AlixPartners and Point B open new offices in Texas
Management consultancy AlixPartners has opened a new office in Houston, Texas – its 9th in the US and 25th worldwide. The new office improves the firm’s ability to service regional clients, particularly those from the troubled Oklahoma/Texas energy sector. Becky Roof will lead the new hub, bringing 18 years of consulting experience to the role. Meanwhile, Point B – a Seattle-based management consultancy – has opened a new office in Austin, Texas. The new office will be headed by Kelly O’Rourke, and increases the firm’s US footprint to 10 offices.
NYC-based AlixPartners has worked with Texas regional clients for a number of years, and according to a spokesperson from the firm, the new office will boost the firm’s regional presence while enhancing its advisory offerings in restructuring, forensics, digital-transformation, and organizational services.
AlixPartners, a management consultancy founded in 1981, employs 1600+ people and has been involved in numerous bankruptcy turnaround assignments, including those of Kodak, Saab, and JC Penney.
The new office will launch with 25 staff, including office head Becky Roof, an AlixPartners Managing Director who has been with the firm for 18 years. Additional Managing Directors at the new Houston office will include Bill Ebanks, David Hindman, and Larry Young. The Texas hub will also boast 12 Directors.
Simon Freakley, CEO of AlixPartners, commented, "AlixPartners prides itself on being a truly global firm, and the opening of our Houston office is another important stage in our ongoing growth. Texas has long been an important region for us and we are excited about the continued opportunities in the market. We look forward to working with both existing and new clients, making a difference when it really matters, in the years ahead.”
Freakley says that the energy industry will be particularly targeted by AlixPartners – more than 3,000 energy and oil & gas companies are headquartered in the region, with considerable demand for transformation services expected in the coming period because of unfavorable market conditions – principally the low price of oil.
Office head Becky Roof added that the firm is "thrilled” to be further building up its presence in Texas: "Houston plays a key role as home to numerous leading businesses, in many sectors and with diverse needs. AlixPartners' deep expertise across a wide range of industries, including energy, makes us uniquely placed to drive real change for companies in this region."
Point B opens office in Austin
Management consulting, venture investment, and property development firm Point B has opened a new office in Austin, Texas. The office, the firm’s 10th in the United States, will enhance its ability to deliver financial, technology, retail, and healthcare advisory services to local clients in Texas. The new office will leverage the firm’s wider network of 600 staff across the country.
Point B’s new Austin office will be located at One Eleven, a premier high-rise at 111 Congress Ave owned by Parkway Properties. The office will be headed by Kelly O’Rourke, who will be responsible for developing the strategic direction of the new hub, as well as leading client engagements. O’Rourke is an Austin local who has worked in the region for more than 15 years.
O’Rourke joined Point B in 2014 as Principal in the firm’s Project Leadership Services practice. Previously, O’Rourke was a Director at National Instruments’ Global Business Analysis and Solutions division for 8 years; before that, he and was an IT Section Manager at the company for two years. Earlier in his career O’Rourke was a Senior Manager in Accenture’s Financial Services practice. O’Rourke holds a BSc in Finance from the University of Illinois.
Reflecting on the opening of the new Austin office, O’Rourke said, “Point B is known for getting the right things done right. Our local model – local consultants helping local companies – coupled with the ability to tap into industry experts across our firm’s more than 600 people, puts us in a great position to immediately drive value for organizations in Austin.”
The Austin team will initially be composed of six consultants; O’Rourke expects to double the headcount by the end of 2016 and increase the office to about 20 employees by the end of 2017.
In related news, Slalom Consulting opened their first hub in the Texas region in 2014, while PwC opened its fourth Texas office in 2015. Meanwhile, HR consultancy Mercer closed down one of its two Houston offices in May of this year.
