Inhouse Consulting as an Exit Path: Growth Continued Despite Market Uncertainty

According to my recent poll, 75% of respondents are targeting roles in Strategy, Corporate Development, and M&A—a testament to the appeal of internal strategic roles. Over the past decades, more corporations have consolidated these functions into dedicated inhouse consulting teams—a trend particularly prominent in Germany, where major companies have built strong internal advisory units to drive corporate transformation.

Continued Growth Amid Market Uncertainty

While some firms are downsizing their inhouse consulting divisions, many others are expanding. For instance, Bayer AG recently announced the closure of their 200-person inhouse consulting unit, signaling a shift in their corporate strategy. However, data shows that numerous other inhouse consulting firms are thriving, with significant headcount growth over the past two years.

As the chart indicates:

• Lufthansa Consulting has seen a 42% increase in headcount since January 2023, leading the trend.

• Volkswagen Group Consulting and Thyssenkrupp Management Consulting have grown by 23% and 21%, respectively.

• Other notable expansions include E.ON Inhouse Consulting (16%), Maersk Management Consulting (15%), and Commerz Business Consulting (13%).

• DHL Consulting also experienced moderate growth at 8%, while DB Management Consulting showed only a marginal increase of 1%.

Key Questions for Discussion

This growth trend raises some important strategic questions:

• Are inhouse consultancies expanding in line with corporate growth, or is this primarily about managing increasing internal consulting demand?

• Are companies genuinely reducing their external consulting spend, or are inhouse consulting teams collaborating more closely with external consultancies to drive transformation?

• How do inhouse consulting roles compare to traditional consulting in terms of career growth, compensation, and long-term impact within organizations?

The Future of Inhouse Consulting

Despite economic uncertainties, inhouse consulting remains a highly viable career path, providing consultants with deep industry exposure, direct impact on corporate strategy, and long-term career stability. The significant growth across multiple firms suggests that organizations continue to see value in maintaining internal advisory capabilities.

As corporate strategy continues to evolve, inhouse consulting will likely play an even more critical role in shaping business decisions and driving transformation from within.

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