivery teams, and ensuring quality execution for the firm’s global accounts. 

Previously, Tierney was a Senior Manager at Smart Business Advisory and Consulting. Earlier in his career he worked with Sungard Data Systems as a Staff Tax Accountant. Tierney holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Widener University and completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program.

12. Kannan Amaresh
Firm: Infosys
Title: Senior Vice President and Global Head, Insurance

Kannan Amaresh is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Insurance at Infosys, a global digital services and consulting firm that helps clients in more than 50 countries navigate digital transformation. Amaresh has over 25 years of professional experience across the US, Canada, UK, Europe, and India. He is a key member of the Senior Executive Leadership and Management Council at Infosys.

13. Sivakumar Deivacikamani
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Vice President

Sivakumar Deivacikamani (Siva) is a Delivery, Technology, and Innovation Head of Insurance at Cognizant. With over 24 years of experience in the insurance industry, Siva has supported more than 100 insurance clients in addressing significant business and technology challenges, including risk and regulatory compliance, product and portfolio rationalization, underwriting and claims modernization, and agent and customer experience programs.

Siva began his career at TCS, where he specialized in systems, business operations, infrastructure, and outsourcing R&D services globally. He has held various roles in sales, delivery, and solutions, and has worked closely with the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. Siva holds a degree in electronics and instrumentation engineering from Annamalai University and has completed programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

14. Sarat Varanasi
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Insurance Americas Business Unit Leader

Sarat Varanasi is the Insurance Americas Business Unit Leader at Cognizant. Varanasi is a results-driven and visionary senior executive leader with over 25 years of progressive experience in the financial services industry. Adept at driving strategic business growth, executing digital transformation, and delivering exceptional results, he has a proven track record of building high-performance teams, turning around struggling units, and adapting to dynamic business environments. 

Before joining Cognizant, Varanasi was a Chief Solutions Delivery Officer at Drivestream and before that a Program Manager at Oracle. Earlier in his career he worked with Sathguru Management Consultants as a Senior Consultant. Varanasi graduated from Osmania University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.

15. Matt Edwards
Firm: Slalom
Title: Senior Director

Matt Edwards is a Senior Director at Slalom, a global business and technology consulting company. In his role, he has been instrumental in establishing and growing Slalom's Global Insurance Industry practice, which focuses on guiding clients through strategic transformation and modernization, including designing modern insurance products, defining the business value of AI in underwriting and claims, creating integrated technology ecosystems, and transforming data infrastructure to provide greater insights to make business decisions.

In addition to helping Slalom's global insurance clients transform, Matt has been involved in crafting a number of thought articles on insurance topics, which include hurdles facing the reinsurance industry, cloud migration, predictive modeling in specialty insurance, and digital transformation. He has also participated in panel discussions on emerging topics impacting the industry. Matt also works closely with Slalom's large partner network to co-develop industry-focused solutions that leverage partner platforms, accelerating value creation for Slalom's clients.

Prior to Slalom, Matt spent more than a decade with Safeco and Liberty Mutual in a number of different roles within claims, service, FP&A, P&C operations, and finance and product management. He holds an undergraduate degree in history from Indiana University Bloomington.

16. Jeannette Mitchell
Firm: PwC
Title: Partner

Jeannette Mitchell is a Partner at PwC, a network of firms operating in 151 countries with over 360,000 professionals delivering assurance, advisory, and tax services. Mitchell led PwC’s Insurance Trust Solutions practice. With over 25 years of experience, she oversees the delivery of assurance and tax services in the life, annuity, property and casualty, and health sectors.

17. Daren Rudd
Firm: CGI
Title: Vice President

Daren Rudd is Vice President in CGI’s UK Insurance business and leads the business, technology, and innovation consulting team. His team, composed of industry, product, and technology experts, advises on insurance digital business and technology strategy, insurance industry and technology insights, future operating model and architecture design, and human-centered innovation and design.

18. Nate Seacrist
Firm: RSM US
Title: Partner

Nate Seacrist is a Partner at RSM US, a provider of assurance, tax, and consulting services to the middle market. With over 17,000 professionals across the US and Canada and a global presence in 120 countries, RSM is committed to understanding and addressing the evolving needs of its clients, colleagues, and communities.

19. Michael Pisano
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director

Michael Pisano is a Managing Director in Protiviti’s National Financial Services practice and is Protiviti’s Insurance Industry Internal Audit leader. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that provides clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, digital, legal, HR, risk, and internal audit through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries.

20. James McDermott
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

James McDermott is a Managing Director and Leader with Alvarez and Marsal’s Insurance and Risk Advisory Services practice in New York. McDermott specializes in business turnaround, crisis management, financial restructuring, and capital markets transactions. He is recognized for providing strategic, financial, operational and risk management advice throughout the insurance sector.

21. Wendy Shapss
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director

Wendy Shapss is a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting and is based in New York. FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm that helps organizations manage change, mitigate risk, and resolve disputes across financial, legal, operational, political and regulatory, and reputational and transactional areas. With over 8,000 employees across 33 countries and territories, FTI Consulting professionals assist clients in navigating complex business challenges.

22. Heather Gagnon
Firm: Crowe
Title: Managing Director

Heather Gagnon is a Managing Director in the consulting group at Crowe, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm that provides audit services to public and private entities. Gagnon specializes in insurance consulting services and internal process, risk, and control assessments.

23. Gaurav Garg
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner

Gaurav Garg is a Partner and Global Head of P&C Insurance at Oliver Wyman, a business of Marsh McLennan. Oliver Wyman is a management consulting firm that combines industry knowledge with specialized expertise to help clients optimize their business, improve operations, and accelerate performance. Garg brings extensive global industry experience to his role, advising large multinational corporations as well as emerging insurtechs to provide strategic guidance at various phases of growth and development.

24. Will Davies
Firm: PA Consulting
Title: Partner

Will Davies is a Partner at PA Consulting, a professional services firm that works with public, private, and third-sector organizations. With over 20 years of experience across the finance services and insurance industries, Davies helps clients address significant challenges, including enhancing customer experience, driving digital, data, and cloud transformation, cost reduction, and delivering new risk and regulatory compliance and change programs.

25. Ronald Engel
Firm: Arthur D. Little
Title: Partner

Ronald Engel is a Partner and a member of Arthur D. Little’s global Financial Services practice. Based in Munich, he works closely with teams on insurance-related projects, often in convergence with other practices, helping to create new value at the interface of industries. Arthur D. Little is a management consultancy that links strategy, innovation, and technology to drive success for its clients.

From advising on M&A and restructuring within the travel sector to leading technology-driven transformations in hospitality operations, these leaders play a crucial role in optimizing revenue management, enhancing guest experiences, and navigating the complex regulatory landscapes of global tourism. Their work impacts millions of travelers each year, making travel safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable for people around the world.

Among this year’s awardees, Jim Miller, Partner at Arthur D. Little, is recognized for his 35 years of expertise in guiding airports, airlines, and other key players in the travel, transportation, and hospitality industry through complex financial transactions and strategic planning. Gonzalo Fortuny, Partner at EY, is noted for his leadership in driving digital transformation across global hotel chains, leveraging AI and advanced technologies to enhance operational efficiency and customer experiences. Teresa Long, Industry Leader for Retail, Leisure, and Hospitality at Willis Towers Watson, is celebrated for her strategic approach and innovative solutions in risk management.

This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical evaluation process and thorough consideration of each candidate’s career track record and industry contributions. Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Travel and Hospitality Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Vik Krishnan
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Senior Partner

Vik Krishnan is a Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company, a global management consulting firm serving as a trusted advisor to the world's leading businesses, governments, and institutions. With over 20 years of consulting experience across multiple functional areas in travel, logistics, and infrastructure, Krishnan advises organizations on designing networks, improving pricing sophistication, driving better on-time performance, and scheduling crews efficiently.

Previously, Krishnan was a Partner and Global Aviation Sector Lead at Oliver Wyman. Krishnan holds an MBA in operations, information management, and strategic management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree in economics from Dartmouth College.

2. Emily Weiss
Firm: Accenture
Title: Senior Managing Director, Global Travel Industry Lead

Emily Weiss is the Senior Managing Director and Global Travel Industry Lead at Accenture, a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services.

3. Jon van der Veen
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner

Jon van der Veen is a member of Bain and Company’s Retail and M&A and Divestiture practices, and also leads the firm’s Travel and Leisure sector in the Americas. Bain and Company is a global consultancy that collaborates with clients across 65 cities in 40 countries to achieve results, gain a competitive edge, and drive industry change.

4. Andreas Scriven
Firm: Deloitte UK
Title: Partner

Andreas Scriven is a Partner and Head of Hospitality and Leisure for Deloitte UK and Deloitte North South Europe. Based in London, Scriven has extensive consultancy and M&A experience across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA. He plays a key role in shaping the Hospitality and Leisure agenda as a member of both the UK Travel, Hospitality, and Services Executive and the Consumer NSE Executive, while also collaborating with Deloitte’s global network.

5. Caroline Lombardi
Firm: Egon Zehnder
Title: Global Head of Hospitality, Travel and Leisure

Caroline Lombardi is the Global Head of Hospitality, Travel, and Leisure for Egon Zehnder. Her work spans executive search, board search, and leadership advisory. Lombardi has particular expertise in CEO, customer experience, commercial, and operational roles. A trusted advisor for founders, high-growth startups, and Fortune 50 companies, she is known for building strong relationships with her clients and candidates. Lombardi’s ability to deeply understand her clients and candidates enables her to identify the best matches for long-term success.

As a former hospitality operator, Lombardi knows the challenges her clients face and brings a pragmatic approach to talent advisory. She believes that placing the right leader in the right role can have a significant impact on the company, the industry, and the broader economy. Before joining Egon Zehnder, Lombardi held executive roles with Carnival Cruise Line, Toys “R” Us, MGM Home Entertainment, Arthur Andersen, and several startups. Lombardi holds a BBA in marketing and finance from the University of Miami and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

6. Gonzalo Fortuny
Firm: EY
Title: Partner

Gonzalo Fortuny is a Partner at EY Technology Consulting, with a specialization in the hospitality sector. His focus on digital transformation and artificial intelligence has helped several hotel chains advance their technological capabilities. EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services, aiming to foster trust and confidence in capital markets and economies worldwide.

7. Mike Cremin
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Mike Cremin is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal’s Corporate Performance Improvement’s Travel, Hospitality and Leisure practice and is based in Washington D.C. His expertise is centered around empowering clients to leverage technology to enable new business capabilities and models, improve customer and employee experience, increase operating performance and reduce cost to serve.

With more than 25 years of consulting experience, he sits at the intersection of business and technology. His primary areas of concentration include growth strategy, customer experience, loyalty, digital transformation, operating model development, spend optimization, process improvement, innovation and business enablement. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Privately held since its founding in 1983, Alvarez and Marsal is a global professional services firm that provides advisory, business performance improvement, and turnaround management services to companies, investors, and government entities globally.

8. Zahara Kassam
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Managing Director

Zahara Kassam is a Managing Director at FTI Consulting with nearly 20 years of hands-on experience as a hotel real estate investor, asset manager, and brand partner. Kassam leverages her strategic, financial, and operational expertise to assist clients with a wide range of real estate bankruptcy, restructuring, litigation, valuation, transaction, and asset management advisory engagements.

9. Ryan Gilmour
Firm: Slalom
Title: Managing Director

Ryan Gilmour is the Managing Director of Slalom, a consulting firm specializing in business and technology and providing tailored solutions across various industries. The firm works closely with clients to address complex challenges and deliver practical outcomes. Gilmour brings 26 years of experience to his current role, where he is responsible for scaling successful strategies from previous roles to a larger geography and more diverse account portfolio. 

10. Gee Lefevre
Firm: Teneo
Title: Senior Managing Director

Gee Lefevre is a Senior Managing Director in Teneo’s Management Consulting division, where he leads Teneo’s work in Travel, Leisure, and Hospitality, as well as providing broader advisory on economics, demand, and consumer behaviour to a wide range of industries and public bodies. He is an expert on how macroeconomic, geopolitical, and cultural factors influence consumers’ behaviour, movement, and demand for products and services.

Lefevre’s work in the Travel sector includes extensive experience in aviation, heavy rail, bus, and broader mobility. He specialises in travel demand analysis to inform revenue recovery and growth strategy, and investment decisions. Lefevre has advised some of the world’s largest airline CEO’s, as part of high-profile engagements focused on recapitalisation and central government support for the aviation sector. He publishes a bi-annual global aviation forecast which is among the most detailed and robust available in the market. Outside of aviation, Lefevre has supported multi-billion dollar international rail franchise bids, and has led engagements involving the future of transportation, bus operations, and the impact of industrial action and disruption on rail and bus demand.

In the Hospitality and Leisure spaces, Lefevre supports major global chains and franchises in understanding the relationship between consumer attitudes and overall demand and revenue growth. A vast majority of this work has focused on how major events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, rapid economic flux, and structural demographic change have impacted consumers’ movement and demand for these products. Lefevre is an expert in the innovative use of cell tower data to map consumer movement patterns, complex economic forecasting, and scenario modelling.

11. Scott Kamenick
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director

Scott Kamenick is the Managing Director of Protiviti, a global consulting firm providing IT consulting, risk and compliance, digital transformation, and internal audit services. Kamenick has over 26 years of experience in consulting and public accounting, specializing in risk management and audit services for the hotels, motels, and resorts segment of the hospitality industry. Kamenick has extensive expertise helping hospitality companies manage enterprise risks, including cybersecurity, third-party risks, privacy, operational continuity, regulatory compliance, financial reporting, and fraud prevention.

12. Manuel Bremont
Firm: Ankura Consulting Group
Title: Managing Director

Manuel Bremont is a Managing Director and leads the Hospitality & Leisure Group at Ankura based out of Dallas. He brings over 20 years of experience in real estate, hospitality, tourism and other leisure products across the US, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. His advisory expertise is broad and includes market and feasibility analysis, strategic planning, performance improvement, interim/asset management, due diligence, restructuring, litigation support and M&A. During his career, Bremont has advised public entities, multinational development companies, financial institutions, PE firms, law firms and international lodging
companies.

Bremont’s professional experience includes the interim management of an 8,000-acre, master planned resort development and his participation as part of the team that managed the Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. bankruptcy estate, which included approximately $5B in hospitality assets, and the real property settlement negotiations and claims evaluation process associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He has also been active in the M&A space working in different capacities across transactions involving Aimbridge Hospitality, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Two Roads Hospitality, Belmond Hotels, Sage Hospitality, Grupo Hotelero Prisma (Mexico) and Hoteles GHL (Colombia). His contributions also extend to litigation matters including wrongful contractual termination claims, HMA disputes and company valuations, among other.

Bremont has authored articles on lodging market trends across various destinations in the Americas and has served as panel moderator and/or speaker at the Hospitality Law Conference, the ULI Hotel Development Council for North Texas, the Dallas Hotel Conference and the IMN Forum on Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing. He has also participated as guest lecturer for the Conrad N. Hilton College’s undergraduate and graduate programs in numerous occasions. Bremont earned an undergraduate degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management at Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership (Magna Cum Laude)

13. Alex Rhodes
Firm: Grant Thornton LLP
Title: Partner

Alex Rhodes is a Partner at Grant Thornton LLP. Rhodes has over 22 years of experience serving publicly held and private clients in accounting, auditing and advisory services, focusing on hospitality, restaurants, and real estate. Grant Thornton LLP is a licensed, certified public accounting firm that provides audit and assurance services.

14. Ken Greger
Firm: August Leadership LLC
Title: Travel and Hospitality Partner

Ken Greger is a leading Partner in the global Travel and Hospitality Practice with August Leadership LLC, an international executive search and leadership advisory firm based in New York. As a highly trusted thought leader and advisor to the travel and hospitality industry, Greger brings global experience and a practical, client-focused approach, recognizing each client’s unique needs.

Greger’s impressive track record throughout the US and beyond spans over 30 years and includes high-level work with foreign governments developing their travel and tourism sectors, multinational public hotel companies, independently owned trophy properties, startups, and more. He is known for his immersive approach to understanding clients' businesses, strategic objectives, and company DNA, then crafting tailored search or long-term talent strategies to achieve optimal business outcomes. 

His portfolio includes significant assignments for C-suite leaders on large-scale projects, such as a $68 billion development in Saudi Arabia. His trusted advisory role extends to discussing long-term strategy, brand and culture, talent requirements, succession planning, and competitive challenges with key industry leaders, earning him a reputation as a trusted strategic advisor across the industry. 

Greger started his career with Deloitte and Touche, now Deloitte. From there, he entered the world of executive search and consulting, including several years with KPMG in Los Angeles. He has worked for three global search firms and previously also achieved success with his own firm, Greger/Peterson Associates, Inc., a highly regarded retained search firm. 

15. Tausif Khiani
Firm: Capgemini
Title: Vice President

Tausif Khiani leads Capgemini’s Hospitality Industry Portfolio. He is a business and technology transformation thought leader and subject matter expert, with more than 15 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and leading industry players across the cruise lines, casinos, hotels, travel, and entertainment segments. 

Khiani has helped drive double-digit results for his clients through his work with the industry’s top innovators and disruptors and his approach to enabling connected experiences through all lenses of the business. He and Capgemini offer a unique understanding of how to build future-proofed solutions adapted for the challenges, trends, and nuances in hospitality businesses and for their consumers.

16. David Trunkfield
Firm: PwC UK
Title: Partner

David Trunkfield is a Partner of PwC United Kingdom. PwC is a network of firms in 151 countries with over 364,000 professionals committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory, and tax services. He leads PwC's Travel, Hospitality and Leisure practice in the UK, and is the global leader of the Betting and Gaming practice. He has over 20 years of experience in the hotels and leisure sector, working across a wide range of sectors including pubs and restaurants, betting and gaming, travel and tourism, hotels, and leisure.

17. Scot Hornick
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner

Scot Hornick is a Partner at Oliver Wyman and head of the firm’s Pricing, Sales, and Marketing practice for the Americas. With 30 years of experience as both a consultant and operating executive in the travel industry, Hornick helps clients improve profitability through analytic approaches to segmentation, customer relationship management, loyalty programs, pricing, revenue management, and distribution channel management.

18. Jim Miller
Firm: Arthur D. Little
Title: Partner

Jim Miller is a Partner at Arthur D. Little, where he leads the firm’s Travel and Transportation practice in the USA. Arthur D. Little is a management consultancy that links strategy, innovation, and technology to help clients succeed. Miller is a leading expert in the economic and financial analysis of transportation issues and opportunities for airports, airlines, ports, and rail. His capability stems from over 35 years of experience as a consultant as well as an investment banker specializing in transportation related financial transactions.

19. Steffen Wagner
Firm: KPMG
Title: Partner and Global Head, Transport and Leisure

Steffen Wagner is a KPMG partner and leads KPMG’s global transport and leisure sector. KPMG is a global network of independent professional services firms offering audit, tax, and advisory services. Operating in 143 countries and territories, KPMG employs over 265,000 partners and staff across its member firms worldwide.

20. Paul Newman
Firm: RSM UK
Title: Partner, Head of Leisure and Hospitality

Paul Newman is an Audit Partner and RSM’s Head of Industries. He is responsible for developing the firm’s industry strategy in the UK and leading its team of sector specialists. Newman oversees the development of the firm’s industry activity, ensuring it provides valuable insights to clients and works to spread industry knowledge across the business for future sector leaders and strengthening the firm’s capabilities.

21. Simon Foster
Firm: Spencer Stuart
Title: Partner

Simon Foster a Partner at Spencer Stuart’s search efforts in the restaurant sector and is a core member of the firm’s Hospitality and Leisure and Consumer and Financial Officer practices. Simon is a former CEO, entrepreneur, board director and trained accountant with over a decade of search experience. 

22. Vinodh Sunderarajan
Firm: HCL Tech
Title: Senior Vice President

Vinodh Sunderarajan is the Senior Vice President of HCL Tech, a global technology company with more than 219,000 people across 60 countries, specializing in digital, engineering, cloud, and AI solutions. Sunderarajan oversees delivery excellence, customer satisfaction, and organizational success. He is also responsible for program and project management, drafting technology road-maps, solving business problems with technology solutions, driving business growth and process maturity, implementing continuous improvements, and developing organizational talent.

23. Kumar Paramasivam
Firm: Infosys
Title: Vice President

Kumar Paramasivam is a Vice President at Infosys, where he leads client services for professional services, travel and hospitality, education, and business services. Infosys is a company specializing in next-generation digital services and consulting, helping clients in over 50 countries navigate their digital transformations. With more than three decades of experience, Infosys guides global enterprises through their digital journeys with expertise.

24. Faith Marshall
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Director, Travel and Hospitality

Faith Marshall is the Director of Business Development in the travel and hospitality vertical at Cognizant. In this role, she is responsible for promoting Cognizant's offerings, representing the company through thought leadership, and acquiring new clients for Cognizant's Travel and Hospitality portfolio. Marshall has more than 20 years of hospitality and travel technology experience, including global sales, relationship management, and corporate strategy.

25. Teresa Long
Firm: Willis Towers Watson
Title: Industry Leader, Retail, Leisure and Hospitality

Teresa Long is the Industry Leader for Retail, Leisure, and Hospitality of Willis Towers Watson (WTW). At WTW, she focuses on providing specialist industry insight and tailored solutions to help clients manage and mitigate risks. With over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Long brings a strategic approach and innovative solutions to complex situations.

