AlixPartners

AlixPartners was pleased once again to join The Sunday Times for its Annual Business Party, an evening which is widely recognised as a highlight of UK business leaders' calendars. The event has become a valuable moment each year to connect, exchange perspectives and reflect on the forces influencing the markets we all operate in. Speaking alongside Sunday Times editor Ben Taylor and The Right Honourable Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, our Executive Chairman, Simon Freakley shared his views on the accelerating pace of disruption and the opportunities it creates for organisations prepared to act decisively. He highlighted that many of the UK’s most successful companies are not simply navigating volatility, but in fact using it as a catalyst for growth. Our long-established partnership with the Sunday Times and their commitment to the UK business community continue to provide a platform for meaningful dialogue at a time when clarity, resilience and adaptability matter more than ever.

Ben Cadd’s reason for joining the Thames Valley Police was simple. “I wanted to do something that felt like it mattered and had value. Frankly, I wanted to do something that helped people,” he said. As a police officer on the front lines, he was able to do just that. From handling domestic disputes, to tackling local crime, and even helping an elderly lady in a fraud case, Ben was committed to making a difference. Within six years, he made his way up the ranks to Sergeant. Alongside his experience in the field was Ben’s passion and interest in digital forensics. So, when he got the opportunity to lead the force’s first-ever Digital Investigation and Intelligence Team, he jumped at the chance—bringing a people-first approach to his tech-driven role. “Early in my career I remember being told many times that we should always treat the people we were dealing with as if they were our own family. We wanted people to have positive and helpful experiences with the police,” Ben explained. “In my job now, I don’t get that feeling in the same way, but I am still helping people.” A Vice President in our eDiscovery practice, Ben works in forensic data collection. You may not expect it, but he travels often; he’s collected data in Africa, Indonesia, and different parts of Europe, this year alone. “You’re not just at a desk writing code. There’s a people aspect to it where you have to explain technical things to non-technical people,” he said. “A big part of the forensic collection process is making somebody feel comfortable, trust in the process and in us.” That ability to connect with others is what Ben, a natural introvert, prides himself on. It’s a skill that he started developing in the police force that he’s now honed to better serve our clients and empower his colleagues. Because at the end of the day you’ve got to be there for your people, especially when it really matters. “People have thoughts and feelings and they’re going to have days where they’re not going to be the best versions of themselves,” Ben said. “You’ve got to be supportive of that and make sure that we’re looking after one another.”

Our West Coast AlixAlumni came together to celebrate connection and community over two memorable evenings in LA and the Bay Area. Swipe to see the highlights!

Throughout October, we came together to honor UK Black History Month. This year’s theme, Standing Firm in Power and Pride, guided our series of events that encouraged colleagues, clients, and guests to learn and connect. Here’s a glimpse at what we were up to: 🏆 We sponsored the Black British Business Awards and supported their mission to create a more equitable and inclusive workforce. 🥫 We hosted a food drive and collected more than 20 boxes of goods to donate toward City Harvest. The London-based organization helps tackle food insecurity across the United Kingdom. 🎞️ We screened “Love Languages”, a short film by AlixAlumni Jason Osbourne about mental health, community, and love from the perspectives of six Black British men. 🗣️ Our showcase panel featured four powerhouses within the industry: Reggie Van Lee (AlixPartners), Landé Belo (Kantar), Stuart Mason (Belmond), and Eric Collins (Impact X Capital Partners). We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who took part of our events and made this month so meaningful! Special thanks to our UK BHM organizing committee: Wendy Heath, Jemma Bello, Bohlale Mashigo, Akwasi O., and our PMD Sponsor, Mark Endemaño. As we continue to reflect on these moments, we remain committed to building an inclusive culture where every voice is heard, celebrated, and empowered every day of the year.

Our Milan AlixAlumni community recently reconnected over an evening of shared stories, meaningful updates, and genuine camaraderie. These gatherings remind us how special it is to stay in touch with the colleagues who have shaped our journey.    Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night so memorable!

