Arthur D. Little is looking to reconnect with its history in its home market, marking the end of a long eclipse.
A revival led by a pharmaceutical expert
Although Arthur D. Little never fully left the United States, its presence there had become marginal after the 2001 bankruptcy. Today, the firm aims to make the United States “its primary source of revenue within the next 10 years,” according to the US managing partner since 2018.
The managing partner, Craig Whylie, who has previous experience with PwC, BearingPoint, and PA Consulting Group, joined ADL in 2015. Whylie is an expert in the pharmaceutical industry, with Boston being the nerve center.
While the American teams at ADL are still modest – around 100 employees spread between Boston (45 people), New York (also 45), and San Francisco (10) – the momentum is building. The Boston office has just moved to new, more spacious premises.
From near-disappearance to gradual return
Former heavyweight consulting firm Arthur D. Little had been weakened by the bursting of the Internet bubble, leading to bankruptcy in 2001. The brand and most of its activities were then taken over by the French company Altran (now part of Capgemini), before a buyout by management in 2011.
Since then, the reconstruction has been gradual. The virtually non-existent American activity 10 years ago now represents “almost 10% of global turnover,” according to Craig Wylie. It generated 38 million dollars last year and is expected to reach 45 million this year.
A differentiating positioning
To grow, Arthur D. Little has adopted a targeted strategy. The firm has positioned itself with smaller clients than those traditionally targeted by Bain, BCG, or McKinsey, while focusing on select sectors: life sciences, automotive, telecommunications, and airports.
Another specific marker according to Craig Wylie: the attention paid to the teams. “When we make important decisions for the firm, the first question we ask is about the impact on the employees, not the amount of enrichment for our partners.”