As consumer preferences increasingly favor environmentally friendly products and services and investors demand stronger ESG performance, businesses that embrace sustainability stand to gain significant competitive advantages. These consultants play a crucial role in this transformation—guiding complex energy transitions, integrating sustainable practices into supply chains and operations, and helping organizations manage and respond to ESG data with precision. By aligning business success with environmental stewardship, these leaders are making strides toward a healthier planet and a more sustainable future for all.

Among this year’s awardees, Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader at Deloitte, is recognized for her leadership in driving cross-business sustainability initiatives that embed environmental strategies at the core of organizational operations. Velislava Ivanova, EY’s Americas Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Strategy and Markets Leader, stands out for her visionary approach to developing and implementing sustainability strategies across diverse sectors. Susan Kenniston, Global Head and VP of Sustainability at Wipro, is noted for her expertise in expanding and scaling global sustainability practices.

This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical evaluation process and thorough consideration of each candidate’s contributions to advancing both their organizations and sustainable impact as a whole. Please join us in recognizing The Top 25 Sustainability Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Alison Kennedy
Firm: Accenture
Title: Senior Managing Director, Head of Sustainability

Alison Kennedy is the Singapore-based Senior Managing Director and Head of Sustainability at Accenture, a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments, and organizations build their digital core, optimize operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services.

2. Christopher LeWand
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director

Chris LeWand is the Global Power, Renewables and Energy Transition (PRET) practice leader at FTI Consulting and a member of FTI Capital Advisors. He has extensive experience leading projects in conventional and renewable power, fuel sources, and enabling technologies such as advanced mobility, clean fuels, software, storage, and broader infrastructure. LeWand specializes in capital and M&A advisory, strategic and financial planning, business transformation and restructuring, dispute advisory and valuation, interim management, and merger integration planning and execution.

Under his leadership, the FTI PRET team has completed over 800 projects, including key developments in the renewables sector over the past 15 years. He has assisted numerous clients in developing and implementing clean energy and energy transition oriented business models, including foreign and domestic entrants seeking to consider macro competitive, regulatory and general market dynamics as well as situation and entity specific factors where key levers of challenge and success required careful analysis and consideration in order to drive optionality and optimized results.

LeWand holds certifications and licenses as a CPA, CFA, ABV, CIRA, and CTP, and has FINRA Series 7, 63, and 79 licenses. He has served on boards, acted as a board advisor, and held interim management roles such as CEO, CFO, CRO, and Private Equity Fund MD for multi-billion dollar enterprises. His consulting and advisory services are informed by his hands-on experience, ensuring a deep understanding of the accountability and rigor required to achieve successful outcomes.

3. Velislava Ivanova
Firm: EY
Title: Chief Sustainability Officer and the Global Strategy and Markets Leader

Dr. Velislava Ivanova is the EY Americas Chief Sustainability Officer and the Global Strategy and Markets Leader for EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice. She is a recognized sustainability expert with over 25 years of international experience in developing and delivering sustainability strategies for multinational corporations across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, retail, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ivanova works closely with senior executives in large, complex organizations to set sustainability goals, improve business performance, and embed sustainable practices across value chains and products.

In her role at EY, Dr. Ivanova leads the strategic direction and growth of EY’s sustainability services globally, overseeing a team of nearly 5,000 professionals dedicated to sustainability. She focuses on developing innovative solutions, sector strategies, and go-to-market efforts, as well as enhancing digital enablement and delivery methodologies. Additionally, she manages EY’s engagement with sustainability partners and alliances.

Dr. Ivanova regularly collaborates with leading sustainability organizations such as CDP, WEF, SBTi, and UNGC, and serves as the EY Liaison Delegate at the WBCSD. She is a frequent speaker at sustainability forums and has published thought leadership on topics including sustainability strategy, sustainable supply chains, climate and natural capital, and sustainability reporting. She holds a PhD and a master’s degree from the University of Manchester, as well as a master’s degree from the University of Sofia in Bulgaria. Dr. Ivanova has been recognized among the Top 25 Sustainability Consultants and Leaders in 2022 and 2023 by The Consulting Report.

4. Thibaut Millet
Firm: EY
Title: Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services

Thibaut Millet is a Partner in the Climate Change and Sustainability practice at EY, with over 24 years of management consulting experience. A pioneer in integrating sustainability into business strategy, he began helping clients develop and implement sustainability transformation programs as early as 2005.

Throughout his career, Thibaut has been a trusted advisor to leading clients across various sectors, including power and utilities, manufacturing, mining and metals, transportation, financial services, pension funds, large asset owners, consumer products, and retail. He led EY's Climate Change and Sustainability services team for many years, growing it into one of Canada's largest and most successful groups of dedicated sustainability practitioners.

Currently, Thibaut focuses on helping boards navigate the complex impacts of climate change and improve their climate-conscious governance practices. He leads EY Canada's efforts to provide advisory services and tailored educational experiences for corporate directors, emphasizing practical insights to operationalize effective climate governance and fostering long-term climate stewardship.

5. Hasan Shafi
Firm: EY-Parthenon
Title: Partner

Hasan Shafi is a leader in EY-Parthenon’s energy strategy, energy transition and sustainability related services in the MENA region. Shafi has 25+ years of professional experience across strategy consulting and industry, with deep experience in energy, resources, chemicals and asset intensive industrial sectors. While home is in Sydney, Australia, Shafi has consulted to clients in the Middle East, Australia – New Zealand and SE Asian countries.

Shafi has been focusing on topics related to energy transition, sustainability, decarbonization, ESG, low carbon technologies - e.g. hydrogen, CCS, energy storage, sustainable fuels, circularity. He is interested in bringing together business strategy, sustainability, and technology (in particular AI) to create distinctive, competitive advantage for companies. Functionally, Hasan has also helped clients develop and execute growth and value creating strategies, develop investment strategies, execute end to end M&A programs, and drive performance improvement initiatives.

Prior to EY-Parthenon, he was a Partner with Kearney in Asia Pacific, Principal with Bain & Company in Australia, and mostly recently Partner with Arthur D. Little in the MENA region. Shafi also worked as a senior executive for a global, listed chemicals company from Australia, responsible for corporate strategy, planning and global M&A. Hasan started his career as a Schlumberger engineer and spent time as a Defence Scientist in Australia. Shafi has a PhD in Mechanical and BSc in Aeronautical in engineering, as well as an MBAE degree from University of Michigan, USA.

6. Meghan Harris-Ngae
Firm: PwC Canada
Title: Partner and National Leader

Meghan Harris-Ngae is a Partner and National Leader of PwC Canada’s ESG Strategy Integration and Transformation practice. She is also PwC’s Global Leader of Sustainability for Private Business. In both roles, Harris-Ngae advises executives and boards on developing integrated and practical sustainability strategies that drive value for business and enable long-term resilience.

Harris-Ngae’s leadership in sustainability was built over 22 years after starting her career in the energy sector, before moving internationally to work with multinational organizations based in the UK on their ESG strategies. Her dynamic experience building and mentoring teams of professionals, authoring thought leadership, and working with companies across all sectors has positioned her as a recognized global leader in the field.

Prior to joining PwC, Harris-Ngae was a Partner and leader who developed EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy practice. She also served as the firm’s Global ESG Leader for Mining and Metals. Harris-Ngae spent 13 years enabling the growth and development of a team of practitioners and practice that doubled in size during her tenure. Harris-Ngae has a degree in international relations from the University of Calgary and has completed the Harvard Leadership Program and the Corporate Social Responsibility Program at the Harvard Business School.

7. Anthony DeCandido
Firm: RSM US
Title: Partner

As RSM’s US ESG Leader, Anthony DeCandido heads a cross-functional team that supports companies across various industries—including financial services, manufacturing, and consumer goods—on critical ESG and sustainability issues. DeCandido has over 19 years of assurance and advisory experience serving both domestic and global companies, including having supported companies in front-end strategy development, technology, as well as pre-audit, audit and risk compliance.

DeCandido is a leading business voice in ESG regulatory matters and participates in both the AICPA and Center of Audit Quality Sustainability Task Forces. He has prepared research around ESG and sustainability which is featured within RSM’s Insights library and has played a prominent role in researching and authoring articles on regulatory reporting adoption topics, along with insights for collecting, measuring, and communicating performance. DeCandido also serves as executive sponsor on RSM's climate change steering committee, which is an ongoing project that culminates with RSM’s annual impact report.

As a lead advisor within RSM’s ESG Advisory practice, DeCandido guides companies and boards of directors through ESG and climate strategy, scenario analysis, data collection, technology implementation, and reporting and communications. DeCandido has worked with dozens of firms to develop ESG policies and procedures and has developed RSM’s proprietary rapid assessment methodology which caters to companies beginning their ESG program, as well as supporting advanced companies though a total return on investment methodology, which is a deeply quantitative analysis that correlates changes in ESG behaviors to improved financial and nonfinancial business results. DeCandido graduated from Loyola University Maryland with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

8. Jamie Stone
Firm: PA Consulting
Title: Partner

Jamie Stone is a leader in the Design, Sustainability, and Innovation business for PA Consulting. With over 25 years of experience in both agency and client-side roles, Stone has served as the global head of design for major FMCG and Consumer Health companies. He has extensive expertise in branding and packaging design, building brand loyalty, crafting consumer stories, and innovating with new packaging materials. Stone also has a deep understanding of the supply chain, enabling him to design margin accretive products in complex matrix systems. 

Over the past decade, Stone has concentrated heavily on sustainable packaging, establishing himself as a leading expert in plastic replacement materials and strategies for creating truly circular packaging solutions. Before joining PA Consulting, Jamie was the Global Head of Design at GSK Consumer Healthcare, now Haleon, and previously served as a Partner and Head of Design at The Brewery Design. Earlier in his career, he worked with P&G as a Design Manager. Jamie holds a degree in design for industry from Northumbria University.

9. Anthony Perrotta
Firm: PA Consulting
Title: Partner

Anthony Perrotta is a Partner at PA Consulting, where he works with clients on growth strategy, sustainability, and regenerative economy initiatives aiming to assist clients, governments, and organizations in advancing beyond Net Zero goals. Tony has more than 25 years of experience in sales leadership, FMCG/CPG/retail, and sustainability and innovation. 

Perrotta also serves as business lead responsible for accelerating commercialization and scale-up of new technologies to reduce dependence on single use plastics. A recent example of this effort is the development of two cross industry collectives aimed at using dry molded fiber to replace single use bottles and pharmaceutical packaging. His team led the Diageo Paper-based Bailey’s Mini launch, a key initiative in this area.

Previously, Perrotta was the Global Head of Sales and Chief Revenue Officer at Plastic Bank, a blockchain-enabled social impact company. He also serves on multiple advisory boards, advising on fund raises, shaping revenue maps, market narratives, and actionable plans for startups focused on waste to value conversion, SaaS-enabled food safety and compliance, and social impact. 

10. Susan Kenniston
Firm: Wipro
Title: Global Head and VP of Sustainability

Susan Kenniston is the Global Head and VP of Sustainability at Wipro, with over 30 years of experience in building and delivering solutions for some of the world’s leading brands. At Wipro, she has expanded and scaled the global sustainability practice, the Wipro Impact brand, and integrated sustainability services and solutions.

With nearly 15 years dedicated to sustainability, Susan has become a thought leader and visionary in the field. She specializes in the intersection of sustainability and technology, driving strategic and impactful reductions and improvements to operationalize responsible business practices. Susan’s extensive background includes experience in strategy and operations, data and analytics, supply chains, and enterprise architecture across sectors such as telecommunications, high tech, footwear and apparel, and technology consulting.

In 2023, Susan was recognized as one of The Top 25 Consulting Leaders by The Consulting Report. She has provided thought leadership at various forums, offering insights on how digital transformation can mitigate climate change. Additionally, she has contributed to whitepapers on sustainable technology, impact intelligence, and sustainable airports, among other topics.

11. Anuj Shah
Firm: Stax
Title: Managing Director and the Head of ESG and Impact Advisory

Anuj Shah is a Managing Director and the Head of ESG and Impact Advisory at Stax, a global management consulting firm, where he advises private asset managers, corporations, and investment banks on value enhancing approaches to ESG integration, sustainability strategy, and impact outcomes. The firm partners with its clients to provide data-driven, actionable insights designed to drive growth, enhance profits, increase value, and make better investment decisions.

Shah was previously a Partner at Close Group Consulting and KKS Advisors, both boutique ESG advisory firms, and was the Founder and Managing Director of Linear Impact Partners, a company that developed customized business development solutions for responsible investments. Prior to founding Linear Impact Partners, Shah spent nearly 20 years in the investment management industry, working at Bankers Trust, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley, where he held the role of Head of Strategy and Business Management for the Private Wealth Management business unit.

With 25 years of combined experience in capital markets and responsible investing, Shah offers a unique perspective on ESG and impact, with a strong emphasis on the business case. He holds a master’s degree in international affairs with concentrations in international financial business and South Asia from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston College.

12. Jennifer Steinmann
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader

Jennifer Steinmann is the Deloitte Global Sustainability Business Leader, providing cross-business leadership to make an impact that matters and drive critical changes around some of the most important challenges organizations face. She is a member of Deloitte’s senior leadership team and for more than 25 years has held various leadership positions at Deloitte, including Deloitte US Chief Talent Officer and Deloitte US Deputy CEO.

Steinmann has also served on the Board of Directors for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and the Deloitte Foundation. Steinmann was also previously Deloitte’s US Chief Transformation Officer, leading strategy, innovation, and technology. Steinmann teamed with Deloitte’s businesses to set the organization’s strategic direction, address strategic issues and opportunities facing the firm, and evaluate changes in the business and competitive environment.

Steinmann is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and improving communities. She was the founding sponsor of several Deloitte programs that drive positive social impact such as Courageous Principals and the CORE Leadership Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and an MBA from the Columbia School of Business.

13. Graeme Riddell
Firm: Marsh
Title: Climate and Sustainability Consulting Leader, Asia

Graeme is the Climate and Sustainability Consulting Leader within Marsh Advisory for Asia and the Pacific and co-leads the Marsh Centre for Climate Adaptation and Resilience Excellence (CCARE). Graeme supports clients across all sectors to understand and adapt to their emerging climate and ESG risks, leading a team of engineers, strategy consultants, climate scientists, and actuaries. Graeme led the establishment of the practice in Asia, expanding the team to now support clients across 13 countries. His work with CCARE goes beyond traditional consulting, focusing on enhancing access to capital both through insurance products and facilitating adaptation finance.

Prior to joining Marsh, Graeme was a Consultant at the World Bank, where he worked on climate and disaster resilience projects, including rapid post-disaster damage estimation. Previously, he held consulting and academic roles focused on modeling of physical climate risk in Australia and supporting public sector decision-making. Graeme holds a PhD and bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from The University of Adelaide.

14. Subramanian Kuppuswami
Firm: Tata Consultancy Services
Title: Global Head, BFSI Sustainability

Subramanian (Subi) Kuppuswami is the Global Head of Sustainability for TCS's BFSI business group. He specializes in the intersection of sustainability, ESG, business, and technology. Subi has played a key role in launching a greenfield strategic growth initiative on sustainable finance, where he established a unique perspective on "Greening Finance" and "Financing Green," and developed tailored solutions to meet the rapidly evolving demands in this area. 

Subi also holds a US patent for a "Method and System for Sustainability Measurement" (US11915506) and was instrumental in conceptualizing and developing an industry-recognized cloud-native ESG Integration suite. This suite enables financial institutions to have a transparent view of the ESG impacts of their assets and investments. A recognized thought leader in sustainability, ESG, and sustainable IT, Subi also mentors a team of young ESG professionals who support global customers in their sustainability and ESG transformation programs. 

With over two decades of global sales, solution development, and technology experience in banking and financial services, Subi's expertise in ESG and ClimateTech is widely acknowledged for creating focused solutions to address complex business challenges.

15. Mark Watson
Firm: Teneo
Title: Senior Managing Director and Head of ESG Advisory

Mark Watson is the Senior Managing Director and Head of ESG Advisory (APAC) at Teneo, the global CEO advisory firm. With over 25 years of experience in the sustainability arena, Watson has worked across professional services, government, industry, and international development. He specializes in providing high-level counsel to corporate boards and senior leadership teams, guiding ESG strategy, performance, disclosure, and communications.

Watson has advised companies on a wide range of sustainability issues, including material environmental risks such as climate change, water, energy, and waste, as well as social challenges. He has also overseen initiatives related to external ESG investor ratings, performance, and green finance.

Before joining Teneo, Watson was the Global Head of Sustainability at John Swire and Sons (HK) Ltd, the holding company for the Swire Group, a diverse conglomerate focused on the Greater China region. He has also served as Head of Environmental Affairs at Cathay Pacific, Head of Corporate Environmental Affairs at SBAC, and Policy Advisor at the Energy Retail Association. Watson holds a PhD and an undergraduate degree in geography from the University of London.

16. Vic Svec
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Vic Svec is a Managing Director with Alvarez and Marsal's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Services practice in Chicago, specializing in ESG analysis and strategy. A&M is a global professional services firm known for providing advisory, business performance improvement, and turnaround management services.

17. Jenny Brusgul
Firm: CohnReznick
Title: Managing Director

Jenny Brusgul is the Managing Director of CohnReznick LLP, a firm that provides clients with forward-thinking advice to navigate complex business and financial issues. With more than 2,500 employees nationwide, CohnReznick offers the resources, technical skills, and deep industry knowledge to help clients succeed.

18. Elizabeth Sloan
Firm: Grant Thornton LLP
Title: Managing Director

Elizabeth Sloan is a Managing Director in Grant Thornton's ESG and Sustainability Services Practice. Sloan focuses on developing a high-quality methodology in the dynamic ESG regulatory environment, ensuring clients receive the valuable ESG information they and their stakeholders need. She actively participates in various task forces and working groups within the profession, both domestically and internationally, to stay ahead of emerging trends.

19. Martijn Eikelenboom
Firm: Arthur D. Little
Title: Managing Partner

Martijn Eikelenboom is the Managing Partner of Arthur D. Little Netherlands and the global Head of the firm’s Sustainability Strategy practice. He is also a senior leader in the Strategy and Organization and Technology and Innovation Management global practices. Arthur D. Little is a management consultancy that connects strategy, innovation, and technology to drive success for its clients.

20. John Blasberg
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner

John Blasberg is a leader of Bain and Company’s Americas Sustainability practice and the Global Food Systems Transformation initiative. Bain and Company is a global consultancy that works with clients in 65 cities across 40 countries to achieve success. With over 20 years of management consulting experience, Blasberg has collaborated with numerous consumer products management teams to drive major corporate transformations.

21. Nikhil Ati
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Partner

Nikhil Ati is a Partner in McKinsey and Company’s Houston office, where he leads the firm’s work on decarbonization in the energy, chemicals, and materials industries across North America. He helps clients implement decarbonization transformations at both asset and company levels, launch zero-carbon products, establish decarbonization hubs, and develop energy-transition strategies. McKinsey and Company is a global management consulting firm, serving as a trusted advisor to leading businesses, governments, and institutions worldwide.

22. Alex Hindson
Firm: Crowe UK
Title: Partner and Head of Sustainability

Alex Hindson is a Partner at Crowe UK, specializing in sustainability, risk governance, and climate risk. He helps build purpose-led, long-term sustainable businesses that can secure ESG-related opportunities while managing reputational and regulatory threats. Crowe UK, an independent member of Crowe Global, is a leading audit, tax, advisory, and risk firm with a national presence and international reach.

23. Rupal Kantaria
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner

Rupal Kantaria is a Partner at the Oliver Wyman Forum, where she brings together the public and private sectors to solve global challenges. Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting, with offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries. The firm combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organizational transformation.

24. Vincent Charpiot
Firm: Capgemini
Title: EVP, Head of Group Sustainability Business Accelerator

Vincent Charpiot is the EVP and Head of Group Sustainability Business Accelerator at Capgemini, a global business and technology transformation partner that helps organizations accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world.

25. Varchala Abrol
Firm: World Wide Technology
Title: Vice President, Global Sustainability and EH&S

Varchala Abrol is the Vice President of Global Sustainability and EH&S at World Wide Technology (WWT), a global technology solutions provider. Founded in 1990, WWT generates $20 billion in annual revenue and combines strategy, execution, and partnership to accelerate digital transformation for large public and private organizations worldwide.

With over 50% of large enterprises already leveraging AI consulting services, the demand for these experts has surged as organizations seek to reduce costs, improve customer experiences, and increase efficiency.  By strategically applying AI in these areas, these consultants enable companies to achieve measurable gains in productivity and growth, transforming AI's potential into real business value.

Among this year’s awardees, Karthik Narain, Group Chief Executive of Technology at Accenture, is recognized for his leadership in driving cloud, data, and AI innovations, particularly through Accenture’s Generative AI Center of Excellence. Naveen Sharma, Senior Vice President at Cognizant, is noted for his strategic vision in advancing AI and analytics across various sectors, integrating cloud and legacy systems to enhance customer experiences. John Thompson, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence at EY, stands out for his extensive contributions to AI, including authoring several influential books on the subject and leading groundbreaking AI initiatives at EY.

Amid a competitive field of nominees, these leaders distinguish themselves with their exceptional ability to harness AI technologies and deliver substantial business transformations across diverse industries. Please join us in recognizing the achievements of The Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. John Collins
Firm: Deep Vertical AI
Title: Founder

John Collins is the Founder of Deep Vertical AI, a company that combines customization and deep industry expertise with advanced AI products, focusing on customized, multi-model, and multi-modal solutions. Deep Vertical AI emphasizes the power of AI when it integrates reasoning across text, vision, and audio. 

