OC&C Strategy Consultants
{{Short description|British consulting firm}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = OC&C Strategy Consultants LLP
| logo = OC&C Strategy Consultants.svg
| image = New Street Square, London 903.jpg
| image_caption = Headquarters in London
| type = Partnership
| founders = {{UBL|Chris Outram|Geoff Cullinan| Michael Jary}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1987}}
| location = London, United Kingdom
| key_people = Will Hayllar (Managing Partner)
| num_employees = 700+ (2024)
| industry = Management consulting
| area_served =
| homepage = {{URL|www.occstrategy.com}}
}}
OC&C Strategy Consultants LLP (OC&C) is a British strategy-focused management consulting firm headquartered in London. The firm's core expertise is in the retail industry.
Background
OC&C was set up in London in 1987 by Chris Outram, Geoff Cullinan and Michael Jary who were previously Booz Allen Hamilton consultants that specialized in consumer goods.{{Cite book |last=Stoff |first=Philip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QVcAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT145 |title=Vault Guide to the Top 10 Consulting Firms, 2014 Asia Pacific Edition |publisher=Infobase Learning |isbn=978-1-58131-930-9 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=31 March 2022 |title=Michael Jary appointed as government’s Lead Non-Executive Director |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/michael-jary-appointed-as-governments-lead-non-executive-director |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=GOV.UK |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428111555/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/michael-jary-appointed-as-governments-lead-non-executive-director |url-status=live }} They were tired of the fact their previous employers had spent so much time on operational issues instead of strategic ones and though it would be more fun and challenging to start their own firm. The firm's first client was Schweppes Cola.{{Cite news |last=Daneshkhu |first=Scheherazade |date=18 January 2018 |title=Boutique consultancy punches above its weight in retail |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3fd3a8de-cafc-11e7-8536-d321d0d897a3 |access-date=8 February 2025 |work=Financial Times |archive-date=27 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127125517/https://www.ft.com/content/3fd3a8de-cafc-11e7-8536-d321d0d897a3 |url-status=live }}
Although OC&C was focused on Europe, it has expanded into other markets. In June 2007, OC&C acquired Boston-based consulting firm Callidon Group to expand its presence in the US market. Callidon focused on media and publishing. In April 2012, OC&C expanded towards the east by partnering with Valuecom Partners in Warsaw. In 2013, OC&C announced its strategic partnership with Advisia in Brazil.
OC&C initially grew as a loose federation of franchises which allowed it to expand internationally at a low cost. However this model soon faced problems as it affected decision-making since each office tended to focus only on its own local territory rather seeing things globally. In 2014, OC&C shifted to an integrated partnership model similar to its peers.
In the period between 2014 and 2015, Oliver Wyman acquired OC&C's businesses in Boston and China.{{Cite web |last=Gobé |first=Gillian |date=25 February 2016 |title=OC&C, une « franchise » de moins en moins mondiale |url=http://www.consultor.fr/devenir-consultant/actualite-du-conseil/4438-oc-c-une-franchise-de-moins-en-moins-mondiale.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322073327/http://www.consultor.fr/devenir-consultant/actualite-du-conseil/4438-oc-c-une-franchise-de-moins-en-moins-mondiale.html |archive-date=22 March 2016 |access-date=8 February 2025 }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Our History |url=https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-culture/our-values/our-history.html |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Oliver Wyman |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428022213/https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-culture/our-values/our-history.html |url-status=live }} This was a blow to OC&C which was seen as becoming an increasingly less global franchise.
In the period between 2016 and 2018, EY-Parthenon acquired the Benelux, French and German practices of OC&C which dealt a further blow to OC&C. However OC&C gradually rebuilt its teams in the three countries while making sure they were aligned with the firm's integrated partnership model.{{Cite web |date=1 October 2024 |title=OC&C Strategy Consultants welcomes 35-person team in Germany |url=https://www.consultancy.eu/news/10740/occ-strategy-consultants-welcomes-35-person-team-in-germany |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Consultancy.eu |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120155820/https://www.consultancy.eu/news/10740/occ-strategy-consultants-welcomes-35-person-team-in-germany |url-status=live }} The French office which was closed briefly relaunched in 2017 under a more global approach and aimed to regain its presence in France. {{Cite web |last=Merle |first=Barbara |title=« Remettre OC&C sur la carte des cabinets qui comptent en France » |url=https://www.consultor.fr/articles/remettre-oc-c-sur-la-carte-des-cabinets-qui-comptent-en-france |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Consultor |language=fr-fr}}
In July 2019, OC&C acquired Italian consulting firm Long Term partners. The acquisition would allow OC&C to leverage Long Term partners' luxury sector expertise as well as well improve its position in Italy.{{Cite web |date=19 July 2019 |title=Long Term Partners joins forces with OC&C Strategy Consultants |url=https://www.consultancy.eu/news/3039/long-term-partners-joins-forces-with-occ-strategy-consultants |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Consultancy.eu |language=en |archive-date=23 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623011815/https://www.consultancy.eu/news/3039/long-term-partners-joins-forces-with-occ-strategy-consultants |url-status=live }}
From 2021 onwards, news surfaced that many former OC&C partners who went to EY-Parthenon wanted to return to their original firm. In 2021 it was noted that five partners and 40 consultants in the Netherlands returned to OC&C with similar activity occurring in France but on a smaller scale. In October 2024, seven partners with over 30 consultants and staff members returned to OC&C in Germany.
In March 2022, OC&C acquired Australian Strategy Partners to obtain a presence in Australia. The firm had a strong track record of performing due diligence for private equity clients.{{Cite web |last=Tadros |first=Edmund |date=22 March 2022 |title=Global firm snaps up Aussie strategy start-up |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/global-firm-snaps-up-aussie-strategy-start-up-20220317-p5a5in |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524221514/https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/global-firm-snaps-up-aussie-strategy-start-up-20220317-p5a5in |url-status=live }}
In December 2023, OC&C was certified as a B Corporation.{{Cite web |date=7 December 2023 |title=OC&C Strategy Consultants becomes certified B Corporation |url=https://www.consultancy.uk/news/36053/occ-strategy-consultants-becomes-certified-b-corporation |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Consultancy.uk |language=en |archive-date=9 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909111512/https://www.consultancy.uk/news/36053/occ-strategy-consultants-becomes-certified-b-corporation |url-status=live }}
Business operations
OC&C's core expertise is in the retail industry which it has built on by expanding into fast-moving consumer goods. In addition, the firm also covers technology, media and telecoms, business services and manufacturing. OC&C also provides services for private equity clients such as investment scoping and due diligence.
OC&C focuses on strategy rather than implementation.
OC&C also produces research reports on sectors. In 2008, it produced State of Retail 2008 which was the first sector-wide study of its kind into the profitability and dynamics of the retail industry.{{Cite web |last=Leroux |first=Marcus |date=2008-11-17 |title=‘Sorry, we’re closed’ could be sign of times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/sorry-were-closed-could-be-sign-of-times-jp5sxdgqfv2 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=The Times |language=en |archive-date=11 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211011149/https://www.thetimes.com/article/sorry-were-closed-could-be-sign-of-times-jp5sxdgqfv2 |url-status=live }}