Your Monday morning go-to for the latest trends, executive moves, and industry shifts shaping the professional world. Grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s dive in!
1. The Weekly Buzz: Everything You Need to Know
📉 Profit Warnings Surge: A Sign of Deeper Market Challenges?
Despite a decline in absolute profit warnings to their lowest levels since 2013, the proportion of UK-listed firms issuing warnings has spiked to its highest level since the lockdown era. With supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and economic uncertainty still looming, consulting firms are increasingly being called upon to advise on restructuring, cost optimisation, and strategic pivots.
📊 EY and PwC Lag Behind in Diversity Targets—Leadership Pipelines Under Scrutiny
The race to improve gender diversity in leadership continues, but both EY and PwC are set to miss their 2025 partner diversity targets. While KPMG and Deloitte have met their commitments, the challenge of building a sustainable pipeline of female leadership remains. As diversity and ESG targets gain greater weight in corporate strategy, professional services firms must rethink leadership development, mentorship, and executive hiring to avoid stagnation.
2. Talent Perspective: The Moves That Matter
👩🏼💼 EY Names First Female UK CEO—A Milestone, But More Work Ahead
Anna Anthony is set to become EY UK’s first female CEO, marking a significant step forward for leadership diversity within the Big Four. However, with women still underrepresented at the partnership level, the industry must continue addressing the structural barriers to leadership progression. Expect a renewed focus on inclusive leadership strategies, sponsorship programmes, and succession planning across professional services.
💼 FTI Consulting Strengthens Its Business Transformation Practice
With business transformation remaining a top priority for organisations navigating economic uncertainty, FTI Consulting has added two new senior hires to bolster its financial services and operational transformation expertise. The move underscores the growing demand for high-impact consulting solutions in performance improvement, digital strategy, and cost efficiency.
3. People Moves: M&A & Collaborations
🔄 CGI Expands UK Footprint with BJSS Acquisition
In a major consulting sector shake-up, CGI has acquired BJSS, adding 2,400 employees and expanding its digital transformation, cloud, and AI capabilities. With the lines between technology and traditional consulting increasingly blurred, this acquisition reflects a broader industry trend—firms investing in digital execution capabilities to enhance their advisory offerings.
🍟 Cognizant Extends Partnership with McDonald’s
Cognizant has renewed its long-term technology consulting partnership with McDonald’s, supporting the fast-food giant’s finance, HR, and operational systems. As businesses look to future-proof their enterprise technology, consulting firms that can combine strategic advisory with hands-on implementation will continue to lead the way.
4. AI, Data, and Digital Transformation: The Tech Revolution
🤖 OpenAI Raises Alarm on Chinese AI Rivals—A Tech Cold War?
As AI dominance becomes an economic and geopolitical battleground, OpenAI has flagged concerns about Chinese competitors leveraging its research to develop rival AI models. With AI governance, IP protection, and ethical AI at the forefront of corporate strategy, consulting firms are playing a crucial role in helping businesses navigate regulatory risks, competitive threats, and responsible AI adoption.
📊 Digital Resilience: Why AI & Automation Are Now a Business Imperative
With economic uncertainty persisting, companies are doubling down on AI-driven forecasting, automation, and efficiency. Digital transformation is no longer an option—it’s a survival strategy. The role of professional services firms is shifting from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide implementation, ensuring organisations are not just tech-ready, but AI-enabled.
5. What’s Next: Industry Predictions & Future Trends
🔮 2025: The Year of Transformation & Intelligent Growth
The business landscape in 2025 will be defined by a shift from cost-cutting to intelligent, tech-enabled growth. Consulting firms will need to blend strategic insight with hands-on digital execution to remain competitive.
Key themes for 2025:
• AI Maturity & Widespread Adoption – AI will no longer be an experimental technology; it will be fully embedded in business operations, decision-making, and client service delivery.
• ESG & Governance Take Centre Stage – As regulatory frameworks evolve, companies will face increasing pressure to demonstrate ESG compliance, ethical AI adoption, and responsible business practices.
• Reskilling & Workforce Transformation – AI-driven automation will reshape workforce dynamics, creating new roles while making others obsolete. Upskilling initiatives will be a core focus for businesses.
• Selective M&A & Strategic Partnerships – Deal volume may remain cautious, but high-value acquisitions in AI, fintech, and digital execution will accelerate.
• Leadership Evolution & Talent Retention – Firms that successfully navigate leadership succession, diversity hiring, and workforce well-being will have the competitive edge.
Consulting firms that align their offerings with these shifts—helping clients navigate AI transformation, workforce strategy, and governance—will be the big winners in 2025.
Final Thoughts
The consulting and professional services sector is at the centre of today’s biggest industry shifts—from talent strategy and leadership diversity to AI adoption and digital transformation. As businesses prioritise resilience and efficiency, the demand for high-impact consulting solutions will continue to grow.
📩 That's your Consulting TL;DR news — see you next Monday!
Burwood Partners
Experts in Niché, Critical & Strategic Hiring within the Professional Services Industry
🌐 www.burwoodpartners.com
✉️ contact@burwoodpartners.com
