With limited presence in France, the UK-based management consultancy plans to strengthen its activities here, and to double the number of its consultants in two years.
The British management, systems and technology consultancy, PA Consulting is renewing its activities in France, which is considered to be a priority country in Europe, along with Germany. The firm views its presence in the French market as modest with forty consultants, compared with some 3,700 staff in the world, and around 1,000 in each of the UK and the United States. PA Consulting, which does not publish financial statements by country, recorded revenues of £322 million (525,4 million Euros) in 2000, and generated a profit of £47.3 million.
" We are one of the few, important international companies that is not significantly represented in France ", recognizes Bruno Mathis, head of the telecommunications and interactive media practice, and 'co-ordinator' of PA Consulting's activities in France.
In this position since the end of 2000, he recalls that the head hunting &recruitment division of the company was sold to Korn-Ferry International at the beginning of last year. Although this service made limited contribution to the firm as a whole, in France this division had historically represented 70% of revenue.
In the short term, Bruno Mathis is placing emphasis on three areas to revitalize the local office: Energy, a sector strengthened by the purchase of the US consultancy Hagler Bailly last year; Telecommunications and Interactive Media; and finally, Industries and Services. In line with the Group's strategy, large-scale assignments are targeted. In the medium term, practices specializing in banking, insurance and manufacturing industries are also possible, as is growth through acquisition.
