Deloitte woos Roland Berger
DELOITTE Touche Tohmatsu is in advanced talks about a possible takeover with Roland Berger Strategy Consultants it emerged yesterday.
The discussions to merge the German firm with Deloitte’s strategic consulting practice are in line with consolidation activity in the wider consulting sector this year. Risk management firm Aon acquired Hewitt Associates in a $4.9bn (£3.05bn) deal which added to its human resources consulting arm.
Deloitte confirmed yesterday that discussions were taking place.
“We can confirm that Deloitte and Roland Berger are in advanced discussions to merge their businesses. We have an exciting ambition to create a market leading strategy consultancy within Deloitte’s Consulting business,” the accountancy said.
It is believed the new firm would be called Roland Berger Deloitte Strategy Consultants.
Martin Wittig, Roland Berger’s chief executive, is thought most likely to become the new company’s chief executive with Jeff Watts, Deloitte’s global strategy and operations leader, being lined up as his deputy should the deal go through.
Roland Berger also confirmed the talks with Deloitte. Matthias Hopfmueller, a spokesman for the firm said: “Discussions between the two companies are already taking place to open up new growth prospects for ourselves and Deloitte but we have to discuss this with all the partners at our international meeting in December.”
Roland Berger began as one-man company in 1967 with a focus on marketing consulting. In 2009, the company generated €616m in sales and employed 2,000 staff worldwide.