Collins brings 24 years of experience to his current role. Before founding Deep Vertical AI, he was a Head of AI practice in Asia at FTI Consulting and before that an Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Laboratory Director at HSBC. Earlier in his career he worked with Citi in OTC derivatives and OTC services. Collins graduated from EDHEC Business School with a PhD in finance.

2. Pepe Cafferata
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Senior Partner

Pepe Cafferata is a Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company, a global management consulting firm that provides advisory services to leading businesses, governments, and institutions. Cafferata is the firm’s regional leader for QuantumBlack, McKinsey’s unified artificial intelligence branch, in Latin America. In this role, he helps clients enhance business value and performance through AI and advanced analytics transformations across various industries, including banking, agriculture, energy, and consumer goods. Additionally, he advises major financial institutions on a wide range of transformation topics. 

Pepe also brings industry knowledge from working at a global financial services corporation for over a decade, where he held executive committee positions in Latin America in areas such as strategy, CRM and data, digital, marketing, and customer experience. Previously, Cafferata was a Head of Strategy and Planning at HSBC Latin America. Earlier in his career he worked with Citibank as a Management Associate. Cafferata holds an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

3. Partha Gopalakrishnan
Firm: Brane Group
Title: President and Partner

Partha Gopalakrishnan is President and Partner at Brane Group, where he leads business development and business transformation consulting. With over 25 years of experience, he is an expert in business transformation, directing global teams to drive digital growth. With expertise in AI, Web3 and digital transformation and a focus on sustainability, Gopalakrishnan leads new technology practices and implements IT systems which combine business insights with advanced cognitive technologies to create integrated business platforms and services.

Gopalakrishnan’s company, PG Advisors, offers board advisory and non-executive director services for prominent analysts and PE firms. With a strong focus on value creation, digital risk management, ESG and responsible AI, PG Advisors uses its extensive network to strategically guide growth agendas. Gopalakrishnan has served in executive leadership positions at multiple technology and consulting global system integrators, including 17 years with Infosys followed by a tenure at Tech Mahindra. He holds a MBA from Pondicherry University and a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications engineering from the University of Madras. He has also completed executive education programs at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

4. Susheel Sethumadhavan
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner

Susheel Sethumadhavan is a Partner in Kearney’s Digital and Analytics practice. Since joining the firm in 2008, Sethumadhavan has grown prominence as a leader in analytics and AI consulting for the firm. He is dedicated to guiding his clients through analytics and AI transformation and serves as a trusted long-term strategic advisor. With a global perspective, Sethumadhavan has led client data and AI transformations for Kearney in the Americas and the Middle East, while continuing to support clients across various markets.

Sethumadhavanl’s work focuses on topline and strategic transformations leveraging data and AI. As a pioneer of Kearney’s GenAI program, he advises clients on efficient AI use cases and investment decisions. His guidance is rooted in a philosophy of human-centered and guided artificial intelligence, ensuring that AI strategies are aligned with the needs and goals of his clients.

In addition to his client work, Sethumadhavan is instrumental in orchestrating Kearney’s AI capabilities. A serial innovator within the firm, he builds assets and teams and encourages his teams to exceed conventional client service standards. He also spearheads Kearney’s AI Lab, the firm’s AI R&D and innovation capability, and leads efforts to broaden Kearney’s AI partnership ecosystem with high-impact startups and scaleups.

5. Bharath Thota
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner and Chief Solutions Officer of Analytics

Bharath Thota is a Partner of Kearney in the firm's Digital and Analytics practice. Since joining Kearney in early 2006, Bharath has been pivotal in scaling its analytics practice, and has since grown to be a leader in the digital and analytics domain. He is passionate about the potential of AI and data science to solve complex and challenging problems for clients across various industries and functions.

His work involves applying AI and cutting-edge technologies to help clients’ enhance their business performance, streamline operations, and foster an insights-driven culture. He is also a frequent speaker on the intersection of AI and business, often illustrating the transformative power of AI through tangible examples.

Besides his client work, Bharath spearheads Kearney’s AI program, aimed at nurturing an environment of AI innovation and integration across the firm. He is also the founder of Kearney's Data Science Center of Excellence, a global team of AI scientists that develops bespoke solutions for clients, and the Solutions Factory, a pioneering platform within Kearney for the innovation and incubation of digital assets, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the field of AI and digital transformation.

6. Bob Ghafouri
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Bob Ghafouri is a Managing Director with A&MPLIFY, Alvarez and Marsal's AI-powered digital agency in Washington, DC. As the North American leader of A&MPLIFY, he guides clients in developing and launching new digital businesses, platforms, and products from inception to market entry. Ghafouri specializes in growing new digital businesses, generating value for clients with digital growth strategies and technology driven digital transformation, and advising technology startups. With nearly 25 years of experience, he helps clients leverage existing assets to create new growth opportunities, accelerate existing digital programs, foster innovation, and deliver customized experiences.

Prior to joining A&M, Ghafouri served as Chief Commercial Officer with Red Ventures, a digital media holding. Previously, Ghafouri worked with Accenture as a Senior Managing Director, a member of the global leadership committee, and a founding member of Accenture Interactive. He was also Co-Founder and former head of Accenture’s global digital transformation strategy practice, Bloom. In addition, Ghafouri founded, launched and scaled three digital businesses in the government, retail, and real estate industries. Ghafouri earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and quantitative business analysis from Pennsylvania State University. 

7. Jennifer Meyers
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Jennifer Meyers is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of A&MPLIFY, Alvarez and Marsal's AI-powered digital growth agency. She collaborates with clients to accelerate growth by creating new products, services, and value propositions at the intersection of strategy, design, and technology. With over 20 years of experience as a growth strategist, innovator, and change-maker, Meyers leverages AI and analytics to help clients ignite and accelerate strategic value capture. She serves as a trusted advisor and operator throughout the entire strategic activation process, even taking on interim executive roles to drive client success.

Meyers has a proven track record of addressing the most complex business challenges faced by Fortune 500 companies, delivering accelerated business outcomes. Her work spans multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, beauty, consumer goods, and hospitality, where she helps clients design, build, and scale new digital businesses, products, services, and platforms for sustainable growth.

8. Kevin Carl
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Kevin Carl is a Managing Director with A&MPLIFY, Alvarez and Marsal’s AI-powered digital agency. Carl’s focus is on business and digital transformation leveraging technology. Prior to joining A&M, Carl served as General Manager and SVP of Product and Engineering at tech unicorn Copado, the market leading DevOps platform for Salesforce. He also served as Group Vice President of global hospitality consulting at Oracle.

Carl also served as EVP and Global CIO for Radisson Hotel Group, where he led a broad transformation of the company’s technology platforms and culminated his 18 years at Accenture as the firm’s global lead for digital travel. Carl graduated from Washington and Lee University and holds a certification in AI and machine learning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

9. Conrad Heider
Firm: Simon-Kucher
Title: Partner and Global Head of Simon-Kucher Elevate

Conrad Heider is a Partner at Simon-Kucher where he leads the firm's digital team, Simon-Kucher Elevate. Elevate is a digital consulting team that combines data, AI, and machine learning with commercial consulting expertise to deliver solutions such as dynamic pricing, next-best-action algorithms, predictive customer models, and generative AI-based sales and marketing tools. In this role, Heider drives digital transformation and delivers measurable results for his clients.

Heider specializes in transforming data and AI into practical, business-enhancing solutions. His expertise includes optimizing pricing, sales, and marketing strategies, enhancing customer experiences, and driving commercial growth through data, AI, and machine learning. He delivers fast and hands-on impact on growth by piloting projects, developing MVPs, and creating proof of concepts, helping businesses understand and capitalize on AI opportunities, leading to significant improvements and increased profitability.

Before joining Simon-Kucher, Heider was a Principal at Kearney, where he helped clients achieve commercial and operational excellence. He also served as Director of Strategy and Intelligence at Freeletics, Germany's leading B2C fitness app scale-up. Heider holds a master’s degree in public administration from the London School of Economics, a master’s degree in public policy from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, and a bachelor’s degree in European studies from Maastricht University.

10. Joe Knight
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director

Joe Knight is a Senior Managing Director in FTI Consulting’s data and analytics practice. In this role, he provides technical consulting services in electronic discovery, advanced data analytics leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, AI and algorithmic bias testing, litigation and investigation support, data visualization, and the implementation of business intelligence solutions. Additionally, Knight has worked as an internal and external auditor identifying and evaluating financial reporting compliance and operational risks in IT-intensive business processes.

11. Sparky Zivin
Firm: Teneo
Title: Senior Managing Director

Sparky Zivin is a Senior Managing Director and the Global Head of Teneo Research, a global CEO advisory firm. In this role, he leads a team that utilizes a range of methods, from traditional stakeholder research to advanced AI-driven analytics, to shape critical strategies for the firm’s clients.

12. Alejandro Zarate Santovena
Firm: Marsh
Title: Managing Director, Global Head of Data Strategy

Alejandro Zarate Santovena is a Managing Director and Global Head of Data Strategy at Marsh, a leading insurance broker and risk advisor with over 45,000 professionals operating in 130 countries to serve commercial and individual clients with data-driven risk solutions and advisory services. Santovena has more than 25 years of global experience in technology, consulting, and marketing in Europe, Latin America and the US. Santovena’s expertise spans business intelligence, product development, artificial intelligence, and team leadership.

13. Rob Wellen
Firm: BDO USA
Title: Managing Director, Data and AI

Rob Wellen is the Managing Director of Data and AI at BDO USA, a professional services firm that offers assurance, tax, and advisory services for a diverse range of clients across the US and in over 160 countries through its global organization. Wellen brings 25 years of experience to his current role.

14. Yoni Malchi
Firm: World Wide Technology
Title: Managing Director

Yoni Malchi is a Managing Director in consulting services at World Wide Technology (WWT) focused on AI and cloud strategy. Founded in 1990, WWT is a global technology solutions provider focused on delivering digital transformation for large public and private organizations worldwide. Malchi leads AI engagements with key customers, bridging the gap between business and technology teams. He also oversees AI R&D efforts, researching advanced AI techniques, tools, and platforms to provide tailored recommendations to clients.

15. Christine Livingston
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director

Christine Livingston is a Managing Director at Protiviti, where she leads the artificial intelligence and IoT practices and oversees technology innovation initiatives. In her role, Livingston focuses on identifying emerging technology opportunities, developing innovation strategies, overseeing technology innovation, and incorporating emerging technology capabilities into enterprise solutions across various industries.

16. Karthik Narain
Firm: Accenture
Title: Group Chief Executive, Technology

Karthik Narain is the Group Chief Executive of Technology at Accenture, where he oversees cloud, data and AI, enterprise and industry technologies and security, and technology ecosystem partnerships and its Advanced Technology Centers. As a member of the Global Management Committee and Chair of the Board of Avanade, Accenture’s joint venture with Microsoft, Narain plays a key role in steering the company’s technological direction.

Before assuming his current role, Narain led Accenture Cloud First and its data and AI business, where he helped clients move, shape and operate their businesses in the cloud. Under his leadership, cloud-certified talent has tripled in the past three years. He has extended the company’s leadership with ecosystem partners and driven substantial investments in solutions, acquisitions, and talent to keep Accenture at the forefront of the industry.

Most recently, Narain helped define Accenture’s approach to generative AI through investments in its Generative AI Center of Excellence. With 24 years of experience across various industry sectors, including financial services, high tech, and software and platforms, he has driven many strategic and innovative programs. Narain previously led Accenture Technology in North America, helping guide Global 2000 brands in using the cloud and other technologies to transform their businesses. 

17. John Thompson
Firm: EY
Title: Global Head, Artificial Intelligence

John Thompson is the Global Head of Artificial Intelligence at EY, where he leads the design, development, implementation, and use of AI solutions, including generative AI, traditional AI, and causal AI, across all of EY service lines and for its clients. His team at EY has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, such as the world’s largest secure private large language model chat service, a synthetic data generation service, and an enterprise prompt engineering and management service, all of which have set new benchmarks for the firm.

Before joining EY, Thompson led the AI and advanced analytics team at CSL Behring, a biopharmaceutical company where he helped develop and deploy over 25 analytical applications. He also served as an Executive Partner at Gartner, where he advised leading companies on digital transformation, data monetization, and advanced analytics. Before Gartner, Thompson was responsible for the advanced analytics business unit of the Dell Software Group.

Thompson brings over 37 years of experience to his current role. His expertise spans all aspects of advanced analytics and information management, including descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, AI, deep learning, cognitive computing, big data, simulation, optimization, synthetic data, and high-performance computing. Throughout his career, Thompson has built startups and reengineered Fortune 500 business units, managing areas such as sales, marketing, and product development with a focus on strategy, innovation, and growth. He has also shared his knowledge through several books on AI and data. Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Ferris State University and an MBA in marketing from DePaul University.

18. Senthil Ramani
Firm: Accenture
Title: Global Lead, Data and AI

Senthil Ramani is the Data and AI Lead for Accenture, where he oversees data and AI strategy, services, and investments, building market-leading capabilities focused on client value. He has decades of experience helping companies transform through technology through developing strategies, identifying use cases, building a strong digital core, and developing talent for the future. Most recently, he has helped enterprises become AI-first organizations. Senthil is also a member of the Global Management Committee. 

Prior to his current role, Senthil was Accenture’s lead for data and AI in growth markets. Over his 24-year career, Senthil has held a diverse set of leadership roles in Accenture’s SAP digital, IoT, AI and sustainability practices. Notably, he served as Chief Digital Officer of the resources industry practice, helping mining, metals, forest products and building materials companies drive digital transformation and build high-performing teams. 

Senthil has authored a book on AI business transformation and is focused on using AI to help solve real-world problems, including applying computer vision to monitor coral reef health and using data science to help clinicians improve precision medicine. Senthil holds a master’s degree in operations research from Arizona State University and an advanced management program degree from Harvard Business School.

19. John Simmons
Firm: PwC
Title: Principal

John Simmons is the Principal at PwC, a network of firms across 151 countries with over 360,000 professionals committed to delivering assurance, advisory, and tax services. Simmons focuses on improving commercial products, services, and operations to enhance access to critical resources like energy, food, work, and education. With over 30 years of experience, he has worked across various industries, including technology and SaaS software, telecommunications, finance, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense, leveraging data and technology to drive change.

Previously, Simmons was an SVP in application development at First Marblehead Corporation and before that a Principal at PRTM. Earlier in his career he worked with PRTM Management Consultants as a Manager. Simmons holds an MBA in operations, product development, and information technology from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an undergraduate degree in electrical technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

20. Anne Laure Thibaud
Firm: Capgemini
Title: Executive Vice President, Data and AI Group Offer Leader

Anne Laure Thibaud is the Executive Vice President and Data and AI Group Offer Leader at Capgemini, a global consulting and technology services firm that helps organizations accelerate their digital and sustainable transitions, creating tangible impacts for businesses and society. With 21 years of experience in large-scale big data analytics and artificial intelligence, Thibaud understands how data and intelligence have become central to business success or failure, and how a strong organizational culture around data is crucial in this process.

21. Naveen Sharma
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Senior Vice President

Naveen Sharma is Senior Vice President of Cognizant’s AI and analytics business. Cognizant is a multinational technology company that provides IT services including digital, technology, consulting, and operations services. Sharma combines strategic vision with tactical execution, focusing on driving growth through thought leadership, innovation, pre-sales, offering development, and portfolio management.

22. Saurin Shah
Firm: Booz Allen Hamilton
Title: Senior Vice President

Saurin Shah is the Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton, a firm focusing on advancing critical civil, defense, and national security priorities through innovation and leadership in complex missions. Shah is an artificial intelligence leader in Booz Allen’s national security business, where he develops data science and AI capabilities and services across the intelligence community. He and his team deliver operational systems that transform enterprise workflows and decision-making processes for the federal government.

23. Lou DiLorenzo Jr.
Organization: Deloitte
Title: Principal

Lou DiLorenzo Jr. is a Principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP. Deloitte provides audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500 and thousands of private companies. DiLorenzo leads Monitor Deloitte’s AI and data strategy practice, serves as National Leader for Deloitte’s CIO program, and leads the US generative AI advisory practice and the US Gen AI market incubator within Deloitte Consulting LLP. With over 20 years of experience across various sectors, DiLorenzo excels in bringing key stakeholders together to drive change, develop new capabilities, and achieve positive financial results for both large corporations and startups.

Prior to returning to Deloitte as a Principal in 2019, DiLorenzo served as COO of Bright Health. Previously, DiLorenzo was an appointed officer of Cargill and senior IT executive for Cargill's global food ingredients and systems division. DiLorenzo also led Cargill’s corporate enterprise process, data, and technology governance committee, working for the corporate CFO to drive alignment between dozens of business units and Cargill’s strategic technology project portfolio. DiLorenzo holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colgate University.

24. Shawn Gilronan
Firm: CohnReznick
Title: Principal, Digital Consulting Leader

Shawn Gilronan is a Principal and leader of CohnReznick’s Digital Consulting practice. Since joining CohnReznick in 2023, Shawn has been pivotal in creating the Data and AI practice and revitalizing the Digital Consulting practice at the firm. His leadership has also led to the formation of strategic alliances with Microsoft, Prevedere, DOMO, Alteryx, Tipalti, and Zone and Co.

Shawn is a growth-focused leader with success in implementing strategic roadmaps and designing innovative technology solutions to help clients achieve their goals. He has extensive knowledge of digital transformation, business intelligence and data analytics, risk assessment and mitigation, and data migration and integration. He focuses on developing strategic business relationships with clients that create sustainable, leading technological operating models and bottom-line improvements.

Before joining CohnReznick in 2023, Shawn was a Partner and National Consulting Leader of Data and Analytics for a major audit, tax, and consulting firm. In this role, he was responsible for designing and implementing industry-centric and solution-based delivery models to create value for mid- and upper-market clients. This included developing strategies and services such as data warehousing, AI and ML, IoT, and ERP offerings involving platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics F&SC, BC, CRM, and Oracle NetSuite. Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and information sciences, finance, and accounting from Miami University in Ohio and an MBA in strategic management from Baldwin Wallace College.

25. Ajay Mangilal Jain
Firm: Wipro
Title: Vice President, Data Analytics and AI Solutions

Ajay Mangilal Jain is a Vice President of Data Analytics and AI Solutions at Wipro Limited, a leading technology services and consulting company focused on building innovative solutions that address clients’ digital transformation needs. The company offers a range of services in consulting, design, engineering, and operations, helping clients achieve their goals and build sustainable businesses.

By developing strategic plans, optimizing HR operations, implementing performance improvement initiatives, and managing financial and operational risks, these consultants are fostering the innovation and resilience needed to rebuild and advance educational systems. Their work ensures that educational institutions are not just recovering but are also poised to meet future challenges head-on.

Among this year’s awardees, Jessica Roy, Managing Director at Accenture, stands out for her expertise in HR transformation within higher education and government sectors. She has over 15 years of experience enhancing staff, faculty, and student experiences while driving mission-critical initiatives. Jeff Denneen, Partner at Bain and Company, is recognized for his pioneering work in higher education transformation, specializing in strategy development, customer loyalty, and full potential transformation. Vadim Tsysin, Managing Director at Alvarez and Marsal, excels in performance improvement and M&A advisory for education clients, bringing over 20 years of experience in executing significant transactions and strategic planning initiatives.

This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical evaluation process and thorough consideration of each candidate’s career track record and professional achievements. Please join us in recognizing The Top 25 Education Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Dennis Morrone
Firm: Grant Thornton
Title: Managing Partner

Dennis Morrone is the National Managing Partner of Grant Thornton's not-for-profit and higher education practices. In this capacity, Morrone oversees the firm’s services for clients in the sector nationwide and leads related marketplace initiatives. Grant Thornton is a global professional services network of independent accounting and consulting firms that provide a range of services including audit, tax, and advisory services to clients in various industries.

2. Jimmy Sarakatsannis
Firm: McKinsey & Company
Title: Senior Partner

Jimmy Sarakatsannis is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Washington, DC office and a leader of the firm’s education and private equity practices. McKinsey and Company is a global management consulting firm serving as a trusted advisor to the world's leading businesses, governments, and institutions across the private, public, and social sectors. Sarakatsannis’ work in education spans the public, private, and non-profit sectors, covering every stage from pre-K-12 to higher education and workforce development.

3. Daniel O’Shea
Firm: CohnReznick
Title: Partner

Daniel O’Shea is a Partner in CohnReznick’s not-for-profit industry practice. Based in the Bethesda office, O’Shea has 37 years of accounting experience and began his career focusing on audit and other attestation services. His current responsibilities include engagement administration, team management, and practice development. With over a century of experience, CohnReznick has nearly 4,300 global team members and 30 locations including global subsidiaries. The firm serves clients in 30 different industries through an integrated team of advisory, assurance, and tax professionals. 

In addition to providing accounting, audit, and tax services, O’Shea consults on CFO advisory engagements as well as cost allocations, related entity structures, employee benefit plans, and exempt organizations tax issues. He oversees engagements that are subject to Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133 audit requirements. His clients include national trade and professional associations and labor and charitable organizations. O’Shea graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

4. Adam Newman
Firm: Tyton Partners
Title: Founding Partner

Adam Newman is a Founding Partner of Tyton Partners and leads its strategy consulting practice. He guides companies, institutions, investors, and foundations through critical growth inflection points, delivering actionable recommendations that help them achieve their goals. He has extensive experience working with executives and leadership teams across all segments of the PreK-12, postsecondary, workforce, and professional education markets.

