2022 Global Leaders in Consulting: Andrew Duncan

Andrew joined Infosys Consulting in 2019 to drive our strategy and growth agenda for the region. He is a life-long consultant with a very successful and diverse background in the industry, having served in MD or CEO roles for several technology and services companies.

Andrew possesses over 25 years of technology leadership experience at an executive level, with a strong background in the consumer, financial and professional services sectors. He's lived and worked in Europe and North America and has built high-performing teams that have consistently achieved double-digit revenue growth. Earlier in his career as a partner for AT Kearny, he helped start up the firm's IT strategy practice and a number of other new service offerings. He also built and co-founded a large professional services business that was subsequently acquired in 2007 by Capgemini. More recently Andrew worked in the private equity space, both in transaction support and portfolio company leadership. Much of this focus was in the digital transformation of next-generation services-based and consumer-based platforms through leveraging of data assets

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Although I am a life-long consultant, I would say that the success we're currently achieving at Infosys Consulting is a significant highlight for me. We've had an astonishing year with incredible outcomes, and are growing at an unbelievable pace, both financially and from a headcount standpoint – taking on some very challenging and interesting roles for our clients. As Managing Partner and Head of Europe, I am particularly proud that we are now the fastest growing unit within the global business. Since joining the firm in 2019, I've steered an aggressive turn-around strategy for the region with a new operating model and an innovative new portfolio of service offerings. We've also created a culture where people have a sense of pride and belief in management and the firm's strategy – a personal achievement for me as a leader.

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

In my experience, all consultants are inherently ambitious, passionate, and driven to succeed in everything they put their mind to. Such ambition is undoubtedly an important trait to have when starting out in the industry, but patience is also crucial. Ultimately, professional success requires a strong foundation, and new consultants should embrace a long-term perspective – understanding the skills and capabilities they need to develop to rise to the top.

New consultants should look for a firm that is going to curate their career appropriately, effectively, and in a timely fashion. As a leader, I see it as my personal responsibility to help my team balance passion and ambition with building the foundational components that are going to pay off in the long term, with a strong focus on career development and continued learning.

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

I've loved, and continue to love, being at the forefront of technology innovation – from AI to automation, to cloud computing. Ultimately, as consultants, we help our clients transform, grow and prepare for the digital future, helping make an impact on society at large. In just the last three years at Infosys Consulting, I've been lucky enough to lead this innovation in so many exciting areas: accelerating the manufacturing and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine, transformation education with AI-powered experiences, and creating new customer experiences for the digital banking future. It has never been a more exciting time to be in the industry!

What's the best advice—personal or professional—you've ever received?

Be confident but humble. Every leader needs conviction in their own abilities and ideas, but humility not only inspires others to follow your lead but forces you to consider better solutions before making decisions. This advice is something I see put into action across all of Infosys Consulting. Time and time again I hear from clients that they choose us because we are a true partner – we complement their skills and amplify their own capabilities. We listen, and we are not afraid to learn. This passion, focus and dedication is what makes Infosys Consulting a brand to be proud of, and what keeps our clients coming back.

What does being honored as a Global Leader mean to you?

Being recognized as a global leader in the industry is a significant high point in my career. Having worked for 25 years at the executive level I am passionate about supporting and encouraging the next generation of consulting talent, and awards like these really are an aspiration for any young ambitious professional, as they were for me when I started my own career.