What are differences in energy industry of top tier consulting firm?

andreasmoren's picture
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Rank: Chimp | banana points 8

Hi, as an engineering student with a strong background in the energy sector, I am really interested in differences of MBB consulting in this particular industry, especially in the field of renewables. What are major differences in terms of capabilities, industry reputation and track record? Especially in Europe.
I'd really appreciate to get some deeper understanding concerning this point. Thanks, Andreas

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Comments (13)

 
Dec 14, 2017

andreasmoren, have you checked out these or run a search:

  • Is there HONESTLY a difference in the quality of work between Strategy& (Tier 2 consulting) and MBB? I finally finished the horrible recruitment cycle for consultancies here in London, and have come ... go to MBB exit opps- am I hindered in any way? Business schools, exit to industry Thanks for clarity ... out with an offer from Strategy&. My question is, is there actually a difference between them and ...
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  • MBA from not top tier university- looking to get MSF at top tier. Advice please degree? What are the best schools to consider for a top tier MSF degree? I am planning on retaking the ... top tier? What would an MSF mean on my resume for future applications? As I stated before I am not ... clear about what exactly what I want to do but at this point I am interested in working for a top ..
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If we're lucky, maybe I can guilt some users to help you out: @Mrugesh-Kulkarni @city_north @Joe-Pizetoski

Fingers crossed that one of those helps you.

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Best Response
Dec 16, 2017

I'm at a MBB in southwestern europe (Spain). My diagnosis is as follows:

  • Bain: Strong in Customer Experience and Banking, Proficient at Due Diligences. Zero presence in the energy field.
  • BCG: Almost monopolizes all energy industry (dominates around 90% of the market). Strong in industrial goods.
  • Mckinsey: Very strong in infraestructure, retail and banking. Strong in everything else with the exception of energy, where it has almost none presence.

If you take out of the equation MBB, Monitor Deloitte is growing strong in the energy field.

Hope it helps

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Dec 17, 2017

Where do you place utilities (power/electricity) - in energy, or infrastructure?

Bain is usually strong in telcos - who is strongest in your market? How about aviation?

Where do you see BCG in the other verticals?

How about functional areas (apart from Bain doing Customer Experience and DD)?

What would explain Monitor Deloitte's growth? Was under the impression their European story wasn't as well built as their US story.

Interesting that McK is so broadly strong and then out of commission in energy.

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Dec 17, 2017

Bain does the bulk of all aviation and telco. McKinsey actually has a present oil & gas practice. I personally haven't seen Monitor Deloitte really but that's my experience. Maybe south Europe is different from the rest.

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Dec 18, 2017

In Spain, Bain is really really small, I would say that they are not even close to McK and BCG and that they are even behind OW and Monitor.

In telcos Mck is the top player with Strategy& and AT Kearney at a second level.

In relation to verticals:
- Mckinsey: Technology, Operations, CFin (created a PE line recently and is growing strong) and Risk
- BCG: PMI, Strategy, Operations. Currently investing a ton in analytics

Monitor Deloitte is a top player in Spain being really strong in banking (some partners came from MBB) and one of the top rainmaker in the TMT industry overall, was poached from Mckinsey a year ago or so. Deloitte is investing heavily in Monitor and for the most part, is giving results

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Dec 18, 2017

Super interesting, thanks.

I had no idea Monitor Deloitte was so big in Spain.

After another poster in Northern Europe described several firms being strong in covering banks/financial services, we came to the conclusion that the wallet is so big there is enough for several firms to build healthy banking practices. Is that also the case in Spain?

For BCG, what would you say their best industries are after Energy and Industrial Goods?

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Dec 18, 2017

OW and Bain seem to be around 150 each while Monitor appears sub 50. Slightly confused now, can you explain? Also, is OW not present in energy in Spain? That's probably their second group after FS for Northern Europe. Interesting to see the differences

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Dec 16, 2017

Northern Europe:

  • BCG: strong in banking, very strong in PMI, very strong in energy, strong in retail
  • Bain: Dominates the PE market. Strong in FS and very strong in TMT. Turnaround also strong together with McKinsey. Strong in Oil & Gas for the energy field specific.
  • McKinsey: strong in the bulk of them with as peaks their organization, healthcare and government practices.

Oliver Wyman does some pretty good energy work in Germany specifically I believe. Haven't seen Deloitte personally.

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Dec 18, 2017

Sounds like FS has the biggest wallet if all three are strong/very strong there, haha. Or are you differentiating between banks as a subset of FS and FS as a broader vertical?

Is there a very big difference in retail distributors (Lidl/Carrefour/Mercadona types) vs consumer goods (CPG/FMCG) or are they bunched together?

Are energy projects more travel-intensive (Nigeria, Gulf of Mexico, North Sea etc)?

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Dec 18, 2017

FS is a broader subset encompassing Asset Manager, insurance, banks, global payment systems etc. but yes, banks have large budgets and are big spenders usually it seems to me.

Sorry, don't know enough about retail to answer that but I'd assume so.

O&G generally yes. Depends on what your home office is though and what types of projects they do. For an m&a case you might be local whereas an ops case probably if not definitely requires you to fly out. Although there is activity in for instance the North Sea as well, so it doesn't have to be all the way to Mexico I think

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Dec 17, 2017

Actually I think OW has the best Energy practice in Europe. Out of MBB Mckinsey would be the safe bet.

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Dec 17, 2017

Interesting as I always associated OW with FS first (market leader); strong/competitive in aviation, retail and telcos; and just not that strong in other industries.

That said, I definitely like the firm, so always pleased to hear of good things for them.

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Dec 18, 2017

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