Laurence Buchanan named CEO of EY Seren

Source: Consultancy 2020-08-25

Big Four firm EY has announced Laurence Buchanan will take charge of its Seren subsidiary. EY purchased the digital design and innovation consultancy in 2015, as it sought to grow its global strategy consulting services offering.

Five years ago, the acquisition of Seren – which saw the firm rebranded as EY Seren – was the first of its kind for EY’s UK advisory practice, and was part of continued investment and growth in the UK and globally. At the time, EY was working towards plans to grow its global strategy consulting services to over 2,500 professionals by 2020, both organically and through continued acquisitions.

Since 2018, EY Seren was headed up by Michael Von der Geest, a TMT Partner who joined EY from Accenture in 2013. As of August 2020, however, EY Seren will be helmed by a new leader. London based Laurence Buchanan takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer, in the latest chapter of a consulting and technology career spanning two decades.

A Partner within EY's consulting business, Buchanan predominantly focuses on helping clients re-imagine growth via innovation and business transformation. This also sees him lead the firm’s Customer and Growth field of play across the EMEIA region – a role he will continue in alongside leading EY Seren.

Prior joining EY in 2012, Buchanan spent a three years with Capgemini, where he was a Principal in digital transformation, as well as Head of CRM & Social CRM. Earlier, he also spent around nine years with SAP, where he spent five years as EMEA Vice President for CRM. He was previously Head of CRM with Logica – now owned by CGI – and holds a Masters in Modern History from the University of Oxford.

Commenting on the role via LinkedIn, Buchanan said, “Very excited to start a new role today as CEO of EY Seren. There's never been a more important time for human-centered design innovation and technology as company's navigate the transformative age.”

Less than a week after going live, Buchanan’s post has already garnered more than 1,500 likes and comments from colleagues, friends and well-wishers. These included EY-Seren Partner Richard Sedley, who said he was “really looking forward to working together,” and Simon Constance, Partner, Alliances and Emerging Technology at EY, who stated, “There has been so much success working with colleagues in EY Seren.”

Ernst & Young

Laurence Buchanan named CEO of EY Seren

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