Consultant Adam Powick lined up as Deloitte's next boss

Deloitte’s leadership team have put forward Adam Powick as their preferred candidate to step into the shoes of outgoing chief executive officer Richard Deutsch.

Following Richard Deutsch’s resignation two weeks ago, Deloitte’s board led by chairman Tom Imbesi set out to find a new chief executive for Australia. Having looked at a number of candidates, the former Managing Partner of Deloitte Consulting Adam Powick has – according to reporting to AFR – been given the nod.

Powick’s nomination has meanwhile been put forward to the firm’s partners, who will vote on the appointment in April. Typically, the nomination is ratified by the partner team with a high level of support. 

Melbourne-based Powick currently is the Regional Managing Partner of Deloitte Consulting in Asia Pacific, overseeing a US$2 billion consulting practice with around 18,000 employees. Earlier, he was the Managing Partner for Clients & Industries between 2015 and 2018, and Managing Partner of Deloitte Consulting in Australia between 2010 and 2015. 

Powick has been with the global professional services firm for more than 25 years, climbing the firm’s ranks within its consulting arm. He was made a partner in 2002, focused on technology consulting and implementation projects at large private and public sector organisations. 

Deutsch formally stepped down from the role for “personal reasons”, however according to insiders close to the matter he was increasingly unsettled with the different views within the partner team on how to run the firm and navigate the pandemic. With revenues of $2.3 billion, Deloitte is Australia’s second-largest of the Big Four, trailing PwC. 

Earlier this month, rival EY announced David Larocca would become the new CEO of EY Oceania, succeeding Tony Johnson at helm, while Capgemini installed former Deloitte partner Kaylene O'Brien as its country managing director.