goetzpartners opens office in Milan, 12th globally

German management consultancy goetzpartners has earlier this year opened a new office in Milan, Italy. To head the practice goetzpartners has hired Claudio Stabon, a former McKinsey and Bain advisor, and Giovanni Calia, who joined from EY and previously served L.E.K. Consulting.

With approximately 250 professionals working out of 12 locations in 9 countries, goetzpartners is one of the larger consultancies in Europe. The business advisory focuses on two key domains: management consulting, such as strategy, organisation and change, and financial advisory, such as corporate finance and restructuring. In recent years the firm has received several industry recognitions, including a top 10 ranking in Lünendonk’s annual list of the largest German-origin consultancies and several project and client service recognitions from WirtschaftsWoche.

In line with its strategy to grow its footprint, goetzpartners earlier this year decided to enter the Italian consulting industry – a market that is showing positive signs of recovery following the hard knock it received during the crisis years, currently valued at just under €1.1 billion. The move represents its 9th office in Europe, with other operations based in Asia (Mumbai, Shanghai, Beijing).

To lead the Milan practice goetzpartners has hired two experienced consultants. Giovanni Calia joined from EY, where he worked as Head of the Big 4’s Commercial Advisory Services unit, and previously worked for 13 years with L.E.K. Consulting, in his last role as Head of the Italian business. Claudio Stabon boasts more than 25 years of experience in executive positions in the consulting, corporate finance and private equity worlds. Prior to joining goetzpartners, Stabon’s posts included the role of Head of Investments at Cofide (Gruppo De Benedetti), Chairman at KOS, Partner at Bain & Company and Senior Consultant at McKinsey & Company. The key focus of the office lies on five main sectors: private equity, healthcare, industrials, retail and consumer goods.

Since the opening of the office, roughly 100 days ago, goetzpartners Milan has made significant progress, say Calia and Stabon. They highlight that they have already won a number of mandates and are running a several projects with clients in the country. “We are operating here in a very dynamic and competitive environment. But the international strengths and the reputation goetzpartners enjoys as well as the long-standing working relationships we have with Italian companies and private equity funds put us in a very good position,” comments Calia. “The entrepreneurial spirit, independent approach and deep industry expertise at goetzpartners have been convincing from day one,” adds Stabon.