A.T. Kearney in the news — Middle East

Can Hypermarkets Conqure India
Dubai, 1 August 2011
A.T. Kearney the global management consultancy that publishes the annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), has recently issued a study on how retailers can tackle India’s US$435 billion market. Given the sheer size of the Indian retail market it is no surprise that many Middle East retailers, most recently Lulu, have announced that they are looking to expand retail operations to India.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia Rank High in Global Retail Development Index
Dubai, 7 June 2011
A.T. Kearney today released its 2011 index of top ranked emerging markets for global retail expansion.  In the 10th annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), seven countries in the MENA region make it into the top 20. Kuwait on 5th place remains the Middle East’s highest ranking country. Globally South American countries occupy the top three positions, China slips to 6th place and India drops to 4th place in terms of attractiveness for retail expansion.

Promoting CEOs from Within Pays, says A.T. Kearny
30 May 2011
(1988-2007) shows that businesses that exclusively promote CEOs from within the organization outperform companies that recruit CEOs from outside the organization. In the international study 36 companies outperformed others across seven measurable metrics: return on assets, equity and investment, revenue and earnings growth, earnings per share (EPS) growth and stock-price appreciation according to A.T. Kearney, a global management consultancy.

CHIMEA, the Petrochemical Powerhouse
22 November 2010
The shores that border the Indian Ocean form one of the world’s most significant trading blocks. Encompassing the global growth engines of China and India, the wealth of the Middle East and the emerging potential of Africa, this region is called CHIMEA (China, India, Middle East and Africa). CHIMEA is not a new construct—the links between the member states are strong and history has wedded them through trade across the Indian Ocean. Their future potential economic power and importance for the petrochemical industry cannot be denied, according to A.T. Kearney, one of the world’s leading management consulting firms, who, together with the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), just released their whitepaper on the subject.

GCC Insurance Market
7 September 2010
After five years of tremendous growth and the evolution of regulation, now is the time of transition for the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) insurance market. Before the global downturn, reported annual growth of premiums of over 20 percent, were not unheard of and the market had impetus. But like many industries, GCC insurers need to undergo a transformation to succeed in a more competitive market post global crisis according to A.T. Kearney, one of the world’s leading management consulting firms.

Affordable Housing – A GCC market worth USD 125 million annually
30 June 2010
A.T. Kearney sees affordable housing as the new frontier for the MENA real estate industry. The affordable housing market in the MENA region is estimated to be worth as much as 125 million annually, according to A.T. Kearney. In Saudi Arabia alone, it is estimated that there is an annual shortage of 150,000 units and in Egypt of 280,000 units.

New A.T. Kearney Global Retail Study Finds Increased Management Presence in Stores Increases Performance
28 June 2010
The Achieving Excellence in Retail Operations (AERO) Study, shows that when field and regional managers spend more than 75 percent of their time in the stores employee turnover falls by 10 percent and stores are more likely to conform to initiatives.

Global Retail Development Index identifies MENA as growth hot spot for international and regional retailers
22 June 2010
According to the 9th annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) study from management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region exhibits the most exciting retail growth opportunities today for international retailers.

Investment banking – PE is not enough!
16 June 2010
The top five GCC investment banks recorded losses in 2009 and challenging times are continuing for the sector. A.T. Kearney, says there is an opportunity for GCC investment banks to revisit their current business models and redesign their long-term strategies, as the GCC’s market for investment banking offers significant long-term potential.

Regional Real Estate Industry is Ripe for M&A, says A.T. Kearney
8 June 2010
Many developers emerge more careful in their expansion strategies after the economic crisis. However, companies that look to take advantage of the current situation by orchestrating “game changing” initiatives; such as mergers and acquisitions are best positioned to emerge as winners when the upswing arrives. Several MENA real estate developers are, according to A.T. Kearney, favorably positioned to use acquisitions as a lever for future growth and competitiveness.

