The Big Four Brain Drain and What It Means for Clients
A new Business Insider piece highlights a striking shift: senior leaders are leaving the Big Four for smaller consultancies and AI-driven startups.
The reasons are clear:
- Slower decision-making and bureaucracy at scale.
- Equity partnership no longer offering the upside it once did.
- AI disruption is creating opportunities for more agile firms to innovate faster.
- Seasoned professionals seeking real ownership and sharper client impact.
The client implication:
Boutique firms are now attracting some of the industry's top talent. With flatter structures, focused expertise, and the ability to move quickly, they can deliver faster, more tailored, and more innovative solutions than traditional firms, which are often weighed down by legacy systems.
For businesses, this shift is good news. The consulting talent once locked inside large global firms is increasingly available through boutiques like ours, where impact — rather than bureaucracy — drives results.
The question isn’t whether Big Four leaders are leaving. It’s whether your business is ready to benefit from the boutique advantage.
Source: “Consulting firms face a talent ‘exodus’ as senior leaders seek more influence and a faster pace”. Business Insider, August 29, 2025, by Polly Thompson. See here: https://lnkd.in/gr6ku3cj
Get In Touch
For more information please contact Michael Velten.
michael@veltenadvisors.com
+6590687547
37 Ann Siang Rd, Singapore 069715
More insights about The Big Four Brain Drain and What It Means for Clients :