Prior to founding Tyton Partners, Newman was a director at Berkery Noyes, a mergers and acquisitions firm serving the information industry. Previously, Newman served as managing vice president at Eduventures (now Encoura), a leading market research and consulting firm supporting the education industry. Adam originated and led the firm’s syndicated market research and proprietary consulting businesses.

Prior to Eduventures, Newman served as a senior manager at CEB (now Gartner) in the company’s Corporate Strategy Board practice, working closely with senior strategy executives at Global 2000 companies. Newman began his professional career as a K-12 educator and athletic coach at schools in Boston, MA, and New Orleans, LA. He holds an AB in English from Duke University. Newman currently serves on his town’s elected School Committee and is a Trustee at Exploration School, a non-profit organization developing immersive, transformative programs for students and schools.

5. Ian Matthias
Firm: PA Consulting
Title: Partner

Ian Matthias leads PA Consulting’s global education practice. With 25 years of experience serving clients at national and institutional levels, Matthias specializes in higher education and partners with 15 universities every year to design and deliver their mission-critical transformations. His work includes strategy development, student experience modernization, operating model design, restructuring, and digital transformation. Matthias leads several communities of practice, including the Education Transformation Leader Network and co-authors PA’s annual survey of vice chancellors. Matthias graduated from the University of Nottingham with an undergraduate degree in industrial economics.

6. Mark Jeynes
Firm: CIL Management Consultants
Title: Partner, Head of Education Practice

Mark Jeynes is a Partner at CIL Management Consultants, an international management consultancy with offices in the US, Europe and the UK. Jeynes leads the education and training practice and has extensive experience advising investors and clients in the international education sector across a wide range of segments including early years (pre-K), K-12, further education, higher education, professional education and corporate training. His experience spans the UK, US, Western Europe, India, GCC, Asia, Australia, and Africa.

Jeynes has over 20 years of experience as a management consultant and has completed more than 100 education engagements, advising leading private equity firms and operators on commercial due diligence, market entry and expansion, proposition development, pricing, and opportunity identification and assessment.

Prior to joining CIL, Jeynes was a Partner at The Parthenon Group, now EY-Parthenon, and OC&C Strategy Consultants. He is also a Co-Founder of Inspiring Futures Education, an international schools group in the UK. He holds a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from the Loughborough University of Technology and an MBA from London Business School.

7. Chris Cox
Firm: PwC
Title: Partner

Chris Cox is a Partner in and national higher education practice leader at PwC. PwC is a network of firms in 151 countries with over 360,000 professionals committed to delivering assurance, advisory, and tax services. Cox has served with PwC since 1992 and also leads the firm’s northeast healthcare assurance practice, focusing on providing audit and advisory services to various clients across the healthcare industry. Cox graduated from Nichols College with an undergraduate degree in business administration and accounting.

8. Jessica Roy
Firm: Accenture
Title: Managing Director, Public Service, Education

Jessica Roy is a Detroit-based Managing Director in Accenture's Health and Public Service organization specializing in HR Transformation in higher education and government. Accenture is a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services.

9. Vadim Tsysin
Firm: Alvarez & Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Vadim Tsysin is a Managing Director with the Alvarez and Marsal Private Equity Performance Improvement Group in Chicago. He is the Education and Sell-Side Lead and specializes in performance improvement, carve-out and TSA advisory, operational due diligence, and overall M&A and capital markets advisory.

With over 20 years of experience, Tsysin has executed over 100 transactions ranging from $1.2 million to $16 billion. He has substantial cross-border deal experience, having executed deals in Brazil, Mexico, Russia, the UK, and Australia. His engagements center around merger advisory, integration execution, carve-out execution, pre-acquisition synergy assessments, operational due diligence, and integration and separation planning. Tsysin has extensive experience with education clients, including advising Leeds Equity on the sale and performance improvement of Campus Management Corp and Edcentric, assessing synergies for Edmentum's acquisition of Apex Learning, and conducting buy-side due diligence for San Joaquin Valley College and the Meritas group of private K-12 schools in the US, Europe, and Asia.

Prior to joining A&M, Tsysin spent six years with DeVry Education Group in Chicago, serving most recently as Head of M&A for Integration and Capital Markets. Previously, Tsysin worked with Bank of America Merrill Lynch as an Investment Banker and served as an M&A Consultant in the post-merger integration practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. Tsysin holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Roosevelt University and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. He is a licensed CPA in Illinois and holds Series 7 & 63 designations.

10. Gregory Finkelstein
Firm: Tyton Partners
Title: Managing Director, Co-Lead of Tyton’s Higher Education Practice

Gregory Finkelstein is a Managing Director across both Tyton Partner’s Strategic Consulting and Investment Banking practices. His 30 years of expertise focuses on go-to-market motion, human capital development, operational effectiveness, and organizational planning and scale. Within higher education, he has served hundreds of institutions across the globe spanning from large national and state institutions to regional and local schools. He started his career helping to write five- and ten-year strategic plans for state universities which led to launching, leading, and exiting multiple EdTech companies before returning to strategic consulting for the past six years.

Additionally, he is a Co-Founder and Co-Lead of Tyton’s Center for Higher Education Transformation. This expanded focus on higher education has positioned Tyton as one of the sector leaders in several related sub-practices. Among them are school-to-school affiliations, where Finkelstein has led several of the largest efforts in the sector including the recent announcement regarding a signed agreement between the University of Phoenix and the University of Idaho (Announcement Article).

He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Antioch University and chairs several advisory boards for EdTech companies including K16 Solutions. Finkelstein holds a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University.

11. Jeff Denneen
Firm: Bain & Company
Title: Partner

Jeff Denneen is a Partner at Bain and Company, a global consultancy operating across 65 cities in 40 countries. Denneen founded the firm’s higher education practice in 2009 and serves as its Global Practice Leader. He is also a leader in the transformation and change practice, specializing in full potential transformation across multiple industries.

12. Sam Sanders
Firm: KPMG UK
Title: Partner

Sam Sanders is a Partner at KPMG UK, where he leads the firm’s higher education advisory team and the education consulting practice. KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms that provide audit, legal, tax and advisory services in 143 countries and territories, with more than 273,000 partners and professionals globally.

13. Bob Billig
Firm: RSM US
Title: Partner

Bob Billig is a Partner at RSM US, a provider of professional services to the middle market. With 32 years of experience at the firm, he specializes in nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Billig helps develop strategic objectives to align the assurance, tax, and consulting areas to work as one team of advisors serving nonprofit and education clients.

14. Roy Mathew
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Principal

Roy Mathew is a Principal at Deloitte, where he leads the higher education consulting practice. With 25 years of consulting and industry experience across both private and public sector clients, Mathew has led many of Deloitte’s largest higher education transformation programs that span strategy, implementation, and operations. He is actively involved in developing the firm’s capabilities in new business models and innovative uses of technology.

Deloitte is a prominent provider of audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services, serving numerous brands including almost 90% of the Fortune 500 and over 7,000 private companies. With 175 years of experience, Deloitte's vast network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Mathew holds an undergraduate degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a graduate degree from Stanford University.

15. Jason Reed
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Managing Director

Jason Reed is the Managing Director of FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm with more than 8,000 employees in 33 countries and territories dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve financial, legal, operational, political and regulatory, and reputational and transactional disputes. 

16. Vanessa Webb
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner, Private Capital Practice and Co-Head of Education & Training Practice

Vanessa Webb is a Partner at Oliver Wyman, where she leads the private capital practice in the Americas and co-heads the global education and training practice. Oliver Wyman is a management consulting firm with offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries providing expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation.

17. Zachary Unger
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director

Zachary Unger is a Managing Director in the business performance improvement solution in Protiviti’s Metro New York region. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that provides a wide range of services, including internal audit, risk and compliance, technology consulting, business process improvement, data analytics, and cybersecurity to help organizations manage risks and improve business performance.

18. Mark Finlan
Firm: Huron
Title: Education and Research Business Leader

Mark Finlan is a Managing Director and education and research practice leader at Huron. With more than 20 years of experience in consulting, including deep expertise in higher education and the public sector, he specializes in leading institutions through complex programs to align strategy, improve performance and reduce costs. Finlan has partnered with dozens of institutions leading complex, organization-wide programs to align strategy, improve performance and optimize operations for some of the most well-known universities. 

Prior to joining Huron, Finlan led the higher education, organization, and human capital practices at Censeo Consulting Group. He also served as a Principal at Bain and Company, where he helped found its higher education practice. Finlan holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from William and Mary.

19. Srimathi Shivashankar
Firm: HCLTech
Title: Corporate Vice President and Global Head, EdTech Business

Srimathi Shivashankar is the Corporate Vice President and Global Head of EdTech Business for HCLTech, a global technology company with more than 227,000 professionals working across 60 countries. HCLTech delivers capabilities centered around digital, engineering, cloud, and AI, supported by a broad portfolio of technology services and products.

20. Andrew Slapp
Firm: Capgemini
Title: Senior Director, Public Sector and Higher Education

Andrew Slapp is the Senior Director of Public Sector and Higher Education at Capgemini, a global business and technology transformation partner. Slapp’s background is in IT and business, with experience in consulting, sales and marketing.

21. Richard Sadler
Firm: CGI
Title: Vice President

Richard Sadler is the Vice President of CGI, an independent IT and business consulting services firm. With 90,000 consultants and professionals globally, CGI offers a comprehensive range of services including strategic IT and business consulting, systems integration, managed IT and business process services, and intellectual property solutions.

22. Shawn Rodriguez
Firm: World Wide Technology
Title: Vice President, State & Local Government and Education

Shawn Rodriguez serves as World Wide Technology’s Vice President of State and Local Government and Education. World Wide Technology is a global technology solutions provider with $20 billion in annual revenue. The company combines strategy, execution, and partnership to accelerate digital transformation outcomes for large public and private organizations worldwide. Rodriguez is responsible for the development and execution of all go-to-market strategies and activities including field sales hiring and enablement, integrated field marketing, contract capture, vertical business development, partner and solution execution, and overall growth.

23. Catherine Friday
Firm: EY
Title: Global Education Leader

Catherine Friday is the Global Education Leader of EY. She has extensive experience providing services to state and federal departments and regulators, ministerial councils, not-for-profits, and NGOs across Australia and New Zealand. Her work impacts various sectors, including education, health, human services, defense, transport and infrastructure, and central agencies.

24. Barry Manno
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Head Global Sales & Consulting Education

Barry Manno is the Head of Global Sales and Consulting Education at Cognizant, a multinational information technology services and consulting company. Manno has 30 years of experience in C-Level partnering and building world-class programs for Fortune 100 companies, and has developed organization learning models and programs to enable the selling effectiveness of a global salesforce.

Manno first got his start in 1983 as a Service Manager at Flexible Business Systems. From there, he went on to AST Research Inc., before eventually rising to global learning and talent enablement business Partner at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, his most recent position prior to joining Cognizant. Manno graduated from Farmingdale State College with an undergraduate degree in computer science.

25. Jean Demchak
Firm: Marsh
Title: Global Education Leader

Jean Demchak is the Global Leader of Marsh’s education industry practice. Marsh McLennan is a leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy, and people with more than 85,000 professionals advising clients in over 130 countries. Demchak also manages the integration of Marsh McLennan business operations into the higher education and K-12 sectors, both public, private, and for-profit.

The demand for real estate consulting services has surged, driven by global urbanization trends and the increasing sophistication of property transactions. The industry reached a significant milestone in 2023, with the real estate asset management and consulting market valued at $85.2 billion. This growth is supported by the need for risk mitigation and strategic decision-making across residential, commercial, and industrial properties. As market complexities grow, these consultants have exemplified excellence in their field, leveraging their diverse expertise to deliver comprehensive advisory services for clients that address both current challenges and future opportunities in the real estate landscape.

Among this year’s awardees, Tim Bodner, Partner at PwC, stands out for his leadership in the US and global real estate deals business, having advised on over $300 billion in transactions, including initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Nicole Nasca, Real Estate Lead at Booz Allen Hamilton, is recognized for her expertise in managing complex transactions, leading transformation efforts, and executing strategic initiatives within corporate real estate. Arjan Endhoven, Tax Partner at BDO USA, excels in leading the firm’s real estate and construction industry group, offering strategic tax compliance and consulting services.

This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical evaluation process that included nomination submissions and further research into their professional achievements. Please join us in recognizing The Top 25 Real Estate Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Vaibhav Gujral
Firm: McKinsey & Company
Title: Senior Partner

Vaibhav Gujral is a Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company, where he leads the firm’s work in digital and analytics in real estate globally. In this capacity, he works with leading real estate investors, owners and operators, proptech firms, services companies, and occupiers on topics related to innovation and digital strategy, new business building, advanced analytics, digital transformation, and operating model redesign. McKinsey and Company is a global management consulting firm, advising the world's leading businesses, governments, and institutions.

Prior to McKinsey, Gujral worked in venture investing. He is currently involved with not-for-profit organizations focused on improving education and healthcare. Gujral holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard College.

2. Lennert Middelkoop
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Partner, Real Estate

Lennert Middelkoop is a Partner at Deloitte Real Estate, a strategic and financial advisor for complex real estate and infrastructure projects. His focus is on urban development and strategy and transformations. Middelkoop is segment leader of infrastructure, transport and regional growth, public sector leader for financial advisory, and leads the Dutch multidisciplinary Future of Mobility team. He advises on green, smart and healthy cities and regions, emphasizing resilient urban and city developments that consider political and societal contexts.

3. Tim Bodner
Firm: PwC
Title: Partner, Global & US Real Estate Deals Leader

Tim Bodner is a Partner in PwC's real estate practice and presently leads PwC's US and global real estate deals businesses. PwC is a network of firms in 152 countries with over 327,000 professionals providing assurance, advisory, and tax services. 

As part of the US and global real estate leadership teams, Bodner covers private capital firms, sovereign wealth funds, pensions, real estate investment trusts, real estate services providers, corporate occupiers, and other retail and institutional owners of real assets. Throughout his career, he has personally advised clients on initial public offerings, sales of high yield debt, complex corporate transactions, divestitures and mergers and acquisitions totaling more than $300 billion in deal value.

Bodner also oversees PwC's US and global real estate deals outlook publications and represents PwC with the Real Estate Roundtable as a Roundtable Member, along with other industry related organizations such as the Urban Land Institute. In 2023, he was named a Top 25 Real Estate Consultant and Leader by The Consulting Report. Bodner holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Creighton University.

4. Edward Houghton
Firm: KPMG
Title: Partner

Edward Houghton is a Partner in the audit and advisory departments of KPMG, a provider of professional audit, tax, and advisory services. Houghton’s audit clients include real estate sectors such as investment property and property development, as well as various financial services areas including banks, private equity funds, fund administration, investment management, and several LSE and AIM listed international groups.

5. Alex Ramanathan
Firm: Bain & Company
Title: Partner

Alex Ramanathan is a Partner at Bain and Company, a global consultancy operating in 65 cities across 40 countries. The firm collaborates with clients to achieve significant results and improve competitive performance. Ramanathan is a member of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions and real estate practices. Her expertise lies in merger integration, advising companies on large and mid-sized post-merger integrations and separations.

6. Paul Kolevsohn
Firm: Mercer
Title: Partner

Paul Kolevsohn is a Partner and Head of North American Real Estate for Mercer Alternatives. In his role, Kolevsohn delivers real estate investment consulting on both an advisory and discretionary basis, leading a team of investment researchers who work with institutional investors as well as industry leading real estate investment managers.

7. Laura Dietzel
Firm: RSM US
Title: Partner

Laura Dietzel is an assurance Partner in RSM US LLP’s real estate practice. RSM is a provider of professional services to the middle market, focusing on developing professionals and services to meet clients’ evolving needs in the business landscape. Dietzel is a senior analyst for the firm’s industry eminence program, covering real estate markets and working alongside the firm’s chief economist and other program participants to analyze trends and themes affecting real estate and shaping middle market businesses.

8. Arjan Endhoven
Firm: BDO USA
Title: Partner

Arjan Endhoven is a Tax Partner at BDO USA with almost 30 years of experience in tax law, tax compliance, and consulting. His expertise lies in adjacent accounting and legal and economic matters. Endhoven works predominantly in the real estate and construction industry, heading the BDO global real estate and construction industry group and co-leading the BDO Netherlands real estate and construction industry group. With a general business background, Endhoven has experience in other sectors including professional services, financial services, automotive and aviation.

9. Caroline Fleet
Firm: Crowe
Title: Partner

Caroline Fleet is a Partner at Crowe, a leading audit, tax, advisory and risk firm. Fleet is the Head of Real Estate Sector and also serves as a Corporate Tax Partner. Her clients span various industries, including property developers, international real estate investors and significant property occupiers. She has particular expertise in advising on the most appropriate structures, considering the business model, stakeholders, and all applicable taxes. With the increasing complexity of property taxation, including the introduction of more taxes and higher rates, Fleet has extensive experience in assessing the interaction of these various taxes.

10. Emily Butler
Firm: CohnReznick
Title: Partner

Emily Butler is a Partner and a member of the CohnReznick Assurance Practice based in the Miami office. She has approximately 17 years of public accounting experience, providing client services in audit, reviews and compilations, and other relevant accounting services. Her experience includes working with real estate funds, real estate developers, and owners and operators of assets such as hotels, office spaces, flex spaces, industrial properties, multifamily and single family homes, land, and condo developments. She is well-versed with the requirements of investment funds and with fair value, GAAP cost basis, IFRS, and income tax basis reporting. Butler earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from West Virginia University.

11. Ingrid Noone
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director, Co-Leader of Real Estate Solutions

Ingrid Noone is the Senior Managing Director and Co-Leader of Real Estate Solutions of FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve financial, legal, operational, political and regulatory, and reputational and transactional disputes. Noone has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry. She advises the firm's real estate clients in key areas, including debt and equity transactions, transaction structuring, property portfolio and corporate due diligence, real estate development, and strategic business planning.

12. Gregory Christophe
Firm: Accenture
Title: Managing Director

Gregory Christophe is the Managing Director of Accenture, a leading global professional services firm that helps leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services. Christophe leads Accenture’s global practice for engineering, construction, real estate and business services. For over 20 years, he has provided advisory services to international corporations, helping to design and execute large transformations. He has supervised a wide range of client engagements, helping clients optimize their performance and seize opportunities.

13. Anna Whitfield
Firm: Marsh
Title: Managing Director

Anna Whitfield is the Managing Director of Marsh and is a member of the real estate team. Marsh is an insurance broker and risk advisor with more than 45,000 colleagues advising clients in over 130 countries. The firm serves commercial and individual clients with data-driven risk solutions and advisory services. In the real estate space, Marsh provides critical risk analysis, insurance placement, and claims advocacy to help manage the unique risks associated with property development, investment, and management.

14. Paul Turnbull
Firm: Willis Towers Watson
Title: Managing Director, Real Estate Practice

Paul Turnbull is the Managing Director and Real Estate Practice of Willis Towers Watson. He first joined the company in 2005 as Head of Client Services in real estate practice. Willis Towers Watson provides data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of its colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, the company helps organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance. Before joining Willis Towers Watson, Turnbull was an Account Director at Aon Risk Solutions.

15. Don Davidson
Firm: Grant Thornton
Title: Managing Director

Don Davidson is a Managing Director in the CFO advisory practice of Grant Thornton’s Houston office. With over 20 years of real estate valuation, advisory and consulting experience, Davidson has a wide range of expertise in the valuation and analysis of commercial real estate, serving a variety of lenders, pension funds, and private and public owners and investors. Davidson has specialized valuation skills in the context of financial reporting requirements and has completed engagements throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

16. Savino Natalicchio
Firm: Kroll
Title: Managing Director, Real Estate Advisory Group

Savino Natalicchio is the Managing Director of the real estate advisory group at Kroll. As an independent provider of risk and financial advisory solutions, Kroll leverages insights, data and technology to help clients stay ahead of complex demands. Natalicchio is responsible for the special divisions department including the shopping center, hospitality, renewable energy and feasibility practices within valuation advisory services.

17. Hunt Holsomback
Firm: Alvarez & Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Hunt Holsomback is a Managing Director with Alvarez and Marsal Private Equity Performance Improvement service and leads the practice’s corporate real estate and performance improvement services. Holsomback has 25 years of experience providing value-enhancing advisory services to real estate investors, lenders, developers, operators, and occupants. Privately held since its founding in 1983, Alvarez and Marsal is a global professional services firm that provides advisory, business performance improvement, and turnaround management services to companies, investors, and government entities globally.

18. Hugo Clark
Firm: Teneo
Title: Managing Director

Hugo Clark is a Managing Director with Teneo in London, having joined Teneo as part of its purchase of Deloitte’s UK Restructuring business. Teneo is a global CEO advisory firm that partners with clients globally to provide advisory services across five business segments on a stand-alone or fully integrated basis to help solve complex business challenges.

19. James Raley
Firm: Heidrick & Struggles Middle East Ltd.
Title: Principal

James Raley is a Principal in Heidrick and Struggles' Dubai office and a member of the global financial services practice, focusing on the real estate industry across the Middle East. Raley provides executive search and leadership consulting services across the region. Heidrick and Struggles is a leading provider of executive search, corporate culture and leadership consulting services, serving over 70% of Fortune 1000 companies across various sectors worldwide.

With over 20 years of talent management experience, including 14 years with top consulting firms in the Middle East, Raley has helped organizations select, identify and nurture top talent. Before joining Heidrick and Struggles, Raley was the regional General Manager of a leadership advisory firm. Raley holds a bachelor's degree in international business studies and Spanish from the University of Northumbria in the United Kingdom.

