[quote]Hi all, I'd be interested to hear people's views on the Javelin - Accenture acquisition that has just been announced. In particular I'd be interested to hear people's views on the following points (with focus on the impact on the strategy side of Javelin):- Whether it will negatively impact the Javelin brand (& correspondingly the brand and exit options of Javelin employees) - Whether it will bring any positives for the company & employees (e.g. in terms of ability to win projects, exit opportunities or employees etc.)- What the key risks for employees will be (getting lost in a big organisation? Moving away from strategy to too much of an opps/ IT focus?)- General views on whether it is a good or bad thing! Thanks in advance for any feedback on this! I look forward to hearing your views!![/quote]Javelin is (was) was of my clients so it's obviously bad news that another great boutique has been swallowed up by a big firm. Personally speaking, having seen some of my other clients like Corven get bought by Oliver Wyman these things always end badly. Most of the guys who have chosen to work at Javelin will have made a conscious decision not to work at a larger firm for a variety of reasons so the news is going to be a bit of a blow.I don't think other firms will look any less favourably on Javelin candidates now though. Javelin guys are always very bright with great industry knowledge in the retail space and other companies will completely understand you if you explain that your moving on because you don't want to work for the massive machine that is Accenture.It will be interesting to see whether Javelin can maintain their rate card for their strategy consultants now that they are fitting into the Accenture model and whether clients treat them as a true 'specialist' in the retail space now that they fall under Accenture's brand.
