Samuel Wisner

Samuel Wisner inquired about the performance of Consulting new business in the quarter, the outlook for Consulting for the remainder of the year, and the key drivers of those expectations. He also asked about the significant reduction in digital headcount, its drivers, and whether the current headcount aligns with demand or if further right-sizing is anticipated.

Answer

CEO Gary Burnison characterized the consulting market as difficult for eight quarters, expecting continued momentum in Europe and Asia but challenges in the Americas due to the economic backdrop. He highlighted the firm's strategic shift towards larger, more integrated, transformational assignments, evidenced by a 50% increase in average rate per hour and an increasing backlog with 42% of engagements over $1 million. He noted that new business in consulting was 'decent' and on the 'plus side.' Regarding digital headcount, Gary Burnison explained that the company continuously manages its workforce across all solutions, including Digital, to enable the entire firm to deliver its platform and unlock human and organizational performance, rather than focusing solely on the number of digital sellers.

Samuel Wisner asked about the performance of Consulting new business in the quarter, the outlook for Consulting for the remainder of the year, and the key drivers of those expectations. He also inquired about the significant reduction in digital headcount, the rationale behind it given the upcoming TalentSuite launch, and whether the current headcount aligns with demand or if further adjustments are anticipated.

Answer

CEO Gary Burnison indicated decent Consulting new business in the quarter, with continued momentum expected in Europe and Asia, but a more challenging outlook for the Americas due to the economic backdrop. He highlighted the firm's strategic shift towards larger, more integrated, transformational assignments, evidenced by a 50% increase in average rate per hour and growing backlog, with 42% of backlog from engagements over $1 million. Regarding digital headcount, Burnison explained it as part of continuous workforce management across all solutions, emphasizing the goal of enabling the entire firm to deliver the TalentSuite platform rather than focusing solely on digital sellers.