FAQs
The Management Buy-out
In early 2006, after spending 10 years under EDS, A.T. Kearney completed a Management Buy-out. A total of 173 Officers from 26 countries participated in the transaction as investors, making A.T. Kearney an independent, privately-owned global strategy consultancy firm again, with these Partners owning 100% of the firm’s equity. The Buy Out did not involve MRO Services, which stayed with EDS, or the Executive Search business, which was sold to an investment group led by Ed Kelley, a former board member of Korn/Ferry International. It is an exciting time, marked by growth and a renewed sense of commitment, with senior consultants now fully committed to a shared and owned organisation, with a direct financial stake in entrepreneurial incentives, and a partnership-style governance that allows full focus on investing and building for long-term success.
Where does A.T. Kearney have offices?
Currently we have offices in major business centres in 32 countries across the America's, Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Europe. For more information about our global office locations, click here to see a list of offices on the atkearney.com site.
What is the size of A.T. Kearney?
We employ about 2,500 people worldwide of which approximately 60% are consultants.
When was A.T. Kearney established?
A.T. Kearney was founded in 1926. With over 80 years
of experience, we pride ourselves in being among the few firms that established and defined the business of management consulting.
How do projects at A.T. Kearney distinguish themselves from projects at other strategic consulting firms?
Projects at A.T. Kearney cover the whole spectrum, from strategy development to implementation. A.T. Kearney places an emphasis on developing solutions with the client. Furthermore, we strive for real impact and are driven by a passion for creating solutions which are actually made to work for and by our clients.
How would you describe the culture at A.T. Kearney?
We cultivate an atmosphere that is friendly, open and flexible - an atmosphere aimed at helping our people produce the best work by encouraging the best ideas. We’re intellectually rigorous. We provide honest, objective insight. And we deliver these things in a collaborative and collegial manner, while at the same time remaining sensitive to the needs of the client and the client’s unique environment. And by keeping people and ideas at the forefront of what we do, we rigorously and powerfully imagine the conditions driving our clients’ future.
And ours in the process.
How long do projects typically last?
Project duration differs. It is dependant on several factors: project size, nature of project (e.g. implementation vs. corporate strategy), industry type etc. A typical project lasts three to six months.
Are consultants expected to specialise in a specific service or industry?
Business Analysts, Senior Business Analysts and Associates are not expected to join a specific practice. This allows the junior consultant to build a broad range of experience. If you would like to specialise, you can join one or two Affinity Groups. As an Affinity Group Member, you will be informed about the latest developments in your area of interest. You will also actively participate in practice meetings and prepare yourself for a practice Core Team Membership later on.
As a Core Team Member, a permanent member of a particular practice, you will preferably be assigned to (internal and external) projects of the practice. From the Manager level onwards one generally joins a practice as a Core Team Member. The consultant can also choose to continue his/her career in a less focused way.
What training is available to London consultants during their career at A.T. Kearney?
We know that part of the attraction of consulting is the steep learning curve that allows you to stretch your talent. A.T. Kearney offers many opportunities to do this, beyond the unmatched diversity and wealth of learning that each assignment provides to consultants. A structured training programme, tailored to the needs of each grade, is available to London consultants. They cover a broad range of topics from key consulting skills such as interviewing / facilitation techniques, issue structuring, problem solving to more specialist training targeted at consultants who wish to develop a subject matter expertise in a particular area (e.g. our Create Supply Advantage (CSA) training provides a comprehensive overview of A.T. Kearney’s famous strategic sourcing framework). For more information on the training programmes available to London consultants, click here.
Is there an opportunity for A.T. Kearney consultants from the London office to work on international assignments?
A.T. Kearney has a one firm philosophy and staff projects globally, based on the skills set required for each assignment. We look for the best resources available globally while taking into account consultant development needs and aspirations.
As a consultant with A.T. Kearney you will work abroad as part of your overall development. Personal circumstances are taken into account while staffing projects, but the status quo is you will work abroad. At the moment, over 20% of our revenues in London are generated by international projects.
Do consultants from the London Office have the possibility to transfer to another A.T. Kearney office?
Transfers of London consultants to other offices are possible for all grades. We work closely with other offices to organise a smooth transition for consultants and help them manage in the best possible way the personal and logistical challenges associated with a relocation. We also ensure that the experience developed by consultants while in London is taken into account after the transfer.
How is work-life balance at A.T. Kearney London?
Consultants typically work Monday to Thursday on client sites and come back to the London office on Friday. They have the flexibility to work from home when their projects do not require them to be at the client’s site or in the London office. There is an opportunity to do international assignments with 20% of our revenues generated in international projects. The London Office offers a flexi-time policy to consultants with special needs (e.g. sickness, return from maternity leave…): the policy is designed to help these consultants adopt a lifestyle which suits them better at a particular time in their life while ensuring the continuity of their professional development within the firm.
For more information about A.T. Kearney’s work-life balance, click here.
What is the average time for promotions?
A new consultant joining as an Associate, which is the typical entry level in the London Office, usually needs between 9.5 and 12 years to become a Partner. The steps and average timeframes are: BA to SBA (2 years), SBA to Associate (2 years), Associate to Manager (2.5/3 years), Manager to Principal
(3/4 years), Principal to Partner (4/5 years).
Is the London office focused on certain industries or services?
The projects in the London office cover the whole spectrum of services and industries described in the About Us section.
For more information on that section, click here. There is a large diversity of assignments available to London consultants providing them with a unique learning experience.
As A.T. Kearney culture is deeply rooted in our passion to deliver tangible results to our clients, a large proportion of our projects tend to be implementation-focused as we thrive to be involved from strategy formulation to benefits delivery. Growth areas at present revolve around the following sectors: healthcare, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, process industries and public sector.
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