George Bouri
Managing Principal, Americas
Trascent Management Consulting (formerly UMS Advisory)
Q: Can you sum up where the firm is?
A: As we close out 2013, I look back content with the high growth rate we enjoyed. The robustness of the overall marketplace surprised me as well as the commitment levels key customers are making once again to consulting projects.
Q: How would you describe your firm's outlook for 2014?
A: My outlook is cautious, yet bullish for 2014. Several geo-political risks are still confronting many leading, global economies. In addition, there are still lingering effects of the great recession that we have still not resolved. As such, I don't think we are ready for a sustained recovery in 2014, although the economy will continue to improve as we saw during the past year. Our firm could have an unprecedented year, as we are laying the foundation for substantial growth across all regions (Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific). In terms of growth percentages, I anticipate double-digit revenue growth coming largely from operations improvement and business transformation initiatives, which will lead the charge for us on a cross-industry basis.
Q: How do you see the consulting profession evolving in 2014?
A: We will continue to see consolidation in the marketplace. As the traditional consulting model changes, clients will continue to evolve becoming more sophisticated in their use and need for consultants. Big consulting firms no longer have the same advantage as before. Furthermore, the tech revolution continues to challenge firms that are slow to adapt and leverage new technologies and approaches to serve their clients in creative and innovative ways, that a few years ago were simply not feasible or cost-effective.
Q: What do you see as the biggest opportunities for the firm in 2014?
A: Defending our turf in our core IFM / sourcing business with our major, blue-chip clients will be a key competitive advantage and opportunity for us. In addition, we will continue to roll out innovative services that will differentiate us from the traditional firms we compete against. Finally, our strategic agility will be our biggest advantage as we continue to scale the firm globally.
Q: What are the biggest challenges?
A: The key for us is not to lose focus and lose sight of our bread-and-butter business and those customers that afforded us the platform for growth.
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