This year's honorees reflect a shifting industry landscape with new international categories and a focus on technological innovation. From lifetime achievements to AI innovation, the 2026 list recognizes the practitioners driving transformative results for clients and firms.

Consulting Magazine has officially announced its 2026 Top Consultants honorees, identifying 99 professionals for their impact on the consulting profession, their firms, and clients. This year's list continues a 26-year tradition of recognizing the industry's most influential leaders who demonstrate an exceptional ability to innovate and deliver client service at the highest levels.

The 2026 honorees reflect the industry's rapid evolution, particularly regarding the integration of artificial intelligence and the management of complex global transformations. Acknowledging the increasingly borderless nature of the profession, the magazine introduced several new international categories this year, including Asia-Pacific Advisory, EMEA Advisory, Global & Cross-Border Consulting, and International Project Leadership.

"The 2026 honorees represent the pinnacle of the consulting profession, demonstrating an unparalleled ability to navigate market shifts and deliver transformative results," said Michael A. Webb, Director of Consulting Magazine. "These individuals exhibit the extraordinary traits of the 'trusted advisor' and are essential to the evolution of the industry in an era of rapid technological advancement."

Highlighting the list are the Lifetime Achievement recipients, including Rahul Guha, CEO of Cornerstone Research; Loren Trimble, CEO of AArete; and Alma Angotti, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting. These leaders were recognized for decades of leadership that have established global benchmarks for integrity and excellence across the consulting landscape.

In the rapidly expanding field of Analytics & AI Innovation, the magazine recognized leaders such as Traci Gusher, Americas AI & Data Leader at EY, and Vikram Bhandari, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Riveron. Their work underscores the growing strategic importance of data-driven decision-making. In the Strategy & Transformation category, senior practitioners including Rob Henske of Roland Berger and Greg Portell of Kearney were noted for guiding major organizations through significant structural and market-driven shifts.

The honorees will be celebrated at an awards dinner on June 25, 2026, in New York City. The event will gather firm executives and industry leaders to acknowledge the achievements of those who are defining, and redefining, the future of the profession.

2026 Top Consultants Honorees

Analytics & AI Innovation

  • Dushyant Balasubramani, Infosys Consulting
  • Michael Barnett, Catalant
  • Vikram Bhandari, Riveron
  • Chinmoy Bhatiya, Capco
  • Dieter Gerdemann, Kearney
  • Ryan Hartley, Attain Partners
  • Dheeraj Khandelwal, Logic Pursuits
  • Elizabeth O'Connell, CrossCountry Consulting
  • Joseph Perry, Arcova

Asia-Pacific Advisory

  • Therese Juda, Infosys Consulting
  • Eva Kwok, FTI Consulting
  • Siddharth Pathak, Kearney
  • Satya (Tito) Rinaldi, Veda Praxis

Cybersecurity & Risk Technology

  • Nick Britton, Protiviti
  • Scott Euker, CrossCountry Consulting
  • Victor Gamarra, EY
  • Justin Greis, acceligence
  • Jennifer Jones, Forvis Mazars
  • Robert Olsen, Hilco Global Cyber Advisors

Data Ethics & Responsible AI

  • Eric Maroyan, RSM U.S.
  • Erik Sandstrom, Clarkston Consulting

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

  • Sara Morris, Clarkston Consulting

EMEA Advisory

  • Scott M. Callan, Qomo Institute
  • David Dunn, FTI Consulting
  • Phil Dunne, Grant Thornton Stax

Global & Cross-Border Consulting

  • Hassan Al-Shama, Hylman Group
  • Shree Das, Deloitte
  • Katerin Le Folcalvez, Insigniam SAS
  • Paul Praveen, Huron

Industry-Specialization

  • Dan Belmont, West Monroe
  • Matthew DeMarsico, Market Performance Group
  • Jerome Farquharson, Arcova
  • William (Bill) Faust, Impact Advisors
  • Mark Furgeson, Ankura
  • Matthew Lenzini, Infosys Consulting
  • Brian Licata, Marvel Consults
  • Paul Schaus, CCG Catalyst Consulting
  • James Wilton, Monevate

International Project Leadership

  • Alison MacDonald, Nordic
  • Nathan Rubin, Cognizant

Lifetime Achievement

  • Alma Angotti, FTI Consulting
  • John DiDonato, Huron
  • Rahul Guha, Cornerstone Research
  • Stephanie Hall, Prescient Healthcare Group
  • Joe Long, Arcova
  • Nathan Rosenberg, Insigniam LLC
  • Loren Trimble, AArete

Operational & Process Consulting

  • Priya Chauhan, Cognizant
  • Nehal Desai, Catalant
  • Preciosa Frank, Med Tech Solutions
  • Mark Highton, Protiviti
  • Davida Rosenfeld, Clarkston Consulting
  • Jeff Wissink, Paladin

Pro Bono & Social Impact

  • Ryan McCormick, FTI Consulting

Strategy & Transformation

  • Joe Adamski, ProcureAbility
  • Dan Ahern, Aliter Investment Services
  • Chris Baldridge, Ankura
  • Sarah Duffy, Slalom
  • Bryan Glass, Cognizant
  • Rohit Gupta, Beghou
  • Rob Henske, Roland Berger
  • Brian Kent, International Support Consulting
  • Stephen Lang, M+C Saatchi Consulting
  • Jimmy Leppert, Empactful Advisors
  • Matthew McNaghten, Toptal
  • Victoria Motes, CrossCountry Consulting
  • Naomi Newman, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
  • Brandt Nichols, SciVida
  • Niket Parikh, ARNIGO Consulting
  • Alison Ponder, FTI Consulting
  • Greg Portell, Kearney
  • Tom Puthiyamadam, Grant Thornton
  • Ravikant Rao, Practus Advisors Inc.
  • Claire Raskob, Logic20/20
  • Tim Romberger, TRC Advisory, an Elixirr Company
  • Cody Saucier, SSA Consultants
  • Bruce Siegel, Karrikins Group
  • Julie Smith, Rockwood Company, LLC
  • Andy Waldeck, Huron
  • Amanda Wendling, Greencastle Associates Consulting
  • Jennifer Zimmer, Insigniam LLC

Talent & Workforce Transformation

  • Howard M. Guttman, Guttman Development Strategies, Inc.
  • John Hawkins, MPI Consulting
  • Cassidy McDaniel, Logic20/20
  • Michael Peterman, RHR International

Technology & Digital Consulting

  • Prasad Bhalerao, Publicis Sapient
  • Josh Clark, Clearsulting
  • Tom Cunnie, Logic20/20
  • Katie Dunlap, Slalom
  • Mangesh Panat, Bristlecone
  • Mridul Paul, Cognizant
  • Lori Runion, Resultant
  • Payal Shah, Protiviti
  • Ravi Shetty, Logic Pursuits
  • Jaci Stanton, F2 Strategy

Thought Leadership & Intellectual Capital

  • Alexander "Sasha" Aganin, Cornerstone Research
  • Rita Baroody, Selective Insight
  • Traci Gusher, EY
  • Scott Lamont, F2 Strategy
  • Pradeepta Mishra, Beghou
  • Chad Mulvany, Forvis Mazars

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