A.T. Kearney history

In 1926, James O. McKinsey started a firm of “accountants and management engineers” in Chicago.

When James McKinsey died in 1937, Tom Kearney was left as managing partner of the Chicago office, and the New York partners suggested splitting the firm in two.

The deal was finalized in 1939 and, at this time, Tom Kearney developed a distinct philosophy of management consulting.

When the New York McKinseys announced plans to open an office in Chicago in 1947, there was some reticence on the basis that having two firms with similar names would cause confusion.

By 1959, it had expanded to employ around 70 people.

In 1961, Tom Kearney retired and died early the following year.

1963: More than a mere name change, the naming of Kearney State College signified that the institution had become more than a teacher education institution, and that Kearney had a mission unique from the other three former Teachers Colleges.

In 1971, it began one of its most significant and enduring external partnerships, with the European Management Forum, now known as the World Economic Forum.

In 1972, two non-Americans were elected partner for the first time.

When Aurik joined in 1989, aged 28, the firm had 35 partners and annual revenues of around $100m – respectable enough but on the small side in the consulting industry.

1995 EDS acquires A.T. Kearney, Inc.

The first five years were judged a financial success despite some cultural friction during the integration, but when the dotcom bubble burst in 2000 both companies faced difficulties.

At the time—November 2005—the firm had 2,500 employees in 47 offices.

In 2016, the firm celebrated its 90th anniversary as one of the original consulting firms, while targeting new capabilities that would move the business forward.

In 2019, Kearney secured its leading place in a now rapidly evolving and technology-driven consulting arena by acquiring Cervello, an elite business analytics and data management firm.

The firm will have to find “fat double-digit year-on-year growth” right through to 2020 to stay on track, says Aurik. “Is this going to be easy? No.