FTI Consulting adds 10 cyber risk, data privacy, and governance consultants from Ankura

FTI Consulting, a Washington, DC-headquartered management consulting firm, has hired five senior managing directors and five managing directors from consulting firm Ankura to strengthen its cyber risk, data privacy, and information governance teams.

“Organizations are facing unprecedented digital exposure, operational, and regulatory complexities and need practical solutions from trusted experts that help reduce risk, strengthen resilience, and achieve compliance. We look forward to working with our new colleagues to deliver the expert-driven and intelligence-led solutions our clients rely on and expect,” said Anthony Ferrante, global head of the cybersecurity practice at FTI Consulting.

Akshay Dhawan (senior managing director, Washington, DC) has more than two decades of experience in cybersecurity and digital transformation. He was most recently a managing director and cyber risk and cloud services leader at Ankura. In his role at FTI Consulting, he will help clients design and implement enterprise cybersecurity programs, with a focus on cloud and AI systems and national security-driven regulations.

David Manek (senior managing director, Chicago) is a data privacy expert specializing in data-intensive regulatory change management initiatives. In his previous role at Ankura, he led a team of data privacy, information security, and data management experts focused on implementing complex data privacy and AI compliance solutions. In his role at FTI Consulting, he will help clients navigate emerging privacy and AI laws, including the CCPA and GDPR.

Matt McClelland (senior managing director, Charlotte) has more than two decades of experience in data and information governance and analytics. His experience includes building and overseeing the deployment of AI-supported tools and delivering enterprise programs across industries including healthcare, telecom, financial services, and retail. At FTI Consulting, he will advise clients on next-generation operating model design, modernized policy and retention schedule development, large-scale defensible data deletion, change management, and technology enablement.

Ankur Sheth (senior managing director, New York) has deep expertise in cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and technology implementation. He will work with security, risk, and IT leaders to navigate the evolving threat landscape and strengthen their cyber posture, guiding clients from assessment through architecture, design, and program execution. He most recently led the technology and cyber risk advisory practice at Ankura.

Colleen Yushchak (senior managing director, Washington, DC) has more than 25 years of experience guiding companies through complex technology and legal challenges, with deep expertise in regulatory risk, governance, and data protection. At FTI Consulting, she will support clients with designing and executing global privacy and compliance programs. Prior to joining the firm, she was the global data privacy practice lead at Ankura, where she implemented privacy compliance programs for organizations across multiple industries.

Mir Ali (managing director, Chicago) is an information and data governance expert who helps organizations build compliant and defensible programs through modernizing policies, retention schedules, and enterprise data deletion. At FTI Consulting, he will focus on supporting clients with data minimization, mapping and inventory, and cyber and data privacy risk assessments, as well as building robust third-party risk management frameworks.

Emily Cohen (managing director, Chicago) brings nearly two decades of experience in data privacy, regulatory compliance, forensic investigation, and litigation advisory. She most recently led Ankura’s tracking technology service offering and assisted with the design and deployment of privacy technology to support core functions including risk assessments, data inventories, and third-party risk management. In her role at FTI Consulting, she will help clients with privacy programs, complex investigations, and expert services related to tracking technologies.

David Farber (managing director, Charlotte) helps organizations navigate complex regulatory requirements, data privacy, and implementation of privacy platforms. As a managing director at Ankura, he supported risk assessments, data inventories, privacy rights process, and tracking technology compliance and advised on privacy platform design and optimization. At FTI Consulting, he will focus on risk management strategies and compliance, and design and deploy technical frameworks for clients to address global data protection laws.

Matt Flora (managing director, New York) brings more than a decade of experience in cybersecurity governance and risk management. His experience includes helping clients map their security programs to industry-leading frameworks and regulations, identify security weaknesses, and mitigate enterprise-level risk. At FTI Consulting, he will work with clients to build comprehensive cybersecurity risk and compliance programs and support private equity clients and their portfolio companies in identifying and mitigating top security risks.

Kenric Tom (managing director, Miami) specializes in data privacy, AI regulatory compliance, and digital risk – helping clients design and implement comprehensive privacy and risk management programs. As a managing director at Ankura, he provided clients with technology and data governance solutions related to regulatory and compliance needs. At FTI Consulting, he will guide clients through the nuances of various privacy and AI laws and create robust program operations and technical controls that protect enterprise value and mitigate litigation risk.

FTI has over 8,100 employees in 32 countries and territories who help organizations manage change, mitigate risk, and resolve disputes. The public company has annual revenue of $3.8 billion.