Sia Partners expands in Australia through new office in Sydney

Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower has welcomed a new consultancy tenant – global management consultancy Sia Partners, which is expanding its presence to the Australian east coast after previously settling in Perth.

Global consulting firm Sia Partners has arrived on Australia’s east coast with an office launch in Sydney, to be led by former Ernst & Young associate partner Mike Booth.

Established in Paris in 1999, Sia Partners today has more than 40 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Americas, but only gained a permanent foothold in Australia in 2022 through the acquisition of Perth-based energy & mining consultancy Churchill.

Now the firm has launched its own original outlet in Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney (home to Deloitte’s shiny new offices) to support its east coast and international clients – particularly those within the financial services, government and utilities sectors – through the firm’s core offerings in strategy & growth, performance improvement and digital transformation, including in the areas of artificial intelligence and design.

“We are excited to open the Sydney office, which builds on our 20 years plus presence in Australia,” stated Australian managing partner David Prendiville, Churchill’s former director who crossed to Sia Partners alongside co-founder Todd Mairs and fellow partners Matt Fahey and David Lynch. “This strategic expansion aligns with our vision to be at the forefront of innovation as we continue to deliver outstanding value to our clients.”

At the time of the Churchill acquisition, Sia Partners CEO Matthieu Courtecuisse said the Australian market represented a significant development opportunity for the firm, with ambitions already in place to grow to 150 consultants by 2024 through the development of new offices in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane and the establishment of a dedicated financial services practice, the latter two goals which have now come to fruition.

Crossing after almost nine years at Ernst & Young, associate partner Mike Booth has been tapped to lead both. Most recently serving as head of banking technology and APAC sustainable financial solutions, Booth is credited with having established and led the EY Global Open Banking platform. Prior to joining the Big Four firm, he also spent a decade and a half at IBM Consulting, spending time with the firm in the UK, Europe, India, and China.

“I am thrilled to be spearheading our expansion into the Sydney market and lead our scale-out into the dynamic world of financial services in Australia, coupling Sia Partners’ proven capability with exceptional local talent,” Booth stated. “The culture of innovation, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence has already made me feel right at home, and it’s inspiring to be part of a company that values creativity and collaboration.”