Roland Berger Strategy Consultants

The overview

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants was founded in Germany in 1967. It originally focused on marketing consulting as ‘Roland Berger International Marketing Consultants’. However, it has now cast its net wider and helps organisations in a range of industries and services, as well as public institutions, with all aspects of business management. It became known by its current name in the mid-1980s, to reflect the fact that over half of its business came from strategy engagements.

50% of its business is strategy.

The firm is an independent partnership owned by around 200 partners and has headquarters based at the Highlight Towers in Munich. It has a distinctly European identity, with 27 of its 43 offices based in this region. It is the largest consulting firm to have emerged from Europe, with roughly 2,000 employees working in 31 countries worldwide.

Business areas

Roland Berger works within a wide variety of industries including automotive, consumer goods and retail, energy and chemicals, financial services, public services and transportation. Within these areas the firm offers the following services:

• Corporate development – works to enhance the efficiency and improve the structure of corporate headquarters; incorporates social and environmental responsibilities into companies’ daily operations.
• Information management – helps companies realise the strategic value of information technology to their business objectives.
• Marketing and sales – assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing activities; conducts customer segmentation and targeting; and improves sales channels.
• Operations strategy – assists with manufacturing, sourcing, supply chain management, risk management, strategy planning, and war-gaming (using a business simulation to test a strategy).
• Restructuring and corporate finance – helps companies to consider their financial situation and strategic positioning; assists with financial restructuring, and provides due diligence, valuation and exit strategies.

Publications and Academic Network

Aside from its consultancy services, Roland Berger contributes to research and development. Its new website, launched in 2008, acts as a portal for its research, offered in the form of regular ‘Spotlight’ reports, podcasts, and videos. Additionally, the firm produces a number of client magazines under its think: act brand, providing analysis of specific industries and ‘burning’ consulting topics.

In 1998 the Roland Berger Strategy Consultants Academic Network was established. This stages ‘innovation circles’ covering a broad range of business skills and encouraging theoretical and practical exchange between consultants, leading researchers and institutions.

International expansion

Within a couple of years of its founding Roland Berger had established offices in Milan, Paris, London, New York and São Paulo. In 1980 it became the first European consultancy to be accepted to the ACME (Association of Consulting Management Engineers), an association of consulting firms in the US. In 1990 it further expanded into Central and Eastern Europe, and in 2006 opened its first office in the Arab States, in Bahrain.

Expansion in Malaysia.

Roland Berger’s most recent office opening was in July 2011, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which Martin Wittig, CEO of Roland Berger, says is part of the firm’s ‘continuing global expansion’. Financial services, infrastructure development and transportation have been identified as promising sectors within this market.

Rankings and awards

• Ranked number 3 in Vault’s ‘Consulting 25 Europe’ survey in 2011.
• Ranked number 9 in Vault’s ‘Consulting 25 Asia Pacific’ survey in 2011.
• Won the ‘Best of Corporate Publishing’ Award for its parent think: act magazine in the business area of ‘financial services/ real estate/ consulting’ in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Salary and benefits

Roland Berger is tight-lipped about what it pays. Typical salaries in consulting are just above the average starting rates for graduates, at £25,000 to £35,000.

Perks

• 25 days’ annual leave.
• A discretionary bonus.
• A ‘golden hello’.
• Life assurance.
• Season ticket loan.
• Private healthcare.
• Gym membership/subsidy.