R/GA makes moves on Australian consulting market with Drew Klonsky appointment
Global design, technology, communications and consulting firm R/GA have appointed Drew Klonsky as the Executive Director of the newly formed Business Transformation unit.
The multidisciplinary agency’s new unit – which was formed back in 2015 – will offer clients a comprehensive collection of services which the firm believes are intrinsically linked. In stark contrast to traditional consulting firms, R/GA’s contends what sets them apart is their ability to both advise and deliver.
“R/GA’s promise is 'transformation at speed', which we're able to make by combining a consultative approach with the ability to execute,” says Drew Klonsky. “I'm excited to work with clients on developing the strategies, products and services to help derail disruption and drive the kind of large-scale, deeply-rooted change that makes transformation transformation, not evolution.”
With offices spread throughout 20 countries across North & South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific – including both Melbourne and Sydney – R/GA has built a global network which challenges traditional rulers of the consulting roost. The appointment solidifies the firm’s presence in the top tier strategy and management consulting market, which in Australia grew to over $5 billion in the past year.
“Unlike traditional consultants, we believe that no single magic bullet can address every company's challenges," he says. “You won't find us trickling out in-actionable strategy decks full of acronyms that simply don't apply to our clients’ unique situations.”
“We’ve shown that adding consulting to solve both sophisticated consumer and corporate challenges through making things, is a radical departure from the current ‘acqui-hire’ management consulting approach that presupposes creatives will deliver the right strategy layered on age-old, risk-averse methods delivered by billing-by-the-hour consultants,” he says.
Drew Klonsky is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and led multiple companies including Citizen – an award winning design and product innovation firm with over 80 professionals – incubator +CitizenLab and ViVi. He has also worked with Nike as the brand’s Entrepreneur in Residence and most recently as Fahrenheit 212’s Managing Director.
As Executive Director Klonsky will bring 20 years of his unique blend of entrepreneurial expertise in which spans strategy, branding and innovation to the Business Transformation unit. According to Rebecca Bezzina, R/GA’s Managing Director of Sydney and Melbourne the appointment is key to expanded R/GA’s presence in the consulting world across the country.
“Drew adds even greater firepower to our goal of enabling client's businesses to grow. He'll be instrumental in helping equip clients with the tools to become more customer-centric, data-driven, purpose-led and creatively fuelled. We could not be more excited to have him spearheading our core mission,” said Bezzina.
