Cyril Garcia Chief Executive of Capgemini Consulting
Capgemini has named Cyril Garcia the new CEO of its management consultancy business, Capgemini Consulting. Garcia succeeds Xavier Hochet, who led the business for the past two years. The new executive joins from internal ranks, serving previously as CEO of Capgemini Consulting’s French and Spanish country organisations.
Cyril Garcia has a long service record at Capgemini. In 1993 he joined Bossard Consultants, a French-based consultancy acquired by Capgemini in 1997. In the first decade at the firm Garcia contributed to dozens of large transformations in the services, utilities and media sectors. In 2002, he was promoted to Vice President and became responsible for the French public sector in Capgemini Ernst & Young, the unit launched after Capgemini’s $11 billion acquisition of Ernst & Young Consulting*.
Six years later, in 2008, Garcia became the French arm’s Head of Business Development, a position held for two years, after which he was promoted to Strategy Director for Capgemini Group. He in addition was granted a position in the firm’s Group Executive Committee, working alongside among others Paul Hermelin, who has been the chairman and CEO of the Capgemini Group since his appointment in December 2001. Most recently Garcia served as CEO of Capgemini Consulting France and Capgemini Consulting Spain.
On the back of a strong spell in France and Spain, Hermelin and his Executive team have appointed Garcia as global CEO of its management consultancy business, with around 4,000 employees one of Europe's biggest management consulting companies. Garcia succeeds Xavier Hochet, who led Capgemini Consulting since April 2013 who in turn replaced the Frenchman Pierre-Yves Cros. Under Hochet’s leadership the consultancy rebounded from the crisis years, and in particular made strong strides in the area of thought leadership. A few months ago the firm was named the second-best creator of thought leadership in the consulting industry, testimony to its in-depth research into mainly digital transformation, often in conjunction with MIT and more recently Altimeter Group. When Hochet first took up his new role, Capgemini’s consulting unit was ranked #15 in the list.
Garcia has been tasked with the responsibility to grow the firm’s footprint in key markets such France, the UK, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as bolster its market position in upcoming regions. From a functional perspective, topics which sit high on Garcia’s agenda include Big Data, cyber security, people transformation and IT deployments. Another key area includes further boosting the firm’s reputation in the marketplace – last year Capgemini Consulting was named one of the top 20 most prestigious management consulting firms in Europe, and the management team has made it no secret it aims moving towards the top 10 from its current #18 spot.
“Cyril Garcia has successfully led Capgemini Consulting in France and Spain and has demonstrated strong operational and leadership skills during this time. He has a deep knowledge of the whole business,” comments Hermelin on his new Consulting leader.
* In February 2000 Ernst & Young sold its 18,000 man strong consulting arm to Cap Gemini for roughly $11 billion in cash and stock. In May 2004 Capgemini dropped the ‘Ernst & Young’ brand from its name, following the expiry of the consulting firm's four-year licence to use the name.
