Elixirr steps up growth in the US with three new partners

After significantly growing its team in 2020, global consulting firm Elixirr is stepping up its growth trajectory in the world’s largest consulting market. 

Despite the effects of the Covid-19 crisis on the consulting industry, which saw the market contract across the board (although some in-demand segments still saw growth), Elixirr ended 2020 with its best year ever in the US, growing revenues by 49% year-over-year and doubling its headcount. The consultancy launched its US operation in 2016.

For 2021, the firm has “even greater ambitions” said US lead Eric Rich, who joined the firm from a large counterpart to lead the expansion. “Our team and business are growing fast – 2021 is going to be a phenomenal year.” 

To realize its goals, the consulting firm has over the past months welcomed three new partners to its US leadership team. This month, Syed Bukhari and Hermann Behrens both joined the firm, hot on the heels of the appointment of Iliya Rybchin in the first quarter of the year. 

Syed Bukhari joined Elixirr from Wipro, where he was the Americas head of transformation consulting in the firm's digital division. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Gartner and PwC. He specializes in customer experience, transformation execution, product development, and business agility. 

Hermann Behrens specializes in brand, business, and digital transformation, working with clients across industries with particular focus on financial services and consumer goods. He brings a background in business as well as entrepreneurship. Behrens' notable work includes bringing Brand Union (now Superunion) to the Middle East; as US CEO, launching Fitch (now Landor & Fitch) in New York; and serving as chief growth officer for Interbrand in the US.

Iliya Rybchin has experience as a consultant, operating executive, entrepreneur, and investor. Before joining the firm, he co-founded Highnote Foundry (now EY Foundry), a New York-based management consulting firm. After starting his career at Accenture, he held senior roles at A+E Television, Bloomberg, McGraw-Hill, Virgin Mobile, and Orange/France Telecom. 

Commenting on the senior appointments, Rich said: “We are thrilled to have them join our partner team in the US, bringing critical value to our clients.”

Founded in 2009, Elixirr is an award-winning global consultancy listed with AIM on the London Stock Exchange.