Australian management consultancy OCM merges with Adelaide firm ZED
Australian management consultancy O’Connor Marsden & Associates has merged with Adelaide-based boutique firm ZED Management Consulting, adding 3 partners and around 20 consultants to its team.
Together with co-founder Pam Zervas, who established the consulting firm in South Australia almost twenty years ago, ZED executive and managing directors Matthew McInnes and Jonathan Cherian also join O’Connor Marsden & Associates (OCM) as partners.
Since its 2006 founding, ZED has supported numerous organisations operating in the healthcare, human services, education, financial, tech, transport, and infrastructure sectors among others in achieving their strategic business goals.
OCM, which last year celebrated its 15th anniversary and now has a headcount in excess of 180 professionals nationwide, stated: “ZED is renowned for its expertise in analysis, strategic thinking, organisational design, leadership development, digital solutions, and business transformation. By combining our strengths, we are positioned to deliver even more impactful solutions.”
Previously a senior executive and national information systems governance leader at KPMG, Zervas set up ZED as a “blend of Big Four consulting experience with hands-on operational expertise” in 2006, with health sector leader McInnes joining in 2021 and Cherian ‘boomeranging’ back in 2019 after a previous stint at the firm preceded by an earlier career start at Ernst & Young.
“Thrilled about our merger with OCM and the incredible opportunities it creates for both our people and clients,” stated Cherian, who also operates his own retail tech company Sprooker (a play on the distinctly Australian term ‘spruik’, as in ‘to promote’). “We’re eager to expand our national presence and collaborate closely with our new OCM colleagues. Exciting times ahead!”
OCM was itself established in 2009 by former Deloitte leaders Rory O’Connor and Andrew Marsden, originally as a probity pure-play based out of Sydney, before then rapidly expanding to eight offices across the country providing services in areas such as assurance, governance, risk management, compliance, procurement & supply chain, digital trust, and workplace conduct.
“ZED designs and implements tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client’s landscape,” OCM stated. “We’re also delighted to welcome three new talented partners. Their deep expertise in strategy, innovation and organisational design will be instrumental in driving even greater value to our clients which are currently navigating change and transformation.”
