The 2019 Fastest Growing Firms: Ankura

Consulting: What were the main factors that contributed to your firm's exceptional growth?

Carlile: Ankura has experienced a period of rapid expansion since its formation less than five years ago in 2015. Following the addition of a number of highly respected experts and consultants within a few key practice areas, Ankura received a strategic growth commitment of $100 million from Madison Dearborn Partners to support expansion as a leading, independent consulting firm focused on governance, risk, compliance and restructuring services in high-value sectors. 

Consulting: How is this year shaping up for your firm?

Carlile: 2019 has been an exceptional year for Ankura. We continue to concentrate on our collaborative culture to help differentiate us in the market place; we have consolidated our acquisitions which underpin our remarkable growth story; we have remained agile to service the needs of our clients seamlessly across international borders; we will experience significant revenue growth for the 5th consecutive year; and, we continue to build a scale-able infrastructure to support further growth.

Consulting: How would you describe your firm's outlook for 2020? 

Carlile: Ankura's outlook for 2020 is a positive one. We may consider a further acquisition to bolster our business and enable us to further expand our client offering. Our board expects to see sustained growth for this financial year as we continue to respond to our clients' complex challenges. Opportunities will present themselves from many industries and sectors during 2020. Increasing levels of regulatory requirement, advancements in technology and data, macro-economic shifts and the demand for greater efficiency and productivity will have an impact on all industries across the globe, so our experts are poised to help smoothly steer organizations across the globe through this unchartered territory. 

Consulting: What are your firm's biggest challenges in 2020?

Carlile: Ankura has made significant investments in people, systems, and technology to support this growing wave of factors, as evidenced by the various acquisitions our firm has made in recent years. For instance, our recent acquisitions in legal technology advisory from Navigant and the technology advisory capabilities resident in the c3/consulting business have dramatically augmented our investments in professionals specializing in frontline technology, cybersecurity, cryptocurrencies, virtual assets, and other blockchain-related technologies to better meet our clients' needs around the globe. 

Consulting: What does being named a Fastest Growing Firm mean to your firm, employees and clients?

Carlile: Being named a Fastest Growing Firm is a true testament to the expertise of our professionals, the strength of our brand, and the speed and flexibility with which we can adapt to the global marketplace. It shows our clients that while our approach differentiates us from other consulting firms, we have a truly unique and valuable offering that delivers for clients. The growth in our business is mirrored in our approach to nurturing our employees, and the continued growth of Ankura brings with it many development opportunities for our professionals.