The shake-up, announced to partners over the weekend by George Shaheen, managing partner, signals its determination to rise above recent squabbles with its sister firm, Arthur Andersen, the accountants. Andersen Worldwide, the umbrella body for both firms, recently failed to win partners support for two board nominees for the post of chief executive because of turf wars between the firms and a wrangle over cost sharing.
Shaheen, a rejected nominee for chief executive, has gone on the offensive with his initiative, which is designed to preserve 25 per cent growth in Andersen Consulting, which had six-month revenues to February of $2.96 billion (1.77 billion) against $2.35 billion a year earlier.
While the initiative is separate from Andersen Worldwides strategic problems, it will be seen as a signal to clients that the organisations two units already operate as independent enterprises.
Andersen Worldwide has appointed an acting chief executive, Mr Robert Grafton. As a courtesy I brought him up to date in a 20-minute conversation, said Mr Shaheen. This announcement is at the discretion of myself and my leadership team. Unveiling a complex structure for the firm, which has 1,000 partners, he said: This is significantly more than a continuation - its a significant jolt to our people and how they feel about their organisation. From September 1 the firm will seek to combine management structures based on geography, the industrial sectors of clients and staff skills. The firms first global market unit - based on the communications industry - will be used as a template for developments. A second - based on business practice, management and enterprises -will also be created. Copyright Financial Times Limited 1997. All Rights Reserved.