20. Mark Grinis
Firm: EY
Title: Global Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction Leader

Mark Grinis is the Global Real Estate, Hospitality, and Construction Leader of EY. Utilizing data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide assurance services and assist clients in growing, transforming, and operating effectively. As the EY Americas Real Estate, Hospitality, and Construction Leader, Grinis is involved in managing the firm’s $2 billion real estate business, encompassing more than 17,000 professionals worldwide.

21. Dinesh Wadehra
Firm: Wipro
Title: Global Operations Head

Dinesh Wadehra is the Global Operations Head of Wipro, a technology services and consulting company focused on building innovative solutions that address clients’ digital transformation needs. Wadehra is a result-oriented senior executive with extensive experience providing strategic, tactical, and operational leadership, and has a strong track record of performance in dynamic situations.

22. Nicole Nasca
Firm: Booz Allen Hamilton
Title: Real Estate Lead

Nicole Nasca is the Real Estate Lead of Booz Allen Hamilton, a firm providing consulting services that support the nation’s civil, defense, and national security priorities. Nasca brings nine years of experience to her role. She is an experienced corporate real estate professional with a demonstrated history of managing complex transactions, leading transformation efforts, and executing on strategic initiatives.

23. Rich Field
Firm: Raytheon Technologies
Title: Senior Director, Real Estate & Portfolio Strategy

Rich Field is the Senior Director of Real Estate and Portfolio Strategy at Raytheon Technologies. With more than 185,000 global employees, RTX aims to advance technology and science to improve connectivity and protection worldwide. Through its businesses Collins Aerospace, Pratt and Whitney, and Raytheon, the company focuses on enhancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems, and developing technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address critical challenges.

24. Tracey Lange
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Vice President, Global Head of Real Estate

Tracey Lange is the Vice President and Global Head of Real Estate at Cognizant, a multinational information technology services and consulting company. With extensive experience in global real estate, Lange is skilled in navigating facility activities across organizations and developing strategic real estate plans.

25. Michael Brendes
Firm: SAIC
Title: Vice President, Corporate Real Estate and Facilities

Michael Brendes is a Vice President of Corporate Real Estate and Facilities at SAIC, a Fortune 500 company that provides government services and information technology support. The company's portfolio spans defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets, offering secure solutions in engineering, digital, artificial intelligence, and mission solutions.

In today’s rapidly evolving market, their expertise has become increasingly vital. The marketing consulting industry in the US alone has seen remarkable growth, averaging 8.6% annually over the past five years, driven by increasing demand for innovative solutions that harness big data analytics, AI for personalized customer experiences, integrated multi-channel marketing campaigns, and agile methodologies. These advancements are pivotal in addressing evolving consumer behaviors, technological advancements, and global market fluctuations. These leaders exemplify excellence in navigating challenges businesses face in today’s increasingly complex and competitive market, leveraging their diverse industry exposure and invaluable expertise to drive significant outcomes for their clients.

Among this year’s awardees, Stephanie Garcia, Managing Director at Alvarez and Marsal’s A&MPLIFY, stands out for her renowned leadership in providing transformative e-commerce and digital marketing strategies. Additionally Shweta Bhardwaj, Partner at Bain and Company, is recognized for her expertise in omnichannel retail strategy and Agile transformation, driving significant performance improvements. Lastly, Partha Gopalakrishnan, President and Partner at Brane Group, stands out for his innovative application of AI-driven marketing analytics and sustainable technology solutions, enabling clients to achieve data-driven marketing precision and long-term strategic sustainability.

Amid a talented pool of nominees, these leaders stand out for their proven track record in delivering impactful marketing and sales solutions and driving substantial business success in their respective domains.  Please join us in recognizing the achievements of The Top 25 Marketing and Sales Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Partha Gopalakrishnan
Firm: Brane Group
Title: President and Partner

Partha Gopalakrishnan is the President and Partner of Brane Group, where he spearheads business development and business transformation consulting. Gopalakrishnan is a leading business transformation expert with over 25 years of experience directing global teams to drive digital growth. With expertise in AI, Web3 and digital transformation, and a passion for sustainability, Gopalakrishnan leads new technology practices and implements IT systems which combine business insights with advanced cognitive technologies to create integrated business platforms and services. 

Gopalakrishnan has served in executive leadership positions with some of the world’s largest technology and consulting global system integrators, including 17 years with Infosys, followed by a tenure at Tech Mahindra. Gopalakrishnan holds an MBA from Pondicherry University and a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications engineering from the University of Madras. He has also completed executive education programmes at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

2. Mat Zucker
Firm: Prophet
Title: Senior Partner

Mat Zucker is a New York-based Senior Partner and Chief Marketing Officer for Prophet. As a pioneer in the digital landscape and advocate of the integration of brand and demand, Zucker brings nearly 30 years of interactive marketing, advertising, social and content experience to Prophet. For five years, he was co-Leader of the firm's global marketing and sales practice. 

Prior to Prophet, Zucker was Global Executive Creative Director at Razorfish and served as Chief Creative Officer at OgilvyOne New York as well as in leadership roles at R/GA and Agency.com. A graduate of Cornell University, Zucker started as a copywriter in advertising. He is co-author of Brand and Demand Marketing: A Love Story and author of Bronze Seeks Silver: Lessons from a Creative Career in Marketing. He is also host of Cidiot, a regional podcast in the Hudson Valley and co-host of Rising, a marketing careers podcast.

3. Bo Finneman
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Senior Partner

Bo Finneman is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Growth, Marketing & Sales, Consumer and Travel Practices. He serves Retail, CPG, Travel and Technology clients through insights and digitally-led growth programs that span strategic and tactical levers. Over the last 15 years, he’s driven innovations in growth through the firm’s Consumer-Decision-Journey methodology, launched the leading growth metric, the Customer Growth Indicator, and built an advanced analytics solution called the Profitable Growth Navigator to spot headroom in markets.

Today, Finneman leads the Consumer Digital and Analytics practice, which focuses on helping clients design technology solutions that spur their competitive advantage, new business builds, and organic growth across marketing, ecommerce, experience, merchandising, and loyalty. This has led to impact partnerships with various sub-sectors of consumer retail, including food, beverage, apparel and mass – as well as travel operators and technology platforms. He also orchestrates McKinsey’s clients across Florida and leads our Growth, Marketing and Sales people operations across more than 20 locations to cultivate the practice’s talent.

Finneman’s experience in growth, marketing, sales and business development prior to joining McKinsey includes leading Audience Development for a digital media company, Wetpaint.com, working in brand management and sales at E&J Gallo Winery, and was an investment banker with Credit Suisse. Bo serves on the board of the Finneman Scholarship Foundation, a not-for-profit organization supporting students in California’s Central Valley in their pursuit of attending higher education.

4. Wei Ke
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner

Dr. Wei Ke is a Partner based in Oliver Wyman’s New York office, and affiliated with both the pricing, sales and marketing, and the retail and business banking practices. Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting that provides specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation across offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries. Ke has over 15 years of consulting experience advising leading financial institutions, software and data service providers, retailers, and travel operators around the world on product innovation, pricing strategy, marketing and promotional tactics, customer value management, and digital sales effectiveness.

Prior to Oliver Wyman, Ke was a Managing Partner with Simon-Kucher and Partners, a global pricing consultancy, where he led its Canada business and served as the Lead Partner for Financial Services and Travel for North America. Ke is a prolific writer on pricing and marketing related topics, with over 50 publications in industry and academic journals to-date, and teaches pricing strategy and analytics at Columbia Business School and NYU Stern School of Business as an adjunct associate professor in his spare time. Ke holds a Ph.D. in decision, risk and operations from Columbia Business School and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and applied mathematics from Columbia University.

5. Sean McDevitt
Firm: Arthur D. Little
Title: Partner

Sean McDevitt is a leading decision-maker, advisor, and thought leader in the telecommunications industry, with three decades of international management consulting and operations experience spanning several global markets. Based in Boston, McDevitt is a Partner at global consultancy Arthur D. Little, where he leads the USA TIME Practice and recruiting efforts. McDevitt helps top telecom operators, suppliers, private equity, and infrastructure funds firms make critical business decisions regarding strategic growth initiatives, investment due diligence, market entry, spectrum auctions, and broadband services. McDevitt has driven ADL's growth, re-establishing it as a top-tier management consulting firm in the US, now serving five of the top ten US telecom operators since re-entering the market.

Prior to joining ADL, McDevitt was a VP at Cartesian, where he led the North American Strategy and Management Consulting businesses. Previously, he held executive positions in Europe, serving as Président-Directeur Général of Le Numéro France and COO of 118118//Media in the UK. McDevitt also serves on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority, the US’s nationwide public safety broadband network that equips first responders to save lives and protect US communities. McDevitt holds a bachelor’s degree in classics and business economics from Brown University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. 

6. Reggie Walker
Firm: PwC
Title: Partner

Reggie Walker is a Partner at PwC, where he leads the firm’s Global Salesforce Alliance and Practice. PwC is a network of firms in 151 countries with over 360,000 professionals dedicated to providing quality assurance, advisory and tax services. Previously, he served as a member of PwC's US Leadership Team as PwC's Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for all Brand, Marketing, External Communications and Relationship Development activities.

7. Janet Balis
Firm: EY
Title: Partner

Janet Balis is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in strategy, media, marketing, and technology. Most recently she spent nine years serving as Partner at EY, a professional services firm specializing in consulting, assurance, tax, strategy, and transaction services. At EY, she led the CMO practice, focusing on marketing transformation, including operating model design, marketing effectiveness and efficiency, data and technology strategy, and the talent agenda.

8. Linda Perry-Lube
Firm: IBM Consulting
Title: Partner

Linda Perry-Lube is a Partner of IBM Consulting, where she is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI and consulting expertise that helps clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Perry-Lube conceives and delivers digital transformations proven to increase customer loyalty, improve customer service, and deliver new business models, driving market share and revenue.

9. Ned Nicol
Firm: LanciaConsult
Title: Managing Director Europe

Ned Nicol is the Managing Director of the Bristol office at LanciaConsult, where he works closely with client teams to implement technology solutions that create lasting value. LanciaConsult is a business, technology and marketing consultancy, serving clients around the world from offices in Europe and Asia. In 2012, they established LanciaConsult in Singapore to address the evolving needs of the consultancy sector and maintain a strong advisory focus. 

Ned has 20 years of experience in leading complex transformation programs and supporting clients to deliver efficiencies and drive change through IT strategy development and IT operating model definition. His experience spans a number of sectors including financial services, marketing, retail and third sector. Prior to Lancia, Ned worked at both Accenture and PwC Consulting. Ned graduated from Durham University with a master of engineering in manufacturing and management.

10. Barbara Venneman
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Customer and Marketing Leader

Barbara Venneman leads Deloitte Digital, a business that specializes in transforming future-ready customer experiences across marketing, commerce, sales, and service, to create great impact for the firm’s clients. Under her leadership, her team combines the unique discipline of Deloitte with the power of creativity, connecting people, ideas, technology, and capabilities in innovative ways that create new solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems. Barbara’s strategic vision and leadership have enabled Deloitte Digital to lead the industry and strategically invest for future growth. She is a strong advocate for inclusion and collaboration, fostering high-performance teams that serve the market with distinction. 

With over 30 years of experience, Barbara has led some of the most complex global customer-centric transformations for Fortune 500 brands. She is recognized as a leader in the marketplace and is continually engaged with leading and emerging technology companies worldwide to accelerate digital transformation and adoption.

11. Shweta Bhardwaj
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner

Shweta Bhardwaj is a Partner of Bain and Company’s Retail and Customer Strategy and Marketing practices. Bain and Company is a global consultancy that works alongside clients across 65 cities in 40 countries to achieve significant outcomes. Bhardwaj has nearly 15 years of management consulting experience, supporting clients on a range of topics, including omnichannel strategy and operating model design, marketing and e-commerce acceleration, NPS implementation, Agile transformation and performance improvement.

12. David Edmondson
Firm: Accenture
Title: Senior Managing Director

David Edmondson is a Senior Managing Director and North America Market Sales Lead at Accenture. Edmondson is responsible for driving the sales strategy across North America while remaining engaged in the market's most critical and complex opportunities. He has responsibility for integrating Accenture’s sales teams across North America to proactively address our client’s most complex and critical challenges and create new career opportunities for our sales professionals.

13. Mark Cornwell
Firm: KPMG
Title: Managing Director

Mark Cornwell is a Managing Director at KPMG, a global accounting and advisory firm. Based in the San Francisco office, Cornwell works directly with top management on pursuits of new business targets. Cornwell is an experienced business leader with more than 25 years of sales and marketing expertise. Through a variety of senior leadership roles, he has leveraged his marketing, advertising, sales management, and communications skills to help organizations promote and build brand image, increase market penetration, and develop strategic partnership strategies.

14. Stephanie Garcia
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Stephanie Garcia is a Managing Director with A&MPLIFY, Alvarez and Marsal's digital growth agency, out of San Francisco. A&MPLIFY accelerates customer growth and front office transformation by leveraging AI, data, digital technologies, and experienced operators, and unlocks value for clients through accelerated sales, optimized customer investments, and redesigned customer experiences. Garcia specializes in leading e-commerce businesses and digital marketing programs for top retail, entertainment and consumer goods brands. Her primary areas of concentration are customer experience transformation, e-commerce design and optimization and digital marketing performance improvement.​

15. Chris Hessler
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director

Chris Hessler is a Managing Director at Protiviti, where he leads Strategic Alliances, including the Adobe partnership for the digital solution. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach, and unparalleled collaboration to support leaders in addressing their most critical challenges.

16. Fulvio Manente
Firm: Softtek
Title: Global Solutions Vice President

Fulvio Manente is the Global Solutions Vice President for Retail of Softtek, a global IT services company which supports clients in gaining a competitive edge through digital solutions aligned with their business strategies and leveraging a human-centric platform that integrates people, business, and technology. Manente has served as an experienced IT professional for more than 25 years, delivering his expertise to major corporations in Brazil, Mexico and the US. His expertise lies in strategic planning, innovation road-maps, national and multinational project and program management based on PMI, Prince and agile methodologies, ERP implementation, AMS and Service desk design, and conception and implementation based on ITIL and Cobit.

Before joining Softtek, Manente was a Head of Innovation and Market Intelligence at Estapar and before that, a Senior Manager at Wal-Mart Latin America. Earlier in his career he worked with Unibanco Seguros S.A. as a Business Analyst. Manente holds a master’s degree in artificial intelligence and machine learning from The University of Texas at Austin and an undergraduate degree in information technology from Centro Superior de Formação Tecnológica Carlos Drummond de Andrade.

17. Gaurav Mittal
Firm: Wipro
Title: Global Head of Digital Marketing and Commerce

Gaurav Mittal is the Global Head of Digital Marketing and Commerce for Wipro, a leading technology services and consulting company focused on building innovative solutions that address clients’ most complex digital transformation needs. Mittal is a digital transformation leader with more than 23 years of IT experience, and has spent over 15 years in consulting, design thinking, solution design and digital solutions implementation for several industry leading brands. He has partnered with C-Level and senior leadership in marketing and IT groups to define strategic roadmap and build compelling digital experiences to drive business outcomes.

18. Satish Nair
Firm: Infosys
Title: Senior Vice President

Satish Nair is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Sales at Infosys BPM, where he manages global sales and client partnerships. Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, with over 300,000 professionals who work to create opportunities for people, businesses and communities.

19. Matt Horner
Firm: World Wide Technology
Title: Senior Vice President

As Senior Vice President of World Wide Technology’s Global Enterprise sales organization, Matt Horner leverages his deep business expertise to spur transformational growth on behalf of WWT and many of its strategic clients and partners globally. Founded in 1990, WWT is a global technology solutions provider leading in AI and digital innovation. With $20 billion in annual revenue, the company leverages strategy, execution, and partnerships to accelerate digital transformational outcomes for large public and private organizations globally.

20. KC Chamberlain
Firm: Willis Towers Watson
Title: Vice President, Sales and Marketing

KC Chamberlain is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Willis Towers Watson, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world manage risks and navigate paths for growth. Chamberlain is an experienced sales and marketing executive, known for driving revenue growth through initiatives including business development strategies and implementation, promotional programs, client communication, marketing collateral, advertising, trade shows, seminars, webinars, proposal preparation and presentations, program coordination, RFP response management, event management and public relations.

21. Waqas Aman Ullah
Firm: Telenor
Title: Vice President of Sales Marketing

Waqas Aman Ullah is the Vice President of Sales Marketing at Telenor, a leading telecommunications company across the Nordics and Asia with 158 million subscribers. Connectivity has been Telenor’s domain for more than 165 years, focusing on providing essential telecommunications services to connect people globally. Ullah leads the direction and delivery of sales ambitions at a national level, covering both GSM and financial services.

22. Benjamin Bloom
Firm: Gartner
Title: Vice President

Benjamin Bloom, Vice President and Analyst at Gartner, specializes in assisting marketing leaders with martech stack optimization, personalization, and customer data management. Gartner, Inc. provides actionable and objective insights to help organizations make informed decisions and achieve stronger performance on their critical priorities.

23. Rusty Warner
Firm: Forrester
Title: Vice President, Principal

Rusty Warner is a Vice President and Principal of Forrester, a research and advisory firm that helps leaders across technology, customer experience, digital, marketing, sales, and product functions use customer obsession to accelerate growth. Warner serves B2C marketing professionals, focusing his research on enterprise marketing technologies, including cross-channel campaign management, marketing resource management, and real-time interaction management. He helps organizations ensure their marketing technology investments underpin strategies to meet evolving customer expectations and align with overall business technology investments to engage, serve, and retain customers.

24. Tom Svec
Firm: BDO USA, LLP
Title: Principal

Tom Svec is a Principal at BDO Digital, leading the Marketing Technology and Strategy Practice. BDO delivers assurance, tax, and financial advisory services to clients throughout the country and around the globe. Svec is responsible for a team of architects, developers, analysts, campaign specialists and strategic advisors that help clients apply the best methods and technologies for driving revenue within their organizations, while maximizing the impact of their marketing technology investments.

25. Abha Singh
Firm: Capgemini
Title: Senior Director

Abha Singh is a Senior Director at Capgemini. She drives large transformation and consultative sales, presales, and marketing projects for Capgemini’s clients, bringing innovation into the core of every area of her work. Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society.

As the employment atmosphere evolves, leaders in the human capital space are tasked with the increasingly complex job of understanding human behavior and translating that psychology into achieving the long-term financial and strategic goals of major corporations and organizations. This year’s awardees are trusted consultants who have proven that successful human capital management when employed not only attracts the finest talent but also positions this talent at the forefront to improve and sustain operational effectiveness that sets the organization apart from its competitors. 

Among this year’s awardees, Yaarit Silverstone, Senior Managing Director for Strategy, Talent, and Organization at Accenture, stands out for her 30 years of experience in diagnosing complex organizational performance issues and designing leadership development programs. Additionally, Sara Elk, Partner at Bain and Company, is recognized for her expertise in transforming large companies facing technology or business model disruption. Lastly, Simona Spelman, US Human Capital Leader at Deloitte Consulting, excels in navigating workforce disruptions and leading hybrid and tech-enabled business transformations, leveraging her extensive background in HR strategy and IT transformations.

This year’s awardees were selected based on a review of nomination submissions and further research into the depth of their experience and proven client success. Following a methodical process, The Consulting Report is pleased to congratulate this year’s Top 25 Human Capital Consultants and Leaders.

1. Norman Lonergan
Firm: EY
Title: Global Managing Partner

Norman Lonergan is the EY Global Managing Partner for people advisory services. EY is a provider of assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services, helping clients navigate complex business challenges and improve performance. EY operates in more than 150 countries, offering insights and services to support capital markets and economies worldwide.

Prior to this role, Lonergan served as Global Vice Chair of Advisory, working with leading global businesses to address complex industry issues and capitalize on growth opportunities. Under Lonergan's leadership, EY Global Advisory achieved year-on-year double-digit growth. Previously, Lonergan was a Partner at PwC Consulting. Earlier in his career he worked with Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. as an IT director.

2. Kim Wylam
Firm: Baker Tilly US
Title: Managing Principal

Kim Wylam is the Managing Principal of the Human Capital (resources) consulting practice. Over her career, Wylam has developed a breadth of experience in all aspects of human capital including recruitment, retention, compensation, benefits, workforce planning, HR operations and compliance. Specializing in HR strategy and development, Wylam works with clients representing all industries, including internationally.

Wylam has also developed an extensive portfolio of thought leadership, with published articles appearing in the PA Business Journal, HR Executive Magazine, Weight Watchers Magazine, HR Technology and several other periodicals on a wide range of human capital topics and trends. Wylam is also a frequent contributor to the HFMA group, providing content on healthcare related HR issues.

Prior to founding Vantagen and joining Baker Tilly, Wylam served as vice president for NatWest Bank (now Bank of America) in the HR services division. Within this role, she coordinated HRIS, payroll, compensation and employee benefits for more than 25,000 employees in the U.S. and abroad.

3. Anthony Abbatiello
Firm: PwC
Title: Partner and Workforce Transformation Practice Leader

Anthony Abbatiello is a Partner at PwC, where he leads the firm's human capital consulting and workforce transformation business. PwC helps clients prepare for the future workforce by addressing HR strategy and transformation, talent strategy, behavioral change, and rewards and well-being. In his role, Abbatiello is responsible for driving scale and innovative growth in the business.

