
Is CRA International Inc. (NASDAQ:CRAI) ready to contribute to the consolidation underway in the business consulting sector? The firm on Tuesday
reshuffled its management, including promoting an internal executive to the top corporate development job.
Stepping into the dealmaker role is Chad Holmes, who has worked in the
corp dev department since joining CRA in 2004. The firm has executed only a
handful of acquisitions during that time, including the June purchase of strategy consulting firm Marakon Associates.
Deal activity among CRA's peers, however, has been brisk, with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Deloitte LLP among other business
services firms picking up assets from bankrupt BearingPoint Inc.
In addition to Holmes, the company also announced new executives as COO and human resources leader. The appointments come as Paul Maleh, who had been COO, prepares
to take over at the end of November for chief executive James Burrows, who announced he was stepping down. Burrows will become vice chairman.
With a new leadership team in place, perhaps CRA may jump into the busy M&A marketplace for business services firms. -
Suzanne Stevens
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