Churchill joins international management consultancy Sia Partners
French-origin management consulting firm Sia Partners has entered Australia’s consultancy scene with the acquisition of Churchill, a Perth-based player with around 45 consultants and staff.
From its base in Paris, Sia Partners has been on a global expansion path over the past seven years, growing from a 1,000-strong mainly European consultancy to a worldwide player with over 2,400 consultants at present.
Acquisitions have been an integral part of its expansion. Sia Partners has closed around fifteen deals since 2016, with today’s transaction in Australia marking the firm’s debut in Oceania.
Founded in 2002 by David Prendiville and Todd Mairs, Churchill works primarily in the energy and mining sectors, and also for major public sector players in Western Australia. The firm (revenue: $14 million) provides management, transformation and project delivery services.
“We’re delighted to welcome Churchill. The Australian consulting market represents a significant development opportunity for Sia Partners,” said Matthieu Courtecuisse, the Founder and CEO of Sia Partners.
Under the wings of Sia Partners, Churchill has crafted big plans going forward. “We have defined an ambitious roadmap that aims to reach the threshold of 150 consultants by 2024, driven by the development of new offices in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane,” explained Prendiville and Mairs, who co-lead the firm with fellow partners David Lynch (ex-Deloitte) and Matthew Fahey (ex-PwC).
Expansion into new industry verticals is another of the roadmap’s growth drivers. “We’re aiming to create a dedicated team for the financial services sector,” said Prendiville and Mairs, a move which will build on Sia Partners’ extensive track record in the banking and insurance landscape.
Meanwhile, Churchill will provide Sia Partners with a boost to its energy and mining practices, which account for around a quarter of its revenues. “The war in Ukraine and tensions over energy and mining supplies will have lasting repercussions. This is prompting all Western economies to look for solutions within their own borders, which places Canada and Australia in a particularly strategic position,” said Courtecuisse.
“We have therefore made it a priority to strengthen our position in these markets, and started the campaign with an acquisition in Canada in September last year,” he added. “From its base in Perth, Churchill will become our global center of excellence in the mining sector.”
Globally, Sia Partners now has 40 offices. Earlier this week, the firm launched a new office in Belgium.