Abbatiello has over 25 years of P&L management, leadership consulting and human capital experience to advise senior clients in all industries, working as a trusted advisor to senior executive performance, transformational leadership and succession management. Prior to PwC, Abbatiello led the global advisory business for Russell Reynolds Associates. Abbatiello began his career at Accenture and helped pioneer the firm's HR transformation capabilities with the first HR outsourcing arrangement in the financial services industry. Abbatiello graduated from Villanova University with an undergraduate degree in business administration. 

4. Rachel Charlton
Firm: Deloitte UK
Title: Partner

Rachel Charlton is a Partner in Deloitte's Human Capital business where she leads the digital change practice. In this role, Charlton helps companies maximize their technology investments, transform business operations, and leverage their workforce for added value through strategic technology adoption.

5. Peter Brown
Firm: PwC UK
Title: Partner

Peter Brown is PwC’s Global Workforce leader, having joined PwC as a partner in 2010 from another global professional services organization. He has over 20 years’ experience working and advising global organizations on workforce and people related matters. He sponsors PwC’s Centre for Transformative Leadership and leads on market leading PwC research including the annual Hopes and Fears Survey of over 56,00 workers around the world and the PwC AI Jobs Barometer.

Prior to working in professional services, Pete was in the Royal Air Force and continues to support them as an Ambassador for the RAF Museum and as a Trustee of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust with a focus on inspiring young people to have an interest in aviation, engineering and space. He was appointed MBE in 2000.

6. Mark Williamson
Firm: KPMG UK
Title: Partner, Head of People Consulting

Mark Williamson leads KPMG’s People Consulting practice in the UK, providing workforce, learning and HR solutions designed to address organizations’ key people, change, and talent issues in driving business performance. His expertise focuses on HR and workforce transformation, learning solutions, and the role of AI and technology in these areas.

Williamson’s client experience spans various industry sectors, including financial services, defense, government, industrial manufacturing, telecoms and media, consumer markets and life sciences. He has led some of the largest learning, workforce and HR transformation programs in the UK and globally. With over 30 years of experience, Williamson has worked in both industry and for several other global professional services organizations prior to joining KPMG.

7. Dave Eberhardt
Firm: PwC
Title: Partner

Dave Eberhardt is a Partner at PwC and a leader in the firm’s Workforce Transformation practice. With over 20 years of experience in human capital, Eberhardt specializes in helping clients develop and implement effective strategies for HR transformation, service delivery models, operating model development, leadership enhancement, culture building, change management, talent management, and workforce analytics and planning.

Eberhardt's experience includes leadership and consulting roles at Accenture, Deloitte, and Booz & Co., where he has worked with numerous FORTUNE 500 companies. In addition, he has served as a Chief Human Resources Officer in the industry, providing him with a well-rounded perspective on human capital management. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and an executive certification from The Wharton School.

8. Mary Liszak
Firm: Tata Consultancy Services
Title: Partner

Mary Liszak is a Partner at Tata Consultancy Services, an IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization that supports businesses in their transformation journeys. As an HR and IT executive, Liszak integrates operational and consulting skills to create value-driven business solutions.

9. Yaarit Silverstone
Firm: Accenture
Title: Senior Managing Director Strategy Talent and Organization

Yaarit Silverstone is Senior Managing Director for Strategy, Talent and Organization within Accenture Strategy. Silverstone focuses on developing talent and organization effectiveness to help clients achieve their people strategies and goals. Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services.

With more than 30 years of consulting experience, Silverstone specializes in diagnosing complex organizational performance issues and designing, implementing and sustaining leadership development programs, as well as large-scale journey management, human capital strategy and transformation and talent management solutions. During her 20 years at Accenture, she has held leadership roles in the firm’s talent and organization performance service line, as well as in the chemicals, life sciences, resources and products industry groups. Prior to joining Accenture, she led Gemini Consulting’s North American Human Capital practice and ran her own consultancy. Silverstone holds master’s degrees in psychology and business administration from Rand Afrikaans University and the University of the Witwatersrand.

10. Marco Vasconi
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner

Marco is a Partner within Kearney’s Public Sector Practice based in the UAE and a founding member of the Center of Excellence for Human Capital Development at Kearney.

Vasconi has dedicated his career and passion to serving key public and private sector clients in the education and labor sectors to make a positive impact on the economy and society. He focuses on helping decision-makers design inclusive and dynamic labor markets and develop a future-ready and resilient labor force equipped with relevant skills and values to realize their socio-economic ambitions.

Vasconi has a relentless focus on driving sustainable impact through robust and practical solutions. His contributions include designing nation-wide education and labor market policies; developing human capital plans for sectors of national priority; crafting global talent attraction strategies; advising universities, academies and schools on their business plans; understanding the role of data and technology in the education and labor market; elevating the social impact of private foundations; and helping private investment groups with their investment strategies.

11. Donia Aqel
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner

Donia is a Partner within Kearney’s Public Sector Practice, based in the UAE. She advises senior clients across GCC on areas related to labor, education and social policy. Aqel is a core member of the Center of Excellence for Human Capital Development at Kearney, where she advocates for using policy reform to create a fair and just society, with a strong focus on promoting inclusive economic growth, strengthening labor market systems, and enhancing social welfare programs.

Aqel has been at the forefront of numerous initiatives aimed at advancing these objectives, including working on technical assistance programs with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Today, she remains committed to advancing the economic progress agenda by advising clients on national and sectoral strategies for human capital development, establishing labor foresight and observatories, activating admission systems, and addressing diverse policy issues related to labor and education.

Previously, Aqel was a Director of Government and Public Sector Advisory in Labor, Education and Skills at PwC Middle East and before that a Project Manager at Qatar Financial Centre Authority. Earlier in her career she worked with UNRWA as a Project Manager. Aqel earned an MBA from The University of Manchester and an undergraduate degree in politics and economics from Georgetown University.

12. Elie El Khoury
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner

Elie El Khoury is a Partner within Kearney’s Public Sector Practice based in Saudi Arabia and advises senior leaders within the Center of Government and across public sector organizations. El Khoury’s expertise covers economic development and localization across sectors with the key objective to yield tangible economic and social dividends through carefully crafted and executed national strategies and plans.

El Khoury is a core and founding member of the Center of Excellence for Human Capital Development at Kearney, where he focuses on ensuring the youth of the region are ready for the future of work by making sure they are equipped with the right skills, have meaningful jobs and remain engaged in the labor market.

His contributions include designing national and sectoral human capital development programs, designing and executing major employment and training programs for local citizens, activating a national labor observatory, designing academies across priority sectors, in addition to various labor and education related policy, strategy and governance related projects. El Khoury earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the American University of Beirut.

13. Jason Averbook
Firm: Mercer
Title: Senior Partner, Digital Transformation

Jason Averbook is a Senior Partner and Global Leader of HR and Digital Transformation at Mercer. Averbook has spent three decades advising executives, HR & People functions, and technology solution providers. He also drives Mercer’s global Generative AI strategy and services, spearheading innovative solutions across the HR technology landscape.

Averbook has guided more than 1,000 HR transformations and deployments for some of the largest, most prestigious organizations in the world. He is the accomplished author of two books illustrating innovative approaches to HR, workforce experience, and digital transformation. From 2018 to 2023, Jason co-founded and served as CEO of Leapgen, a consultancy committed to helping organizations shape the digital workplace. In his expanded role with Mercer, Jason continues to challenge executive mindsets and advocate for digital-first cultures where business and people outcomes mutually flourish.

Averbook's previous experience includes executive and strategy roles Ceridian, PeopleSoft, Knowledge Infusion (later Appirio), and The Marcus Buckingham Group. He serves as adjunct professor at universities worldwide, imparting his knowledge and insights on HR technology and digitization to future generations of leaders.

14. Simona Spelman
Firm: Deloitte Consulting
Title: US Human Capital Leader

Simona Spelman has been Deloitte’s US Human Capital National Managing Partner since 2023, with a principal focus on “making humans better at work and work better for humans.” She advises leaders in achieving their business objectives through a human-centric approach, intersecting with the latest in technology advancements and the evolving business landscape to architect future-focused growth strategies. As an integral part of the Global Human Capital Executive Leadership Team and the Deloitte US Consulting Management Committee, Spelman proactively addresses the work, workforce, and workplace challenges associated with evolving business needs to help make business decisions that maximize both business growth and human potential. Spelman is an active contributor to, and advocates for, prominent Human Capital eminence such as Deloitte’s annual Human Capital Trends report.

Spelman brings over 25 years of experience with Fortune 500 clients, leading them through complex, global transformations at the organizational and technological intersection to achieve business and human outcomes. Her deep expertise is in optimizing staffing and management of delivery models for enterprise programs, which helped her to grow and advance Deloitte’s Human Capital as a Service practice. Her experience includes hands-on experience managing several complex global projects as a single, integrated program leveraging a unified set of resources, governance, program management, quality assurance, and delivery capabilities.

15. Brandon Ledford
Firm: MGT
Title: Senior Vice President, Human Capital Consulting

Brandon Ledford has led MGT’s Human Capital team since 2017. As a senior leader in the social-impact driven company, Ledford partners with state, local, and education (SLED) clients across the United States to help tackle their toughest human capital challenges, from organizational and workforce transformation to recruitment and retention. Ledford has been an integral leader in MGT’s rapid growth journey to be the performance leader in SLED.

Ledford has been a human capital executive with more than 20 years of success in management consulting, organizational improvement, public policy, human capital, project and change management, and process improvement that generates data-driven results in people, operations, and culture.

Prior to joining MGT, Ledford got his start at the White House Office and Science and Technology Policy and has been a consultant for both Deloitte and Booz Allen Hamilton. He holds a master of public policy from George Mason University's School of Public Policy, an undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University, and he is certified in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP), Project Management (PMP), Change Management (Prosci), and Artificial Intelligence (MIT).

16. Pratima Dasgupta
Firm: HCL Technologies
Title: Global Director and Head of Talent Development

Pratima Dasgupta is the Global Director and Head of Talent Development at HCL Technologies, a global technology company with over 227,000 employees across 60 countries. HCL Technologies specializes in digital, engineering, cloud, and AI, offering a broad portfolio of technology services and products. Dasgupta is an experienced consultant who strategizes and leads large-scale HR projects to drive learning transformation and deliver high-value business outcomes.

17. Michael Park
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Senior Partner, People and Organizational Performance Practice Leader

Michael Park is the Senior Partner of McKinsey and Company’s people and organizational performance practice and leads its work in advanced industries. He helps leaders prepare their organizations to be more efficient, innovative, and customer-centric, often during transformations or mergers.

18. Sara Elk
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner

Sara Elk is a Partner at Bain and Company, where she is the global leader of the firm’s people and organization practice. Bain operates in 65 cities across 40 countries, working with clients to achieve significant results and address industry challenges. Elk is also a Senior Leader in the energy and natural resources practice and serves as a member of Bain's global governance committee for compensation and promotion.

19. Greg Gratteau
Firm: BDO USA, LLP
Title: Managing Director

Greg Gratteau is the Managing Director of BDO USA, a global provider of assurance, tax, and financial advisory services. Gratteau focuses on creating a unified operating vision and developing integrated HR programs to support business objectives. His expertise spans business leadership, compensation and benefit design, organizational development, talent management, HRIS management, mergers and acquisitions, and labor relations. Gratteau has led teams in both Fortune 500 and mid-market companies.

20. Fran Maxwell
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director

Fran Maxwell is the Managing Director of Protiviti’s people advisory and organizational change segment. Based in Phoenix, he brings more than 21 years of experience in human resources and change management consulting to the firm. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach, and collaboration to support leaders in addressing their most critical challenges.

21. Matthew Cowell
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director

Matthew Cowell is the Senior Managing Director of the human capital practice at FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations resolve financial, legal, operational, political and regulatory, reputational, and transactional disputes.

22. Amanda Grant
Firm: Teneo
Title: Senior Managing Director

Amanda Grant is a Senior Managing Director for Teneo’s people advisory business. With over 25 years of financial services leadership, she has a distinguished track record in globally advising and recruiting C-suite leaders on corporate strategy, talent needs, DE&I, infrastructure, and growth.

23. John Schultz
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

John Schultz is a Managing Director for Alvarez and Marsal Tax in Denver, co-leading the compensation and benefits practice. Alvarez and Marsal provides advisory services in turnaround management, corporate restructuring, and performance improvement for high-profile businesses and stakeholders.

24. Lisa Massman
Firm: KPMG LLP
Title: Principal, US Human Capital Advisory Leader

Lisa Massman serves as leader of the Human Capital Advisory practice for KPMG, LLP, a global organization providing audit, tax, and advisory services. KPMG operates in 143 countries and territories, with more than 273,000 professionals across its member firms. Massman focuses on helping leaders solve complex human capital issues and is responsible for developing and driving HCA’s strategic priorities and growth.

With more than 30 years of experience teaming with business and technology leadership, Lisa leads teams that work to transform and modernize the Human Resources, Payroll and Learning functions with a focus on digital experience, technology modernization, service delivery and business process optimization, and the innovation of leading edge workforce and talent solutions across the enterprise so organizations can reach the overall business objectives. This includes a passion for advising clients on strategies to manage the ever changing workforce needs, enhance employee engagement, and leverage AI to significantly improve productivity of the workforce.

25. Marni Rozen
Firm: RSM US
Title: Principal and Human Capital Consulting National Leader

Marni Rozen is a Principal and Human Capital Consulting National Leader at RSM US. Rozen has experience supporting clients through M&A post-merger integrations, separations, carve-outs, delivering Human Capital focused solutions to drive transformation and design future-state operating models to meet an organization's business goals and objectives.

Over the past two decades, the consulting industry has evolved into a $300 billion market, leading to more competition and the need for firms to offer unique, unprecedented expertise and highly focused client care in order to best serve clients. By the same magnitude, the world’s largest organizations and governments are increasingly facing global competition, regulatory changes, and technological disruptions, requiring the most advanced and innovative insights to achieve continued growth. This year’s awardees have established reputations as the trusted partners to some of the globe’s largest corporations, governments, and organizations. 

As the consulting industry continues to evolve and the diverse needs of businesses worldwide become increasingly complex, the awardees on this year’s list stand out for their distinct leadership and unmatched success in shaping industries, driving growth, and fostering resilience across global markets. Please join us in recognizing The Top 50 Consulting Firms of 2024.

1. Kearney

Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with 5,700 people working in over 40 countries. The firm works with more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500, as well as with the most influential governmental and nonprofit organizations.

Kearney is a partner-owned firm with a distinctive, collegial culture that transcends organizational and geographic boundaries. Regardless of location or rank, Kearney consultants are down-to-earth, approachable, and have a shared passion for doing innovative client work that provides clear benefits to the organizations the firm works with in both the short and long term. Nearing the 100th anniversary of its founding, Kearney has accelerated growth and expansion with several recent strategic acquisitions.

2. Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, enabling clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, Infosys steers clients in more than 56 countries as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. 

Infosys enables clients with an AI-first core, empowers businesses with agile digital at scale, and drives continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from its innovation ecosystem. Infosys is committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization, where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

In 2022, consulting industry veteran and Europe leader Andrew Duncan became CEO of Infosys Consulting. Since then, IC has become one of the fastest-growing units within the Infosys group.

3. CohnReznick

As a top advisory, assurance, and tax firm, CohnReznick provides a fully integrated range of advisory services, across three distinct business groups. Value360, one of the firm’s leading advisory services, provides a suite of solutions including transaction advisory services comprising due diligence, SPAs and purchase price disputes, restructuring, bankruptcy, forensic accounting, and loan workout services. The practice provides project finance solutions for developers, investors, sponsors, and P3, valuation services and valuation-related litigation, performance improvement services spanning strategy, operations, revenue growth, efficiency, cost reduction, post-acquisition integration, and a range of M&A insurance advisory services.

Global Consulting Solutions, the firm’s fastest growing advisory practice, offers specialized services focused on risk management, government contracting, digital innovation, and business performance improvement. Key GCS solutions include cybersecurity and enterprise risk management, CFO Advisory, managed services and outsourcing, digital transformation, AI and data automation, and enterprise resource planning. A dedicated team of GCS advisors provide government contractors with a suite of services to help them win and manage contracts. Government advisory provides audit and tax, program management, integrity monitoring, and other solutions for federal, state, and local government agencies. 

4. Mercer

Mercer, a premier American consulting provider, believes in building brighter futures by redefining the world of work. Mercer’s business solutions reshape retirement and investment outcomes, and unlock real health and well-being for their client’s employees. People are at the forefront of Mercer’s core offerings. The firm prides itself on using strategic data analytics to improve the lives of organizations’ colleagues. Mercer’s service offerings range from talent and reward management to M&A advisory and retirement consulting. 

Mercer’s more than 20,000 colleagues are based in 43 countries and the firm operates in over 130 countries. Mercer is a subsidiary of Marsh McLennan, the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. With more than 85,000 colleagues and an annual revenue of $23 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment with its market-leading businesses which include Marsh and Guy Carpenter, its risk and insurance businesses, and Oliver Wyman, a traditional management consulting firm. 

5. Publicis Sapient

Publicis Sapient is a digital business transformation company with 20,000 employees and over 50 offices, worldwide. The company partners with global organizations to help them create and sustain their competitive advantage in a world that is becoming increasingly digital. Publicis Sapient enables clients to unlock value and drive outcomes through integrated SPEED capabilities: strategy, product, experience, engineering and data and AI. Combined with their culture of curiosity and deep industry knowledge, these capabilities fuel the delivery of meaningful impact to clients’ businesses through reimagining the products and experiences their customers truly value. 

Publicis Sapient serves clients in the retail, consumer products, energy and commodities, financial services, health, public sector, telecommunications, media and technology, transportation and mobility, and travel and hospitality industries. 

6. Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services to many of the world’s leading brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 8,500 US-based private companies. It serves clients across various industries, including financial services, technology, healthcare, consumer, energy, and government, and provides consulting services in strategy, operations, technology, human capital, and digital transformation, among others. Deloitte is known for its industry expertise, innovative solutions, and commitment to delivering value to its clients.

Deloitte is also involved in thought leadership and research, producing reports and studies on topics ranging from emerging trends in business to economic outlooks and regulatory developments. Additionally, the firm is actively engaged in corporate social responsibility initiatives, focusing on areas such as education, sustainability, and community development. Deloitte brings over 175 years of service to its clients, with a network of member firms spanning more than 150 countries and territories. 

7. ZS

ZS is a management consulting and technology firm that works side by side with companies to help drive customer value and solve their business challenges. The firm connects to its clients’ business model and product mix with calculated decisions about future opportunities to drive growth.

With a global team of more than 13,000 committed professionals partnering with over 1,200 clients in 17 countries in over 35 offices, ZS helps businesses make more intelligent decisions, deliver innovative solutions and improve outcomes for all. It leverages deep industry expertise, leading-edge analytics, technology and strategy to create actionable strategy and advisory, AI and analytics, digital and technology, life sciences R&D and medical, portfolio and pipeline, value and access, marketing, sales, supply chain and manufacturing solutions.

8. Jacobs

Jacobs Solutions is a global professional services firm offering a comprehensive range of consulting, engineering, project management, and operations and maintenance services. With approximately $16 billion in annual revenue and a workforce of over 60,000, Jacobs serves various sectors, including infrastructure, water, energy, environment, advanced facilities, and government services. The firm focuses on addressing critical issues such as urban development, environmental resilience, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery, and advanced manufacturing.

Jacobs emphasizes sustainability, resiliency, and digital transformation in its projects, and aims to create significant social, environmental, and economic impacts. The company provides a full spectrum of professional services, including consulting, technical, scientific, and project delivery for both government and private sector clients.

9. General Dynamics Information Technology

GDIT is a global technology and professional services company that delivers consulting, technology, and mission services to every major agency across the US government, defense, and intelligence community.

The company’s 30,000 experts use technology to create value and deliver solutions for its clients. Operating across 30 countries worldwide, it offers leading capabilities in digital modernization, AI/ML, cloud, cyber, and application development. GDIT is part of General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company. For over 50 years, the company has closely aligned with its clients, gaining a deep understanding of their missions and complex environments to help them navigate through challenges.

10. McKinsey and Company

McKinsey is a global management consulting firm committed to helping organizations accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth. The firm works with clients across the private, public, and social sectors to help solve complex problems and create positive change for its stakeholders. McKinsey uses strategic approaches and advanced technologies to assist organizations in sustainable innovation, improving performance and developing resilient workforces for the present and future.

McKinsey invests more than $800 million of the firm’s resources annually in capability building, knowledge development, and learning. It established its in-house think tank, McKinsey Global Institute, in 1990 to develop research on major challenges and trends. McKinsey is located in 130 cities in over 65 countries. With more than 45,000 colleagues, its employees speak more than 140 languages and represent over 140 citizenships. 

11. Simon-Kucher

Simon-Kucher is a global consultancy with more than 2,000 employees in 30 countries. The firm is focused on unlocking better growth and driving measurable revenue and profit for clients. Simon-Kucher employs deep insights into what customers want and value to optimize every lever of its clients' commercial strategy, including product development, pricing, innovation, marketing, and sales.

With almost four decades of experience in monetization topics of all kinds, Simon-Kucher is regarded as the world’s leading pricing and growth specialist. The global consultancy boasts a distinctive leadership model, overseen by co-CEOs, Mark Billige and Dr. Andreas von der Gathen. Privately owned by its more than 190 Partners, the firm is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, collaborative workplace culture, and diverse array of opportunities available to its employees.

