BrazilOC&C France moves to larger office to accommodate growth
Two and a half years after re-launching its French office, OC&C Strategy Consultants has re-established itself as a leading independent player in France’s strategy consulting market.
Founded in 1987, OC&C Strategy Consultants is a global strategy consulting firm focused on five main sectors: retail, consumer goods, media, communications and technology, industrial products and services, and private equity. The firm serves its client-base globally from eleven offices worldwide.
OC&C Strategy Consultants first established an office in France in 1996, launched by the duo Philippe Kaas and Ed de Sa Pereira. In the following two decades, the office in Paris grew into one of OC&C’s largest European hubs, behind the UK and Germany.
However, in August 2017, OC&C was dealt a blow when its French team decided to join EY-Parthenon, the strategic consultancy arm of Big Four giant EY. Given the importance of France to the European consulting landscape, OC&C Strategy Consultants committed to rebuilding swiftly, in what has since proven to be one of the firm’s recent success stories.
When French-origin Partners Henri-Thierry Toutounji and David de Matteis relocated from London to Paris, they were tasked with rebuilding the operation. They were joined by company veteran Philippe Pruneau, who previously served OC&C France for 22 years and re-joined the consultancy to lead the local efforts.
Today, OC&C Strategy Consultants France has a team of five Partners, also including Francois Rousseau (a former Bain & Company partner) and Jean-Marc Azoulay (previously at Bain & Company and Kearney). They oversee a team of nearly 25 consultants, working for tier one clients in among others the retail, luxury, consumer goods and private equity sectors.
With further growth planned for 2020, OC&C has now moved into a large office space in Paris, located at 15 Rue Beaujon, in the 8th arrondissement, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Arc de Triomphe.
Commenting on the move, Managing Partner Philippe Pruneau said, ”We are excited to relocate to larger premises – the new office is a great space for our growing team and business. We are excited for the future of the business, and to continue to deliver the deep sector insights and the gold standard strategies valued by our clients.”
Global growth
The expansion in France coincides with strong growth for the company. According to James George, International Managing Partner of OC&C, in 2019 the consulting firm increased revenues by 18% across its network, with 2020 set to be “another year of strong growth.”
“We are excited for the future of OC&C in France, and the new office in Paris is a great space for our team and business.”
– Philippe Pruneau
The firm has been buoyed by growing demand for strategic consulting services amid a disruptive environment, and sustained demand for merger & acquisition services – in particular in the private equity space. Meanwhile, OC&C is reaping the benefits from the transition to a ‘one-firm’ way of working it has pursued in recent years, consolidating its operations as a result.
George added, “Our integrated model opens up new opportunities and allows us to deliver our services and expertise as never before.” With a single profit & loss account across its integrated footprint, OC&C can bid for projects in one country or relocate teams to in-demand markets in a rapid and consensual fashion, without having to face the burdensome decision-making of counterparts that operate in partner-led silos.
OC&C Strategy Consultants is headquartered in the United Kingdom. James George is the firm’s fifth boss in its 33-year history: he succeeded David Krucik in October 2017.
