BrazilWorld's oldest consulting firm sets up shop in Poland
One year after establishing an office in Russia, management consultancy Arthur D. Little has extended its presence in Eastern Europe with the opening of a locale in in Poland.
The new office in Warsaw is the firm’s 20th in Europe and 2nd in Eastern Europe following Prague in the Czech Republic. Commenting on the expansion, Arthur D. Little’s chief executive officer Ignacio Garcia Alves said, “We have been doing business in Poland for a number of years, and so it was a natural progression to launch a Warsaw office.”
Warsaw is already home to many of the globe’s top strategy and management consulting firms, including McKinsey & Company (the largest strategic consultancy in Poland with 350 consultants and staff), Bain & Company (office opened in 2012), Boston Consulting Group (1997), Roland Berger (2000) and Oliver Wyman.
Under the leadership of Piotr Baranowski, Arthur D. Little will now seek to nestle its way into the Polish consulting market, valued by an analyst firm at over $600 million – 40% of the Eastern European consulting industry – and fast becoming a digital hot-spot.
From its Warsaw base, Arthur D. Little will serve clients across the country, including in Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań and Gdańsk. Garcia Alves: “Poland is well known for fostering investments in digital economy and infrastructure including transportation, logistics, manufacturing and urbanisation, and with our deep industry knowledge of these sectors, we are confident that we can deliver innovative solutions to businesses and organisations dealing with major disruptions.”
Founded 133 years ago in 1886, and formally incorporated under its current name in 1909 by founder Arthur Dehon Little, Arthur D. Little is the world’s oldest consulting firm – a title which 1914-founded rival Booz & Company long claimed on its own website, but following years of debate in the industry the firm dropped its case when it rebranded as Strategy&.
Today, the privately-held partnership focuses on strategic, technology and innovation services, with a focus on clients in the capital intensive sectors. Its consultants and staff operate from 42 offices globally.
Significant potential in Poland
Poland country managing partner Baranowski brings over 25 years of professional consulting experience to the role. Prior to joining, Baranowski led Solon Management Consulting in Poland and was a Partner at Big Four firm PwC, where he led its TMT Advisory practice.
“I am extremely proud and excited to take on this new role at Arthur D. Little,” he said. “The Polish market offers significant potential, and I look forward to growing our team and strengthening our position in the market, whilst helping solve our clients’ most complex business issues.”
Alongside working with the neighbouring Czech office, the Warsaw office will team up with the firm’s offices in Austria (Vienna) and Turkey (Istanbul), which together form Arthur D. Little’s Eastern European division.
Last year, Arthur D. Little opened an office in Russia, led by Alexander Ovanesov, formerly a partner at Strategy Partners Group in Moscow.