FDI into Middle East Benefits SMEs
18 May 2010
In the two years since A.T. Kearney released its last Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index, the global economy has faced unprecedented turmoil—a housing market collapse, a banking system teetering on the edge, rising unemployment and falling sales across almost all industries. While conditions have improved, senior executives at the world’s largest companies remain wary of investing during the current climate and few expect a full global turnaround before 2011. However in the region, A.T. Kearney has identified a more positive FDI outlook which will benefit the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and innovators.

Structural Changes Needed in GCC Water Sector
2 May 2010
The water sector in the GCC could save up to 40 percent of its cost through structural improvements and operational excellence, according to A.T. Kearney. Considering the continuous annual demand growth of 3 to 4 percent and the significant state subsidies, addressing these options could represent major savings for the sector.

Louis Besland appointed Partner and Vice President, A.T. Kearney Middle East
25 April 2010
Louis Besland, a recognized international thought leader in strategy development in the energy and chemicals sector, has been appointed Partner and Vice President of A. T. Kearney Middle East based operations and will lead the regional energy practice of the Middle East operations.

Opportunity for GCC Telecom Operators to improve their bottom line with more than 10 per cent
12 April 2010
A.T. Kearney has identified that regional telecom operators may reap significant benefits by implementing cost and CapEx optimisation programs. It is estimated that there is potential of more than 10per cent improvement compared to the world’s best-in-class telecom operators and A.T. Kearney’s Global Cost and Performance Benchmark initiative.

Private Public Partnerships Have Merit in the GCC according to A.T. Kearney
22 March 2010
As GCC countries look to expand and fast track economic development, governments and industries are consistently driven to identify effective ways to catalyze and finance this progress. A.T. Kearney, one of the world’s leading management consulting firms says structured correctly Private-Public Partnerships can be utilized to unlock value typically hidden in assets, benefiting all key stakeholders; citizens, asset owners and operators.

Strategic Sourcing Savings for Large Enterprises are There for the Taking
7 March 2010
A.T. Kearney has examined ways for major GCC companies to save on spend by creating transparency and reviewing what is bought, to maximize their purchasing power. Their research shows that at a time when conglomerates and large enterprises are looking to optimize budgets, strategic purchasing can lead to significant savings. Internationally,A.T. Kearney says an estimated AED 8.5bn can be saved by GCC Conglomerates.

What’s the road ahead for the GCC Banking Sector post Crisis?
28 February 2010
A.T. Kearney, one of the world’s leading management consulting firms in the financial industry, says the crisis has provided GCC banks with the impetus to take a big step on the road to maturity and consider operational excellence given the current scenario of Non Performing Loans (NPL’s) and deteriorating asset quality.

Dan Starta appointed as Managing Director of A.T. Kearney Middle East
21 February 2010
Dan Starta, a dedicated member of the leadership team of A.T. Kearney Middle East, has been appointed as Managing Director of the Middle East operations. A.T. Kearney Middle East operations span all GCC as well as other Middle East countries and is operated out of offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Recovering Real Estate Markets
21 December 2009
A.T. Kearney, a leading global strategic consulting firm, recently published its 2010 Real Estate Global Opportunity Index. The Real Estate Global Opportunity Index is designed to help property developers decide where to expand outside of familiar markets. Focused on emerging markets, the Index weighs real estate development potential, based on construction spending and growth, and risk avoidance, a combination of a country’s risk and the ease of doing business there.

A.T. Kearney says Solar Power a Key Chance for MENA Countries to Stay in the Energy Game and Create 100,000 Jobs
14 December 2009
A.T. Kearney, the global management consulting firm expects that solar power will become cost competitive in the near future as rising costs for oil and gas make renewable energy sources increasingly attractive. A.T. Kearney believes that when looking at energy generation cost and job creation opportunities MENA countries should invest in a solar power energy industry.

Creating a world class sustainable healthcare sector in the GCC
16 November 2009
As GCC countries continue to develop world class healthcare systems, they must avoid pitfalls of the developed markets, according to A.T Kearney, a global strategic management consulting firm.

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