The Consulting TL;DR
Burwood Partners
"Experts in Niché, Critical and Strategic hiring for the Management Consulting and & Professional Services Industries."
No-nonsense insights from Professional Services—5 key takeaways in 5 minutes.
Your Monday morning go-to for the latest trends, executive moves, and industry shifts shaping the professional world. Whether you’re leading a team, driving strategy, or advising clients, we bring you what matters—fast. ? Let’s dive in.
1. Quality News: The Buzz You Need to Know
Deloitte Cuts Expenses as Consulting Demand Slows
Deloitte UK is implementing firmwide cost-cutting measures, including a 50% reduction in staff travel and expenses, as consulting demand softens.
?? 1,000+ layoffs announced since late 2023, including 180 in the UK.
?? UK consulting revenue grew just 2% in 2024, lagging behind the broader industry’s 11% growth.
?? Partner pay cut by 4.5%, with average earnings down by ￡50,000.
?? Expense cuts remain “temporary”, lasting until May 2025.
The Big Four are all feeling the pressure—EY, PwC, and KPMG have also implemented layoffs amid a challenging market. With AI-driven efficiencies and shifting client demands, professional services firms are recalibrating operations for the next phase of industry growth.
UK Falls to Lowest Workplace Gender Equality Ranking in a Decade
The UK has dropped to 18th place in PwC’s Women in Work Index, marking its worst ranking in 10 years. The slow pace of progress in closing the gender pay gap and declining female workforce participation have set the country back, now behind Canada among G7 nations.
?? Gender pay gap progress remains sluggish, with estimates suggesting it could take 30+ years to close at the current rate.
?? Female full-time employment is at 68.9%, ranking 27th out of 33 OECD countries and well below the OECD average of 78.1%.
?? Countries that increase female workforce participation see higher GDP growth and productivity, highlighting the economic benefits of gender equality.
?? What This Means for Professional Services
Firms must accelerate DE&I efforts to attract and retain top talent. Equitable pay, flexible work policies, and leadership opportunities for women are no longer just ethical priorities—they are key drivers of business success.
2. Talent Perspective: The Moves That Matter
?? EY Appoints Julie Linn Teigland as Global Alliances & Ecosystem Chief
EY has appointed Julie Linn Teigland as Global Vice Chair, Alliances & Ecosystems, reinforcing its commitment to strategic partnerships and global expansion.
?? 30+ years in professional services, previously EMEIA Managing Partner, growing revenue to $22bn.
?? Will drive EY’s global strategic alliances to accelerate innovation, expand market reach, and scale transformation solutions.
?? Part of EY’s ‘All In’ strategy, ensuring the firm leads in technology-driven transformation.
?? Baringa Hires Greg Gambal as Partner in Financial Services Practice
Baringa has appointed Greg Gambal as a partner in its financial services practice, focusing on expanding its Southern US market presence and strengthening relationships with key financial clients.
?? 30+ years of consulting & financial services expertise, specialising in banking, lending, and digital transformation.
?? Former EY Managing Director & Head of Banking Advisory.
?? Brings deep experience in technology-driven financial services solutions.
?? Capco Elevates Leaders in Energy & Financial Services
Capco has promoted Chris McNeely to Global Energy Lead and John Janssen to Texas Market Lead, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to energy, utilities, and financial services transformation.
?? McNeely, based in Houston, has 25+ years in energy consulting, specialising in technology strategy, compliance, and software integration.
?? Janssen, based in Dallas, leads utilities consulting, bringing expertise in trading, deregulated markets, and program delivery.
?? Both leaders have been instrumental in shaping Capco’s Texas and global energy presence over the past 15 years.
3.? M&A & Collaborations
?? Accenture Acquires Altus Consulting to Expand Insurance & Investment Capabilities in the UK
Accenture has acquired Altus Consulting, strengthening its advisory and digital transformation capabilities for insurance and investment clients in the UK.
?? Specialist expertise in life, pensions, investments, and insurance, providing deep insights into operating models, data, and technology.
?? Joins Accenture’s Insurance practice, enhancing digital transformation and regulatory compliance capabilities.
?? Expands Accenture’s end-to-end transformation services, from strategy to implementation.
?? Manufacturing M&A Rebounds Despite Economic Challenges
The UK manufacturing M&A market surged by 11% in 2024, reaching levels last seen in 2022.
?? Engineering services led the way, with 26% growth in deal activity, representing nearly one-third of all transactions.
?? Packaging & materials M&A also saw a strong 18% increase, reflecting demand for sustainable and innovative solutions.
?? Government-backed infrastructure projects, including the fast-tracking of data centre developments, are fueling interest in the sector.
4. AI, Data, and Digital Transformation: The Tech Revolution
?? Google Introduces AI Mode & Expands AI Overviews in Search
Google has unveiled AI Mode, an experimental language model-powered search experience, alongside an upgraded AI Overviews feature—both powered by Gemini 2.0.
?? AI Overviews now delivers faster, higher-quality responses, improving performance in coding, advanced math, and multimodal queries.
?? AI Mode acts as a conversational search assistant, handling multi-step queries by pulling data from multiple sources and synthesizing a single response.
?? This move signals Google’s push to reclaim dominance in AI-powered search, as competitors like Perplexity and ChatGPT Search gain traction.
What This Means for Consulting & Professional Services
AI-driven search is becoming more conversational, contextual, and reasoning-based. For professional services firms, this shift means:
?? Clients will expect more AI-driven research & insights integrated into advisory work.
?? Search engine optimisation (SEO) will evolve, requiring firms to adapt their content for AI-powered search rankings.
?? AI-enhanced research capabilities will transform due diligence, competitive intelligence, and market analysis.
?? That’s your Consulting TL;DR—see you next Monday!
?? Burwood Partners
Experts in Niche, Critical & Strategic Hiring within Professional Services