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Last week, I had the pleasure of joining the British American Business (BAB) Transatlantic Growth Roundtable and Awards Reception, a room full of driven founders and CEOs navigating the complexities of building and scaling across borders. The roundtable offered more than thoughtful dialogue; it felt like a collective roadmap for growth in today’s increasingly interconnected and complex world.
At last year’s reception, Grant Thornton Stax was honored to receive the
US SME Growth and Investment in the UK award, a proud moment that reflected both where we were and where we were headed. While much of the consulting industry has pulled back over the last year, we’ve taken a different path, accelerating our UK expansion and turning the past twelve months into a compelling proof point of our growth strategy in motion.
Our UK Chapter: A Growth Story
Our transatlantic journey began in late 2022, with the acquisition of a boutique strategy firm in London. That move set the stage, and it was just the beginning.
By mid-2024, we had outgrown our initial office and relocated to Mayfair, placing us within walking distance of 80% of our UK addressable market. We’ve nearly tripled our UK headcount, attracted senior talent from across the industry, and built one of the fastest-growing chapters in our firm’s 30-year history.
Why the UK? Because we follow our clients. Global private equity firms are doubling down on London. The UK remains a powerhouse for mid-market M&A, and we're proud to be part of that growth.
Of course, growth across borders brings its own set of opportunities and challenges. We didn’t parachute in a “culture carrier,” we built the culture from scratch, supported by embedded leadership and a strong secondment program from our US teams. Creating a unified firm vision that feels authentic on both sides of the ocean has been a key part of our success.
But not everything translates. Brand recognition doesn’t cross borders automatically. Consulting “products” differ in tone and structure. Decision-making styles, hierarchy, even vacation norms, all vary.
Looking ahead, the UK is just the beginning. We’re using our momentum to expand further into Europe, building a team and culture that can deliver with the same excellence and edge that’s defined Stax in the US for 30+ years. While some firms are scaling back, we’re doubling down, with a clear purpose: helping our clients grow, wherever opportunity leads. Our platform, purpose-built for the pace of private equity helps our clients de-risk their investments in this globally complex environment.
Thanks to the BAB for bringing together a group of thinkers and transatlantic builders. Here’s to what’s next.
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