What happens now to Strategy& Middle East?!

Question

PwC‘s advisory services were apparently banned from Saudi Arabia‘s Public Investment Fund.

I suppose also Strategy& is included here? If so, what happens to their Middle East offices now? Wasn‘t it so that the PIF in Saudi Arabia accounted for 80% or so of their business? Will there be layoffs now, or could it even be that Strategy& Middle East offices shut down entirely?

How about new hires? Can one even think about applying at S& Middle East right now?

Answer 1

Hi there,

Adjusted my answer:

I did some further research, and it turns out Strategy& is affected by the PwC advisory ban from PIF. This likely has two major implications:

Redeployment of consultants: Similar to what McKinsey did after losing business in South Africa (they sent many consultants to Europe), Strategy& may shift consultants to other markets like the UAE or a more global scale.
Layoffs: With a sudden loss of work, cost-cutting measures are possible.

That said, hiring may still continue, although on a much smaller scale (due to constant turnover). If you're considering applying, I’d recommend networking directly with people at the firm to get a real-time perspective on how they’re handling the situation.

Wishing you all the best,
Florian

Answer 2

Hey there 😊,

After doing some research, here’s what I found regarding Strategy& Middle East following the recent PwC advisory ban by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund:

1️⃣ Impact on Strategy& Middle East

Since Strategy& is part of PwC, the ban likely affects their operations in Saudi Arabia, particularly if they were heavily reliant on PIF projects.
If PIF truly accounted for a significant portion of their revenue (e.g., 80%), this could disrupt their project pipeline and force them to shift focus to other clients and markets.

2️⃣ Will There Be Layoffs or Office Closures?

Layoffs are possible, especially if the firm cannot quickly replace lost revenue.
A full office shutdown is unlikely, but there could be internal restructuring or downsizing, depending on how well they adapt.
Strategy& might diversify into other sectors or focus more on clients outside of Saudi Arabia to compensate.

3️⃣ What About New Hires? Should You Apply?

Recruitment may slow down, especially for roles focused on Saudi government projects.
If you’re interested, apply, but also explore other consulting firms (MBB, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, Kearney, etc.), which may benefit from Strategy&'s challenges and take on more business.
Networking with current employees can give you real-time insights on whether they are still hiring and what the firm’s outlook is.

4️⃣ What Should You Do?

✅ Keep an eye on the situation—things may change over the next few months.
✅ Network with Strategy& consultants to see if hiring is still active.
✅ Consider alternative firms that might offer more stability.

If you’re set on Strategy&, applying is still an option, but it’s smart to hedge your bets with other opportunities. Let me know if you need any help navigating this!

Best, Alessa 😇

Answer 3

Initial Screening: The recruiter may be reviewing your CV along with others. This step can take time, depending on th... (read entire answer)

Initial Screening: The recruiter may be reviewing your CV along with others. This step can take time, depending on the number of applicants.Internal Discussions: Your CV might b... (read entire answer)