Simon-Kucher was founded in Germany in 1985 by Prof. Dr. Hermann Simon, Dr. Eckhard Kucher, and Dr. Karl-Heinz Sebastian. Today, Simon-Kucher operates globally with 45 offices across Europe, APAC, the Americas, and the Middle East and serves clients from Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 firms to unicorns across 120 industries. Building on its heritage in pricing, the firm has diversified successfully into strategy, marketing, sales, digital transformation, and innovation.

12. Bain and Company

Bain and Company, a global management consulting firm, operating in 65 cities across 40 countries, collaborates closely with clients to achieve significant results, enhance competitive performance, and drive industry innovation. Bain and Company provides advisory services to businesses, nonprofits, and governments, helping them with strategy, operations, technology, organization, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions. Bain is known for its results-oriented approach, focusing on achieving measurable and sustainable improvements in clients' performance. 

The firm operates in various industries, including consumer products, financial services, healthcare, industrial goods, retail, technology, media, and telecommunications, among others. The firm’s 10-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in pro bono services, brings its talent, expertise, and insight to organizations tackling today’s urgent challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development, and the environment.

13. RSM US

RSM US is a leading provider of professional services to the middle market. The firm’s clients are the engine of global commerce and economic growth. And RSM is focused on developing leading professionals and services to meet their evolving needs in today’s ever-changing business landscape. 

RSM seeks to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering clients and people to realize their full potential. RSM’s key promise to clients can be recognized as The Power of Being Understood - a term coined to describe RSM’s unique ability to fully understand the client and its needs, before delivering tailored and cutting edge solutions that allow their stakeholders to make confident decisions about the future. 

RSM US is the US member of RSM International, a global network of independent assurance, tax and consulting firms with 57,000 people in 120 countries.

14. L.E.K. Consulting

L.E.K. Consulting is a global strategy consultancy known for its expertise in strategy, M&A, and operations. The firm provides consulting services to a wide range of industries, including healthcare, life sciences, private equity, consumer products, retail, energy, and financial services.

L.E.K. Consulting helps organizations make informed decisions and achieve sustainable growth by providing insights into market dynamics, competitive positioning, and strategic opportunities. The firm's services include business strategy, performance improvement, organizational transformation, and market entry strategy. L.E.K. uses deep industry knowledge and analytical rigor to deliver practical and actionable solutions to its clients. Founded in 1983, L.E.K. Consulting maintains a global presence, with offices in major cities around the world including in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions.

15. Virtusa

Virtusa Corporation is a global provider of digital engineering and technology services and solutions for Forbes Global 2000 companies in the financial services, healthcare, communications, media, entertainment, travel, manufacturing, and technology industries worldwide. At Virtusa, digital engineering is at the heart of everything they do. Virtusa's unique Engineering First approach means never presenting an idea they can't execute.

Virtusa Helio, their industry-proven generative AI solution, and their consulting offerings are guiding them into the future. As a certified Great Place to Work®, their agile teams, made up of world-class talent, think about execution early in the process because the earlier execution is considered, the earlier an idea can have an impact. Solving from the inside out enables businesses to respond swiftly to changing needs with improved quality, lower costs, and lasting results. They are committed to setting SBTI near-term and net-zero company-wide emission reduction targets to engineer with purpose.

16. Huron

Huron, a renowned global professional services, collaborates with clients to create sound strategies, optimize operations, accelerate digital transformation, and empower businesses and their people - putting the impossible into practice. By embracing diverse perspectives and encouraging new ideas, the firm creates sustainable results for the organizations it serves.

With deep industry expertise in healthcare, education and research, financial services, energy and utilities, industrials and manufacturing, and the public sector, Huron provides tailored solutions that drive growth, enhance performance, and deliver sustainable results. Its team of experts use advanced data analytics, cutting-edge technology, and innovative methodologies to address its client’s complex business challenges and uncover new opportunities.

Huron helps institutions and organizations navigate change, manage risk, and achieve their strategic objectives. Its comprehensive service offerings include operational improvement, technology implementation, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance. 

17. Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton is the US member firm of Grant Thornton International, an independent audit and assurance, tax, and advisory firm. Its network comprises over 60,000 professionals in more than 135 countries, assisting public and private organizations of various sizes. The company focuses on building strong relationships and delivering high-quality, collaborative services, emphasizing a personalized approach to business.

With revenues of $2.4 billion for the fiscal year that ended July 31, 2023, and dozens of offices nationwide, Grant Thornton represents more than 9,000 professionals. These experts work in a range of industry groups and advise clients on nearly every aspect of business, from finance and technology to operations and compliance as well as risk mitigation, M&A, strategy and workforce management.

18. BearingPoint

BearingPoint is an independent management and technology consultancy with European roots and a global reach. The company operates in three business units: consulting, products, and capital. Consulting covers the advisory business with a clear focus on selected business areas, products provides IP-driven digital assets and managed services for business-critical processes, and capital delivers M&A and transaction services.

BearingPoint’s clients include many of the world’s leading companies and organizations. The firm has a global consulting network with more than 10,000 people and supports clients in over 70 countries, engaging with them to achieve measurable and sustainable success.

19. ERM

ERM is a global consulting firm specializing in environmental, health, safety, risk, and sustainability services. ERM’s diverse team of more than 8,000 experts in over 150 offices across 40 countries, combines strategic transformation and technical delivery to help clients operationalize sustainability at pace and scale. The firm offers a comprehensive service model that helps organizations to accelerate the integration of sustainability into their strategy and operations.

ERM assists organizations in identifying, assessing, and managing environmental and sustainability risks, as well as ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The firm offers a wide range of services, including environmental impact assessments, risk assessments, pollution prevention, sustainability strategy development, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and stakeholder engagement.

20. EY-Parthenon

At EY-Parthenon, over 9,000 multidisciplinary professionals in teams across 120 countries, collaborate to provide EY clients with actionable corporate, transaction, and turnaround strategies, aimed at delivering long-term growth. Leveraging expertise in areas such as digital transformation, sector convergence, and financial and operational complexities, EY-Parthenon teams utilize data analytics, leading technology, and digital capabilities to address the toughest strategic issues faced by CEOs.

The firm offers a wide range of services, including corporate and growth strategy, M&A advisory, performance improvement, market entry and expansion strategy, and transaction support. EY-Parthenon's team of consultants works closely with clients to develop and implement strategies that drive sustainable growth, improve performance, and create long-term value.

21. Roland Berger

Roland Berger is a global management consultancy focused on transformation innovation, and performance improvement across all industries. Founded in 1967 in Munich, the firm has more than 50 offices and 3,500 colleagues around the world. Roland Berger provides a wide range of services, including strategy development, corporate performance improvement, restructuring, and marketing and sales. 

The firm serves clients across various industries, ranging from automotive, consumer goods, and energy, to financial services, healthcare, industrial products, public services, and technology. Roland Berger focuses on helping clients address their most critical challenges,while capitalizing on strategic opportunities. The firm's consultants work closely with clients to develop and implement strategies that drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

22. Infinity

Infinity is an inside sales agency and consulting firm with more than 20 years of experience in helping B2B companies maximize sales and drive revenue. Using its proprietary revenue system known as Buyerlytics, Infinity helps clients develop actionable go-to-market plans for inside sales and service success, including strategy, systems, and execution. Infinity focuses on fostering a high-performance sales culture that enables teams to maximize data, technology, and people to achieve and exceed client goals.

23. Zones

Zones is a global provider of end-to-end IT solutions and delivers unmatched supply chain offerings for its clients. As a minority business enterprise, in business for over 35 years, Zones specializes in digital workplace, cloud and data center, networking, security, and managed, professional, and staffing services. 

Operating in more than 120 countries, leveraging a robust portfolio, and utilizing the highest certification levels from key partners, including Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Lenovo, Adobe, and more, Zones has mastered the science of building digital infrastructures that change the way modern organizations do business. With a global presence spanning four US-based and 12 international technology solution centers, Zones delivers cutting-edge technology solutions, tailored to clients’ specific business needs.

Zones is committed to driving sustainable practices, implementing various initiatives to minimize its environmental footprint, and promoting responsible business practices. Through efforts like energy-efficient systems, eco-conscious packaging, renewable energy transition, and partnerships with eco-friendly vendors, Zones is actively contributing to environmental preservation and creating a positive impact. 

24. MathCo

TheMathCompany, also known as MathCo, is a global AI and analytics enterprise, trusted by some of the largest organizations across industries for its data-driven decision making. Founded in 2016, MathCo builds custom data products through its innovative hybrid model and transfers the ownership of intellectual properties to its clients. NucliOS, MathCo’s proprietary platform with pre-built workflows and reusable plug-and-play modules, enables the vision of connected intelligence at a lower TCO. 

MathCo’s full-stack team provides a holistic range of services spanning strategy, advanced analytics, data engineering and governance, MLOps, GenAI, data visualization, and adoption advisory services. 

25. Beca

Beca is an employee-owned professional services firm that has been delivering community-shaping engineering, advisory, and management consulting services across the Asia-Pacific region for over 100 years. The firm has more than 4,000 people in 21 offices and delivers projects in over 70 countries. Beca has had offices in Australia since 1969 and supports its customers across market segments, including minerals and metals, transport and infrastructure, energy, water, food and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, health, and defense.

Beca aims to understand client needs and deliver successful solutions, high-quality service, and enduring relationships. It uses its skills and systems to drive innovation, helping their clients shape communities, optimize their assets, and streamline their operations.

26. Wavicle Data Solutions

Wavicle Data Solutions is a trusted cloud, data, and analytics consulting and development partner, serving businesses that want to get more value from growing volumes of data. Well-known brands, across various industries, work with Wavicle’s team of data management experts, cloud migration consultants, and analytics professionals to modernize data environments, build robust analytics solutions, and leverage machine learning to improve predictive insights.

Combining its expertise in big-data architectures with artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts, the company helps enterprises imagine new ways to manage costs, increase sales, and become more efficient. Wavicle was founded in 2013, on the principle that modern organizations rely on data to drive their businesses, yet often lack the time, staff, or knowledge to leverage this valuable resource. Wavicle is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA, and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, and employs over 500 professionals, serving customers worldwide.

27. Tiger Analytics

Tiger Analytics, a global consulting firm specializing in AI and analytics, has a strong track record of guiding various Fortune 1000 companies to tackle their most complex challenges. The firm provides comprehensive AI and analytics services and solutions, enabling businesses to achieve measurable outcomes and value at scale. Its mission is to advance the capabilities of AI and analytics and help enterprises navigate uncertainty and move forward with confidence.

With a team of more than 4000 technologists and consultants based in the US, Canada, the UK, India, Singapore, and Australia, Tiger Analytics works closely with clients across CPG, retail, insurance, BFS, manufacturing, life sciences, and healthcare.

28. CSG Government Solutions

CSG Government Solutions is a national leader in the management of complex projects that modernize the technology and business processes of large government programs. Established in 1997, CSG has been a trusted advisor to the public sector for almost three decades. Its clients include more than 200 state government organizations across 48 states and territories, as well as federal government agencies.

CSG provides project-related services including planning and strategy, program and project management, independent verification and validation, quality assurance, organizational change management, testing, system security, and federal compliance. The firm is dedicated to helping clients implement modern systems for the benefit of everyone who depends on public services.

The firm prides itself on a well-established culture that emphasizes teamwork, communication, and consistent high-quality work, and has built a workforce of talented consultants and experts in the government programs they serve. The firm’s CSG Tech organization provides employees and clients with industry-leading research, training, and automated tools that maximize the productivity and quality of their project teams.

29. Egon Zehnder

Egon Zehnder, a global leadership advisory firm, has provided executive search, leadership development, and board consulting services for over half a century. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm operates in over 40 countries with more than 70 offices worldwide. With 600 consultants across 64 offices in 36 countries, the firm comprises former industry and functional leaders who collaborate across geographies, industries, and functions to provide comprehensive support to every client.

Egon Zehnder partners closely with public and private corporations, family-owned enterprises, and non-profit and government agencies to provide executive search, leadership solutions, CEO search and succession, board advisory, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Its services include discovering leaders, developing leadership, advancing governance, shaping successions, and facilitating transformations. The firm partners with Mobius Executive Leadership to offer experiential, personalized, and transformational programs for senior leaders.

30. BTS

BTS consulting specializes in the people side of strategy. For over three decades, the firm has been designing powerful experiences that leave a profound and lasting impact on businesses and their people - helping the world’s leading companies turn strategy into results. 

Henrik Ekelund founded the firm in 1986, with a unique mindset that serves as the core of the firm’s business model: strategy can only be properly executed when the people running the business sit at the forefront of its implementation. BTS puts people first, providing deeply customized, fun, and powerful experiences, with proven success. 

The firm’s next-generation approach combines deep business knowledge with transformational development to help clients and their companies evolve together. It equips leaders for tomorrow, inspires new ways of thinking, builds critical capabilities, and makes strategy personal. Originally a Sweden-based firm, BTS has grown to a global scale and now serves 30 of the world’s largest companies and 60 of the Fortune 100.

31. Public Consulting Group

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Public Consulting Group helps primarily public sector health, education, and human services organizations make measurable improvements to their performance and processes. For more than 35 years, the firm has assisted clients in maximizing resources, controlling costs, enhancing management decisions, streamlining processes, implementing and refining technology solutions, ensuring federal and state compliance, and optimizing client outcomes.

Public Consulting Group manages approximately 1,000 contracts concurrently, with operations spanning all 50 states, 6 Canadian provinces, and the European Union. Its global workforce of over 2,000 employees brings a wide range of expertise in both public and private sectors, including management consulting, Medicaid, special education, technology, workforce empowerment, and financial services, among other areas.

32. Stax 

Stax is a global strategy consulting firm specializing in commercial due diligence, value creation, and exit planning for private equity firms, PE-backed companies, hedge funds, and investment banks. It serves a broad range of industries, including software and technology, industrials, business services, healthcare, consumer, and the events ecosystem. The firm partners with clients to provide data-driven, actionable insights designed to drive growth, enhance profits, increase value, and make better investment decisions. Headquartered in Boston, Stax also has offices in Chicago, New York, London, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, Stax has entered a significant growth phase following a 2022 platform investment by Blue Point Capital Partners. This growth includes geographical and product expansion and provides additional resources and opportunities for its global team while adding greater value to its global clients.

33. Russell Reynolds Associates

Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leadership advisory firm. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in New York City, the firm has more than 500 consultants in 47 offices who work with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across various industries and regions. The firm specializes in executive search, board advisory services, CEO succession planning, and leadership assessment and development and serves a diverse range of industries, including financial services, healthcare, technology, consumer goods, industrial sectors, and nonprofit organizations.

Russell Reynolds Associates assists clients in building leadership teams that skillfully meet contemporary challenges and anticipate trends in digital, economic, sustainability, and political spheres. The firm helps boards improve their structure, culture, and effectiveness, and specializes in identifying, assessing, and defining optimal leadership for organizations. With decades of expertise, its teams support clients in addressing complex leadership issues.

34. Williams Lea

Williams Lea is a global provider of tech-enabled business support services to financial, legal, and professional services firms. The company connects people, processes, and technology to streamline critical business and administrative functions, supporting companies in transitioning to a more virtual and digital workplace.

Williams Lea is a trusted global outsourcing provider for clients in highly regulated environments. The company operates in 20 countries across four continents and employs 7,000 people worldwide. Williams Lea is supported by Advent International, a leading global private equity investor.

35. Frost and Sullivan

Frost and Sullivan is a global consulting firm specializing in market research, analysis, and advisory services. The firm operates in various industries including healthcare, information and communication technology, automotive, energy, and chemicals. For the past 60 years, Frost and Sullivan has provided growth opportunities for companies, governments, and investors.

Frost and Sullivan provides clients with disciplined analysis that supports the generation and evaluation of growth opportunities, as well as best practices recognition to help implement growth strategies. Through its growth advisory service, the firm provides customized analysis to foster a visionary understanding of the market and develop and validate growth strategies through diagnostics. The firm also offers global events and growth coaching programs designed to help companies transform their organization through best practices and experiential learning.

36. Arthur D. Little

Arthur D. Little, a management consulting firm founded in 1886, is renowned for its expertise in strategy, operations, and technology management. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with 44 offices across 29 countries, the firm links people, technology, and strategy to help clients find original and pragmatic ways to accelerate performance, innovate through convergence and digital, and make a positive impact on the world. ADL offers a broad spectrum of services including corporate and growth strategy, digital transformation, operational excellence, and risk management, with a notable emphasis on innovation and R&D management.

The firm's industry knowledge spans various sectors such as telecommunications, energy, healthcare, automotive, and chemicals. Arthur D. Little's global presence and diverse clientele, which includes multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits, benefit from its collaborative approach and strategic insights.

37. Davidson Consulting

Established in 2005, Davidson Consulting specializes in the management and execution of technology-driven projects. The firm is known for providing big data and artificial intelligence solutions through network and digital transformation, smart industries, robotics, telemedicine, finance training, research, and development services. 

With a network of entities across France, the firm is also extending its reach internationally, with operations in Switzerland, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, and Germany. Currently, Davidson employs over 2,000 individuals and has achieved a turnover exceeding €165 million, serving a client base of over 300 organizations who have placed their confidence in the firm.

38. North Highland

North Highland is a global consulting firm that provides strategic advisory, consulting, and technology services to clients across various industries. The firm prioritizes a client-centric approach, focusing on delivering practical solutions that drive sustainable business results. North Highland offers a range of services, including strategy and advisory, customer experience, operations, technology and digital transformation, and change management. The firm works with clients to solve complex challenges, improve organizational performance, and enhance customer engagement.

North Highland is part of Cordence Worldwide, a global management consulting alliance with over 2,600 consultants in 50 offices around the world. North Highland has more than 3,500 experts in over offices around the globe on hand to partner with clients.

39. dss+

dss+ is a global management consulting firm focused on operational risk management and performance. The firm's approach to implementing strategies, aimed to achieve transformational outcomes, is informed by a comprehensive understanding of risk at all stages of the investment lifecycle, from investment strategy to acquisition, value creation, and exit.

With an established reputation for working with multinational companies and investors, dss+ is recognized as a trusted partner, and assists clients in identifying and addressing key environmental, social, and governance as well as operational risks and opportunities. The firm focuses on delivering value to clients by transforming workplace processes and capabilities and in turn, provides sustainable solutions that achieve long-term results throughout the organization.

dss+'s industry and functional expertise is complemented by its acquisition of KKS Advisors. The addition of the KKS team, enhances dss+’s ability to create a world where business and investment decisions prioritize long-term considerations, incorporate ESG factors, and harness the power of capital to generate positive impact. 

40. Implement Consulting Group

Implement Consulting Group a global management consulting firm, offers distinct consulting services in areas such as strategy, transformation, leadership, innovation, operations, and digitalization. It works across various industries, including financial services, manufacturing, energy, public sector, and life sciences and is undergoing rapid global expansion.

Headquartered in Copenhagen with offices in Aarhus, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Oslo, Zurich, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and Raleigh, Implement Consulting counts more than 1500 colleagues working globally with clients on projects of all shapes, sizes, and ambitions. The firm is distinguished by its focus on co-creating solutions with clients, emphasizing practical implementation and sustainable change. 

41. Nordic Consulting Partners

Nordic serves as a strategic partner to health leaders around the world, helping them navigate complexity and harness technology to create healthier systems, businesses, and individuals. Its workforce offers deep clinical expertise and extensive technical knowledge, helping clients prioritize and refine their strategies, ensuring improved care quality and reduced costs. Nordic integrates leadership, IT, and operations to drive long-term success and positive change in the healthcare industry.

Nordic’s global team of more than 3,300 professionals combines deep clinical experience, extensive technical knowledge, insightful strategic vision, and proven operational capability to deliver transformational outcomes for providers and the people in their care. Nordic provides a broad range of consulting services, including strategic advisory, digital and cloud initiatives, implementation and support, and managed services. Nordic partners with over 700 clients to prioritize critical needs and achieve impactful changes that improve the health of health systems and their stakeholders.

42. CACI

CACI is a provider of technology solutions for government agencies and specializes in the defense, intelligence, and homeland security sectors. The company focuses on developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies to address emerging threats and optimize government operations. 

CACI develops and delivers technological breakthroughs in order to transform and optimize government operations. It invests ahead of demand and rapidly prototypes technologies such as signals intelligence, electronic warfare, full-spectrum cyber, and photonics, to address emerging threats and support multi-domain operations. CACI is dedicated to enhancing the protection of vital communications and IT infrastructure, and its innovations in deep learning aim to solve complex problems at scale. Its data fusion and visualization technologies aid customers in decision-making, while its business process automation tools shorten timelines and enhance productivity.

43. Berkeley Research Group

Berkeley Research Group is a global consulting firm helping leading organizations advance in three key areas: economics, disputes, and investigations, corporate finance, and performance improvement and advisory. BRG offers expertise across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, construction, energy, financial services, and technology.

Headquartered in California with offices around the world, Berkeley Research Group is an integrated group of experts, industry leaders, academics, data scientists, and professionals, working across borders and disciplines. BRG's team comprises professionals with backgrounds in economics, finance, accounting, engineering, and various other disciplines, enabling the firm to provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary solutions to its clients.

44. Horvath

Horváth is an international, independent management consultancy with more than 1,300 employees across locations in Europe, the US, and other global markets. As a consultancy focused on transformation, performance management, and digitalization, Horváth leads companies and public organizations to sustainable success and generates long-term value creation. The firm offers a range of services, including strategy and innovation, organization and processes, IT management, and business transformation. Horváth works with clients across various industries to improve their efficiency, profitability, and competitive positioning.