Catherine Martinez has yearned for adventure as long as she can remember. It’s one of the many reasons she joined the U.S. Army at 18 years old. “There was an unspoken understanding to be brave enough to do something and not second guess yourself,” she said. “I don’t think at the time I realized how scary that could be, to join and put your life on the line. I’m very grateful for my experience.” Catherine served as a Telecommunications Engineer and was stationed in Wonju-si, South Korea. There, she played an integral role in safeguarding and distributing top secret messages, modernizing military software, and improving the efficiency of the telecommunications facility. After exiting the military, she moved back to the U.S. and took jobs at the CIA, National Security Agency, the Pentagon, and a handful of other companies. But last year, she was ready for a new challenge and AlixPartners seemed like the perfect fit. As a Senior Vice President in our IT department, Catherine leads our disaster recovery program and helps design strategies to ensure that we’ll never need to use it. “I really believe in documentation, cross-training, collaborating and bringing everyone together. In my line of work, if you have a single point of weakness, you’re liable to fail. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen,” she said. Catherine loves what she does from 9 to 5, but her 5 to 9 is her true passion. For more than 20 years, she’s served on the board of the Detroit City Chess Club, an organization that helps Metro Detroit children think creatively, excel academically, and become leaders through the game of chess. “We’re the largest melanated chess organization in the United States and I’m super proud of that,” she said. “Not every kid is athletic, or musical, or artistic, but every kid can think. It’s so important that we teach them critical life skills that they can expand upon.” The kids, affectionately called ‘champions’ by Catherine, compete locally and nationally. Over the years, they’ve won—a lot. While it’s not all about winning, there is something that keeps Catherine coming back: her commitment to service, which encompasses her country and her community. “We have parents and former champions, who are now in college, that come back to teach. There’s a village mentality that we’re raising these kids together. It’s about family, fellowship, and legacy,” she said.

“I believe that whatever comes your way, just say yes and then figure out how to do it.” Himabindu Juttu, now a VP in AlixPartners' Automotive & Industrial group, was always curious about how things worked. As a teenager and young adult, she invented things made of mechanical parts and motors, experimented with a “water car” that used Brown’s gas as a potential supplemental fuel source, and built a buggy for a baja race. She credits her family with getting her interested in cars and fostering her growth mindset. After graduating from university, she became a mechanical engineer, first at Mahindra and Mahindra and then at General Motors. Next, she wanted to learn more about the business decisions that drove the strategy of her engineering team and decided to go to business school. She met AlixPartners at the Forté Foundation's MBA Leadership Conference the summer before starting her MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. “That initial conversation stood out to me—if felt authentic,” she said. “I could immediately see how my engineering and problem-solving background could translate here.” She joined AlixPartners as a summer intern in 2022 and then full-time in 2023, where she gets to use the entirety of her engineering skill set. But it’s her daily interactions with her clients and colleagues that is driving her growth. “I’m constantly surrounded by talented, smart people that challenge me. Every day I learn something new just by being in the same room and working through problems with my teammates. That’s the level I want to be at with my career, the speed I want to grow at, and I am getting that here.” Read more about Hima and her career journey here: https://lnkd.in/eRCC7yJu #lifeatalixpartners

Disruption is accelerating across every industry, demanding more from leaders and their teams than ever before. That’s why companies—like Oracle, Comcast, and Spotify—are turning to co-CEOs to tackle complexity and broaden leadership bandwidth. We, of course, couldn’t agree more. AlixPartners has experienced these benefits firsthand with David Garfield and Rob Hornby as co-CEOs since February, delivering greater responsiveness, broader coverage, and deeply complementary expertise in international operations, growth and transformation, and artificial intelligence. Their partnership exemplifies how we work—with shared purpose, teamwork, and ­­unrelenting focus on results to help clients navigate this disrupted environment and drive results. For a direct look at how co-CEO leadership works in action, read the recent Fortune article: https://lnkd.in/e7cqz57E

We recently brought our Dallas AlixAlumni community together for an evening of conversation and connection. It was a pleasure to reflect on our time together and learn about our alumni's new ventures. Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Our Executive Chairman, Simon Freakley, recently sat down with Angela F. Williams, JD, M.Div, President & CEO of United Way Worldwide, for a wide-ranging and inspiring conversation. From her remarkable career journey to her forthcoming book, to how leaders can turn disruption into opportunity—it’s a discussion you don’t want to miss.   Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/eSz_fA9V