The Scoop...

A successful start

The year 2001 is the 75th anniversary of global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, one of the oldest management consulting firms in the world. Founded in Chicago in 1926, A.T. Kearney has operated exclusively under its current name since 1946. (The firm was bought by EDS in 1995 but retains its name and identity.) Solid results with early engagements, including an extensive study of U.S. Steel and a longtime relationship with the Kroger supermarket chain, helped put A.T. Kearney on the map. The firm's growth accelerated when former head Fred Steingraber became CEO in 1983. Today, there are more than 5,000 A.T. Kearney employees worldwide. In December 2000, Dietmar Ostermann, formerly managing director of A.T. Kearney Europe, became A.T. Kearney's new chief executive officer, as Steingraber stepped into the chairman emeritus role.

A world of specialties

A.T. Kearney's clients typically are Global 1000 companies, although the firm's growing work in e-business involves selected Internet startups as well. While A.T. Kearney has experience in many industries, it is particularly strong in automotive, financial institutions, consumer industries, communications/high technology, health care, pharmaceuticals and retail. Unlike some of its competitors, A.T. Kearney believes in sticking around to help its clients during implementation. In a 1998 survey conducted by independent research firm Louis Harris & Associates, more than 90 percent of the firm's clients said they were satisfied or extremely satisfied by A.T. Kearney's work. It comes as no surprise that the firm has managed to earn a great deal of client loyalty: More than 90 percent of A.T. Kearney's business comes from past clients. A.T. Kearney currently ranks as the second largest high-value added management consulting firm with operations in 59 cities in 36 countries. The newest permanent office, in Bangkok, opened in June 2001.