Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), a global professional services firm, has appointed Will Rhode as Managing Director to lead its newly launched Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practice in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Rhode will spearhead the firm’s efforts to provide clients with comprehensive ESG services that integrate sustainability metrics into financial returns.
The launch of the ESG practice aligns with A&M’s strategy to deliver sustainability-linked transformations, helping clients in areas such as decarbonisation, supply chain risk, and energy management. The practice focuses on enhancing key areas like ESG due diligence, performance improvement, CFO advisory, and industrial decarbonisation, catering to sectors like financial services, energy management, and infrastructure funds.
Rhode brings over 15 years of ESG consulting experience and a strong track record in providing strategic advisory services across various industries. Prior to joining A&M, he was a Partner at EY, where he led the Financial Services Strategy & Transactions team and served as Global Private Equity ESG leader. At EY, Rhode worked with private equity firms and financial services clients on ESG due diligence and transformation strategies. Before EY, Rhode held a senior role at BCG, leading the Financial Services practice within Private Equity and Principal Investor for EMEA.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Rhode said, “I am excited to lead A&M’s ESG practice in EMEA. Our goal is to provide clients with high-impact ESG-related solutions that have direct links to enterprise value and EBITDA. By leveraging A&M’s multidisciplinary capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to support clients in their sustainability-linked transformations. We have already worked on some exciting projects, from carbon baselining to supply chain reviews, and have ambitious plans to continue to grow our team and expand our practice.”
Antonio Alvarez III, Managing Director and Leader of A&M’s European practice, emphasised the firm’s focus on operational change that creates both financial and societal value. He stated, “ESG has long been a focus for corporates across the world. The challenge is to deliver operational change that creates financial as well as societal value. Our practice helps clients navigate increasingly complex regulatory, compliance, and stakeholder requirements, while also seeking ways to integrate ESG into business transformation. There is a gap in the market for evidence-based advice focused on operational delivery and results, and Will’s exceptional knowledge and experience make him the right person to lead the offer with clients.”