Neil Whittaker joins BearingPoint as a partner in UK

BearingPoint has bolstered its Financial Services practice in the UK with Neil Whittaker. He joins from Grant Thornton, where he served as a Director in the firm’s banking and insurance advisory unit.

Neil Whittaker has more than 30 years of experience in consulting, banking and the military. He joins BearingPoint from Grant Thornton, where he worked since July 2013, after moving to the firm as part of Grant Thornton’s acquisition of Navigant’s Financial Services arm in the UK*. Prior to working for Navigant, Whittaker served as Director at Accourt, a London-based consultancy focussed on the payments domain, and as Director at iBe, a pan-European consultancy specialised in financial services. He started his consulting career in 2004 with EY, after which he spent a period with a boutique advisory and 3.5 years with Hitachi Consulting.

Prior to that, Whittaker worked more than ten years in the financial services industry, of which seven years with Barclays Bank, and served 11 years in the British Army. He holds an MBA from Cranfield University School of Management and Post Graduate Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Per the 1st of September Whittaker decided to embark on a new challenge, joining BearingPoint, which, with more than 3,400 professionals in 20 countries, is one of the largest European-origin management and IT consultancies. From BearingPoint’s base in London, located at Great Queen Street, Whittaker will, in his role as a Partner, focus on growing the firm’s footprint in the banking, insurance and asset management sectors.

“I am delighted to join a dynamic, forward-looking, successful and ambitious team in BearingPoint as a Partner. My new role allows me to bring my industry and consulting experience to bear in further developing BearingPoint’s financial services capabilities. It’s a hugely exciting time, and I look forward to working with both my own and BearingPoint’s existing clients as well as building new client relationships,” reflects Whittaker.

James Rodger, Regional Leader for UK and Ireland at BearingPoint, says he is delighted with the addition of Whittaker. “Neil is a business leader with a ‘hands on’ approach, carved from a military career and real world commercial experience gained through his roles leading blue chip Financial Services organisations and running successful consulting businesses. Neil has a track record of leading, influencing and motivating people and teams to bring strategy to life, implement major change and deliver exceptional business results. I know Neil will grow and expand our achievements in the financial services industry.”

* The deal saw a 45-strong Navigant team transfer to Grant Thornton, including three new partners and nine directors.