The firm's expertise includes areas such as finance and controllership, operations and supply chain management, and customer and sales management. Horváth combines deep industry knowledge with advanced analytical and methodological skills to deliver tailored solutions that drive sustainable success for their clients. With a strong presence in Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Horváth is known for its focus on results and practical implementation support.

45. Charles River Associates

Charles River Associates is a global consulting firm that offers economic, financial, and strategic expertise to major law firms, corporations, accounting firms, and governments around the world. CRA’s experts bring a unique combination of cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art methods, and proven experience to help solve its clients’ most complex challenges.

CRA specializes in management consulting and economic litigation. Its senior-led teams include leading academic experts and business leaders with experience across industries. CRA’s proven track record of handling complex cases and distinct strength in delivering insightful analytics makes the firm a trusted advisor for clients in high-profile, high stakes, environments.

46. Analysis Group

Analysis Group is one of the largest international economics consulting firms, with more than 1,200 professionals across 14 offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since 1981, it has provided expertise in economics, finance, healthcare analytics, and strategy to top law firms, Fortune Global 500 companies, and government agencies worldwide. 

The firm’s internal experts, together with their network of affiliated experts from academia, industry, and government, offer clients a unique breadth and depth of expertise. Analysis Group has had a direct hand in some of the most significant antitrust and intellectual property cases to date, highlighting their distinct role in the economic consulting landscape. The firm also has a multidisciplinary healthcare practice, running in parallel to its consulting arm. 

47. Centric Consulting

Founded in 1999 with a remote workforce, Centric Consulting is a management consulting firm that provides a wide range of services, including strategy, technology, and business transformation solutions. Headquartered in Ohio, with 1,400 employees and 14 locations, the firm focuses on helping clients improve their business performance and achieve strategic objectives through innovative solutions and partnerships.

Centric is known for its client-centered approach, providing clients with a trusted advisor and the best talent from across the United States and India in every project. Centric deliberately builds teams that can scale, up or down, quickly based on client needs, industry, and desired outcome.

48. Kantar

Kantar is a global data, insights, and consulting company, known for providing clients with valuable information and actionable insights through data analytics and research services. Kantar works across various sectors, including consumer goods, retail, media, healthcare, and public policy, and helps businesses understand consumer behavior, market trends, and brand performance. 

Kantar’s expertise in market research, digital analytics, social media intelligence, and consulting services, delivers high-caliber solutions that help clients make informed decisions to drive growth and improve performance. Its services include audience measurement, marketing effectiveness, customer experience management, and innovation and product development. With a presence in over 90 markets worldwide, Kantar leverages its vast data resources and advanced analytics to deliver comprehensive insights to its clients.

49. Chartis

Chartis is a leading provider of research, advisory, and consulting services in the field of risk management and insurance. The firm works with more than 900 clients annually to develop and activate transformative strategies, operating models, and organizational enterprises that make US healthcare more affordable and accessible. 

With more than 1,000 professionals, Chartis helps providers, payers, technology innovators, retail companies, and investors create solutions that reshape healthcare. The entire Chartis family of brands, including Jarrard, Greeley, and HealthScape Advisors, has a longstanding commitment to helping transform the industry.

50. Prophet

Prophet is a growth and transformation consulting firm that specializes in branding and marketing services. The firm helps companies define their purpose, position their brands effectively, and create compelling customer experiences. Prophet offers a range of services including brand strategy, marketing strategy, digital transformation, customer experience design, and innovation. It works with clients across various industries including consumer goods, technology, financial services, healthcare, and more.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Prophet operates globally with offices in the US, Europe, and Asia. Its network spans 15 global offices and comprises over 600 strategists, data analysts, marketers, digital experts, and creatives. Prophet has collaborated with notable companies such as CVS Health, Home Depot, Marriott, Netflix, Electrolux, and UBS, supporting them from strategy development to in-market execution.

Among this year’s awardees, we have Laura Miles, Partner at Bain and Company’s Atlanta office, renowned for her expertise in guiding organizations through complex merger integrations across diverse industries. Dhruv Sarda, Managing Director at Alvarez and Marsal, stands out for his exceptional ability to drive value creation in M&A transactions and deliver sustainable transformations for clients across sectors. Alberto Fumo, Senior Partner at Kearney, leads the firm’s Private Equity and Principal Investors team, bringing over two decades of experience in advising on acquisitions and divestitures with a keen focus on post-acquisition value realization.

Awardees were selected through a methodical nomination process and thorough consideration of each candidate’s career track record and industry contributions. Please join us in celebrating the achievements of The Top 25 M&A Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Iain Macmillan
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Managing Partner and Global M&A Services Leader

Iain Macmillan is a Managing Partner and Leader for all M&A Services across Deloitte and a member of their extended Global Executive. He is a partner in the UK firm where he also leads Deloitte North South Europe’s M&A proposition. Macmillan has extensive experience on complex UK and multinational transactions and has specialized in due diligence services for more than 25 years.

Macmillan is Deloitte’s Senior Global Advisory Partner for Diageo, having previously been Global Lead Client Service Partner. He also leads the Global Financial Advisory relationships for a number of other major Corporate and Private Equity relationships. Macmillan is a qualified accountant and holds an MBA from Manchester Business School.

2. Philip Isom
Firm: KPMG
Title: Global Head M&A

Phil Isom leads KPMG’s Global M&A practice and the US Capital Advisory practice. As Global Head of M&A, Isom leads over 2,500 investment banking professionals working in over 80 countries around the world. KPMG Corporate Finance’s Global M&A platform has been ranked as the top middle market global advisory firm for over 20 years. KPMG Capital Advisory includes the US investment bank, as well as the Infrastructure Projects Advisory, ESG, Securitization and Lender Diligence practices.

Isom has over 30 years of experience in investment banking, investing, consulting and restructuring. Isom earned an MBA in finance from Loyola University, Chicago and an undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Dayton.

3. Alberto Fumo
Firm: Kearney
Title: Senior Partner

Alberto Fumo is a Senior Partner at Kearney and currently leads the firm’s global Private Equity and Principal Investors team. He has spent more than 20 years advising corporations and private equity firms across the full transaction and transformation cycle. Alberto specializes in assessing acquisitions and divestitures from multiple commercial and operational perspectives and supporting management in the post-acquisition phase. 

Alberto takes great pride in assisting his clients in completing transformational deals for their organizations and their own careers. What really energizes him is working alongside them to deliver the synergies or value-creation opportunities identified during the diligence phase. He aids clients in ensuring that the value creation becomes tangible on both the P&L and balance sheet.

It's Kearney’s dedication and relentless focus to delivering value for clients in a collaborative manner that has kept Alberto committed for so many years. Alberto strongly believes that Kearney’s unified partnership mentality and culture encourages the team he leads to successfully advise on complex transactions and deliver value creation from the early diligence stage to late implementation in a seamless way. 

4. Jeff Black
Firm: Mercer
Title: Partner

Jeff Black is a Partner and leads Mercer’s Global Mergers and Acquisition Advisory Services business. With a focus on human capital’s crucial role in driving revenue synergies and realizing deal value, Jeff leads an M&A team that supports Corporate and Private Equity clients across the full deal lifecycle.

Through his nearly 30 years of experience as a trusted advisor and work on over 300 transactions, Jeff provides both strategic and financial advice to buyers and sellers on a wide variety of global people risks, including commercial due diligence, organization design and transformation, leadership development, change management, culture risk mitigation, benefits pooling and financing, and salesforce effectiveness. 

Whether he’s advising on start-ups, IPOs, acquisitions, mergers, Joint Ventures, divestitures or stand ups, Jeff provides guidance and support to clients across all deal phases—from sourcing and diligence to pre-close and post-merger integrations. His thought leadership addresses critical people risks in M&A, including retaining key talent during transactions, mitigating culture risk and executing business transformation through transactions. 

5. Bernd Oehring
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner

As a Partner with management consulting firm Oliver Wyman, Bernd Oehring serves as the Lead of Corporate M&A and Carve-outs in Industrials, Services, and Consumer while also maintaining co-coverage of the firm’s multiple financial sponsors and heading up its restructuring efforts in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He advises clients on M&A and carve-out preparation and execution, including due diligence and post-merger integration as well as strategy and business case development and overall value creation.

Before his current role, Oehring spent six years as the Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Finance and Advisory for the practice globally. Preceding his time with Oliver Wyman, he was a Senior Associate with JP Morgan handling investment banking and M&A. In his early career, he completed several internships at various financial investment institutions such as Morgan Stanley and IVC. Oehring earned degrees and certificates from several schools, including Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Universidad de Alcalá, HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, and the Otto Beisheim School of Management at WHU.

6. Dhruv Sarda
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

Dhruv Sarda is a Managing Director with Alvarez and Marsal Corporate Transformation Services in London. He focuses on helping create value from M&A transactions and delivering sustainable EBITDA improvement from transformations. With more than 23 years of experience, Sarda works with financial investors, corporate boards and management teams on M&A and transformation topics. He has led transformation initiatives to deliver full potential value creation plans and served in interim management roles. Sarda works with both corporates and private equity funds on buy-side and sell-side transactions. 

Prior to joining A&M, Sarda was a Managing Director at Accenture Strategy, where he led the M&A practice in the UK and Ireland. Previously, he worked in M&A advisory at a European investment bank and started his career in privatization advisory in Africa. He has also served as the interim EMEA Chief Transformation Officer for a Fortune 20 healthcare and medical devices business, responsible for the planning and execution of transformation initiatives, including the integration of a $6 billion global acquisition in the EMEA region. Sarda earned a bachelor's degree in management from King's College London and an MBA from Cambridge University.

7. Steven Berger
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner, Americas Lead, Mergers and Acquisitions

Steven Berger is a Partner and Americas Lead of Mergers and Acquisitions at Kearney. In this role, he serves as a key contributor to the executive leadership team executing large-scale M&A, transformation, divestiture and human capital engagements for Fortune 500 corporate clients, top tier PE funds and PE owned portfolio companies. 

Previously, Berger was a Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Compass Minerals and a Senior Vice President, Corporate Services at Viterra. He also served as Senior Executive at Accenture, a Principal at A.T. Kearney and an associate at Booz Allen and Hamilton. Earlier in his career, he worked with Capgemini America as a Principal. Berger earned an MBA from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University and an undergraduate degree in computer science from Penn State University.

8. James Neely
Firm: Accenture
Title: Senior Managing Director

James Neely is Senior Managing Director for Mergers and Acquisitions within Accenture Strategy. He is responsible for building Accenture’s global M&A client service capabilities and working with clients on major M&A efforts to address the critical issues facing their businesses.

9. Nicholai Tandrup
Firm: Implement Consulting Group
Title: Senior Partner

Nicholai Tandrup is based in Munich where he serves as the Managing partner for Implement Consulting Group in Germany. He also co-leads the Global Strategy and M&A Practice. Implement Consulting Group is one of the fastest growing consultancies in Europe, founded in Copenhagen, now with more than 1,200 consultants in 6 countries.

Through more than 20 years Tandrup has supported both industrial and private equity clients through all parts of the M&A deal cycle – from M&A strategy, through due diligence, post-merger integration, to exit preparation and divestiture. He has supported numerous transactions – majority in Scandinavia, but also in other parts of Europe as well as the US and China. Most of Nicholai’s work has been focused on Industrial B2B, Building Materials, and Transport & Logistics sectors.

Prior to joining Implement Consulting Group Tandrup was a Partner with Kearney where he led the Copenhagen office. He also spent 8 years in industry, among others as Head of Strategy and M&A with Danfoss, a Global leader in energy & climate solutions and Denmark’s largest industrial manufacturing company.

10. Jay Milliken
Firm: Prophet
Title: Senior Partner

Jay Milliken is a Senior Partner in Prophet's Hong Kong office. Milliken has assisted many global companies with the development and execution of customer-driven growth strategies with specific emphasis on leveraging customer relationships, strategic brand assets and an understanding of customer behavior. Some of his recent Prophet clients include Cisco, Monsanto, Samsung, Cargill and Wal-Mart. Milliken has specialized in developing new content related to the firm's marketing practice, with a special emphasis on the firm's brand valuation IP. 

Prior to joining Prophet, Milliken was a Principal in the retail and consumer group with Mercer Management Consulting and a Manager of Retail Strategy at Sears, Roebuck. Milliken received a bachelor’s degree from Queen's University at Kingston and an MBA from the Eller School at the University of Arizona.

11. Greg Stinson
Firm: KPMG UK
Title: Partner

Greg Stinson is the lead for KPMG in the UK’s Accounting Advisory Services (AAS) practice, supporting his clients with deals across the world, he has advised on the M&A requirements in a number of jurisdictions. Working buy and sell-side, Stinson specialises in the Technology, Media and Telecom, and Life Sciences sectors.

 With over 20 years’ experience, his advice is often sought throughout the deal lifecycle. He has led and provided deal critical advice across many projects. His expertise supports clients in the areas of deal structuring, deal model review, identification of deal value impacting accounting, financial health analysis, separation and carve out, financial track record preparation, ESG reporting maturity and post deal completion, such as the Purchase Price Allocation and GAAP conversion.   

Stinson is the host of a successful webinar series on topical finance and reporting issues which sees significant attendance and also features regularly on KPMG’s Building Confidence podcast series. He provides deep insight on a range of topics including financial and non-financial reporting, governance and what is happening in the marketplace.

 He is a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW, graduated with a First-Class degree in Accounting and Financial Analysis and spent four years earlier in his career working in Australia.  

12. Angus Hodgson
Firm: Kearney
Title: Partner, M&A

Angus Hodgson returned to consulting in 2007 and has been helping clients solve their biggest problems ever since. His background made him a natural choice to pursue transaction work when he joined Kearney, where he is a Partner leading M&A and merger integration capabilities in Europe. Working across the full M&A cycle, he supports clients across industries, and has supported deals worth more than $40 billion.

Previously, Hodgson was an associate in mergers and acquisitions at Merrill Lynch and a consultant at Accenture. Hodgson earned an MBA in strategy and finance from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in business administration and management from Carnegie Mellon University.

13. Vish Narayanan
Firm: McKinsey and Company
Title: Partner

Vish Narayanan is a Partner at McKinsey and Company and leads McKinsey’s Software Private Equity service line. He advises executives in the high-tech industry and private equity sponsors on investment strategy, including support on M&A, portfolio strategy, and growth acceleration topics.

Narayanan is a leader in McKinsey’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications Practice where he helps companies make investment and corporate strategy decisions. He works closely with software and IT-services clients to help proactively redirect their resources appropriately to fuel sustainable growth. Narayanan coleads McKinsey’s work at the intersection of software and private equity—where he serves a broad range of sponsors on buy-side, sell-side diligence as well as portfolio company transformations—and coleads McKinsey’s work at the intersection of software and M&A.

Prior to joining McKinsey, Narayanan spent several years working at a major consulting and technology services company focused on digital strategy and application program management. Narayanan graduated from the NYU Stern School of Business with an MBA in strategy, finance and marketing and from Rutgers University with an undergraduate degree in economics, information technology and informatics.

14. Ryan Baker
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Managing Director

Ryan Baker is a leader within FTI’s Transactions practice, and he specializes in providing financial due diligence and other consulting professional services, e.g., quality of revenue/earnings, working capital, debt & debt-like, free-cash-flow modeling, and general financial statement analysis, in conjunction with mergers and acquisitions, equity/debt issuances, and other capital transactions. Mr. Baker’s clients are a mix of private equity and other alternative investment firms, investment banks and corporates. He has almost 20 years of experience, covering companies in the technology, healthcare, retail & consumer and industrial products industries. He has worked on more than 100 transactions with enterprise valuations ranging from USD $50M up to $2B.

In his current role at FTI, Mr. Baker is the go-to Managing Director in FTI’s Transactions group for the largest and most complex and technically challenging projects. Whether its software or healthcare revenue recognition, complex cost accounting for multi-stage manufacturing, carve-outs of fully integrated business units, or transactions involving multi-national entities with complex intercompany transactions/consolidations and multiple functional currencies, Ryan has the technical aptitude and organizational skill-set to efficiently and effectively analyze the financials.

Before joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Baker was a Director in RSM’s Transaction Advisory practice in San Francisco and a key member of its sell-side practice. Baker graduated from Drexel University with an MBA and from University Of California - Davis with an undergraduate degree in managerial economics.

15. Elizabeth Kaske
Firm: EY
Title: Americas Strategy and Transactions Buy and Integrate Leader

Elizabeth Kaske is an executive with more than 20 years of experience focused on Strategy, M&A transactions and large scale business transformations. She is a partner in EY’s M&A Practice and the America’s Buy and Integrate Leader. Her experience comprises M&A due diligence, integration, strategy, business process design, and intellectual property management.

16. Laura Miles
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner

Laura Miles is Managing Partner and Senior Partner of Bain & Company's Atlanta office. She is a leader in the firm’s Global Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Finance practices, which include corporate diligence and merger integration. She is also an expert in the firm's Consumer Products practice. Miles has been with the company for more than 25 years.

17. Curt Gendron
Firm: Crowe
Title: Partner

Curt Gendron is a Partner in the Advisory Services Group at Crowe. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions and strategic transformations. Curt has spent more than a decade helping strategic and sponsor acquirers assess opportunity and risk pre-close and subsequently capture that value post-close through a portfolio of solutions.

18. Josh Benn
Firm: Kroll
Title: Managing Director

Josh Benn is a Managing Director and Head of the New York Corporate Finance practice at Kroll. He serves as both the Head of Americas M&A advisory, leading the firm’s global Consumer Corporate Finance practice, and as the Head of US M&A Advisory and US Restructuring Advisory, overseeing the Distressed and Special Situations practice. Benn leverages more than 25 years of investment banking experience.

19. Edward Jenkins
Firm: Teneo
Title: Managing Director

Edward Jenkins is a Managing Director in Teneo’s M&A team with a focus on Good Book and Accelerated M&A, which involves working with both sellers and buyers to secure successful outcomes from standard M&A processes or in situations where a full traditional M&A process may not be possible. Jenkins has worked on a wide range of transactions advising a variety of stakeholders including lenders, corporate clients, private equity and MBO candidates.

20. Rob Silverman
Firm: Booz Allen Hamilton
Title: Executive Vice President

Rob Silverman is Booz Allen’s primary integration officer and subsidiary chief executive for new corporate acquisitions. He works across Booz Allen enterprise operations, corporate development, and client teams to leverage mergers and acquisitions to complement organic investments with important innovation technologies acquired through inorganic investment. Most recently, Silverman has served as integration officer and chief executive for the firm’s Everwatch Solutions and Liberty IT Solutions acquisitions. He has also served on the Board of Directors for several joint ventures.

During his Booz Allen career, Silverman has worked in every primary market—including serving as director of strategy and operations for Defense and Civil businesses and serving clients in those markets and commercial, international, and US state and local. He’s also worked in multiple capability and innovation teams, primarily in analytics and consulting. Before joining Booz Allen, Silverman worked for LMI. He earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematical sciences and economics and a master’s degree in systems analysis for public decision making from Johns Hopkins University.

21. Amanda Scott
Firm: Willis Towers Watson
Title: Managing Director, Global M&A Leader

Amanda Scott is a Managing Director and Global M&A Leader at global insurance firm Willis Towers Watson. As a connector internally and externally, she is responsible for leading a global team that helps clients evaluate and address the critical people-related issues, assets, liabilities, risks and opportunities surrounding corporate transactions. As a Global Client Relationship Director, Scott is responsible for managing, growing and strengthening successful client relationships with global companies.

22. Ray Yalenghadian
Firm: Atos
Title: SVP, Group Head of M&A

Ray Yalenghadian is a Senior Vice President and Group Head of M&A at Atos, a digital transformation company with 95,000 employees and annual revenue of €11 billion. He joined Atos as a Vice President of M&A in 2020. Atos specializes in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, providing tailored end-to-end solutions for various industries in 69 countries.

23. Michael Keating
Firm: CGI
Title: Senior Vice President 

A CGI member since 1996, Michael Keating leads the company’s mergers and acquisitions function worldwide. In this role, he collaborates with leaders across CGI’s global operations to execute the company’s Buy Strategy to evaluate prospective companies that meet its growth objectives and support the integration of mergers.

24. Candice Turner
Firm: Grant Thornton
Title: National Managing Principal

Candice Turner is the National Managing Principal of the M&A Tax Services group. Turner has more than 20 years of public accounting and private industry experience. She has advised clients with respect to all US and international tax matters. Turner has represented funds, sovereigns, foreign pensions and consortiums on investments, acquisitions, re-financings and exit strategies across various industries, including infrastructure, real estate, private equity and public capital markets.

Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Turner was a Principal in the M&A practice of KPMG. Turner was previously a Partner at the law firm Davies Ward Phillips and Vineberg, a Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice Tax Division in Washington, DC, and an Attorney with Shearman and Sterling. Turner received a Juris Doctorate and masters of laws degree from the New York University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and English from the University of Alabama.

25. Janelle Hill
Firm: Gartner
Title: Vice President

Janelle Hill is a Vice President in Gartner's Executive Leadership of Digital Business team, primarily contributing to the M&A and Corporate Development research. Her research focus emphasizes evolving enterprise business operations to support digital ambition and strategy, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Hill primarily works with the CIO and executive leaders on their business transformation initiatives. She regularly speaks with CEOs, COOs, Chief Digital Officers and CIOs.