Global strategy consultancy firm Roland Berger arrives in Australia

Global strategy consultancy Roland Berger has entered the Australian market through a new outlet in Sydney, adding to its international network of more than 50 offices across six continents.

Established in 1967 and headquartered in Munich, Roland Berger is considered one of the world’s most prestigious strategy and management consulting firms, today generating revenues in excess of €1 billion through its global headcount of 3,000-plus professionals.

The firm’s new Australian office is presently being led by former Oliver Wyman and KPMG partner Ronan Gilhawley, and will be staffed with senior local advisors with expertise in growth strategy, commercial due diligence, transactions support and value creation.

“Our client engagement in Australia to date confirms that companies value international perspective coupled with practical local insight,” said Gilhawley, who joined earlier this year upon the launch of a local transaction & investor services offering. “With our dedicated team on the ground, we can now offer tailored solutions that combine both and create lasting results for our clients.”

Joining Roland Berger as a partner, Gilhawley previously spent four years at Oliver Wyman leading the firm’s A/NZ retail & consumer and private capital practices, before which he spent a decade at KPMG in a variety of senior leadership roles, including as head of the firm’s local Strategy practice. Earlier, he served Oracle and Accenture, dating back three decades.

Sixth continent

The German-origin consultancy said it aims to support Australian businesses and multinationals operating locally with navigating rapid technological, environmental, and market changes, serving corporate and investment clients across sectors including retail, consumer goods, healthcare, financial services, technology, industrials, transport, and infrastructure among others.

“With our new presence in Sydney, we are expanding our footprint in the Asia Pacific region and reinforcing our ability to support clients in one of the world’s most dynamic and resilient economies,” said global managing partner Stefan Schaible. “This step enables us to combine global insight with local expertise to help businesses drive sustainable growth and transformation.”

Schaible further noted Australia as a key pillar of the firm’s global growth strategy, describing the country as one of the largest and most mature consulting markets globally due to its long-term economic stability and strong demand for high-quality strategic advisory.

The Australian market

The firm however enters a challenging market, with the government determined to scale back its consultancy spending. That tricky landscape, coupled with other persistent economic headwinds, hasn’t however prevented other globally-renowned consultancies from recently venturing downunder and quickly scaling, including Gilhawley’s former firm in Oliver Wyman.

Alvarez & Marsal has likewise been targeting Australia, while management consultancy Arthur D. Little has also opened shop.

Roland Berger meanwhile already has a well-established footprint across Asia, with offices in China, South Korea, and Japan alongside those covering Southeast Asia, including in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.