Recognition Reflects Where Consulting Is Heading
H&Z has been recognised across five specialist consulting areas. Here’s a closer look at this year’s Handelsblatt rankings and the themes shaping today’s consulting market.
The 2026 Handelsblatt rankings recognise H&Z across five specialist consulting areas. Alongside the rankings, Handelsblatt’s accompanying editorial feature explores how AI is changing consulting business models, how clients are rethinking the value they expect from advisers, and why firms are experimenting with new ways of delivering and pricing their services.
TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING CONSULTING: EXPERTISE REMAINS THE DIFFERENTIATOR
The feature explores how the consulting profession is adapting to technological change. AI can support research, accelerate analysis and improve productivity, but it is also prompting consulting firms to rethink how they create and demonstrate value.
From H&Z’s perspective, these developments reinforce something more fundamental. Technology continues to evolve, but organisations still need partners who understand their industries, can navigate complexity and help implement lasting change.
That is reflected in this year’s rankings, which recognise consultancies for their expertise across specialist fields rather than through a single overall ranking.
CLIENTS ARE REDEFINING VALUE
The feature also highlights how client expectations are evolving. As organisations become more informed and technology takes on more routine tasks, consulting firms are under greater pressure to demonstrate tangible value and are exploring new commercial models in response.
For H&Z, that reinforces the importance of combining strategic thinking with practical implementation. Supporting clients from ambition to impact has always meant working alongside them to deliver measurable outcomes, not simply providing recommendations.
RECOGNITION ACROSS FIVE SPECIALIST AREAS
This year, H&Z was recognised in:
- Digitalisation
- Procurement & Sourcing
- Industrial Goods
- Strategy & Organisational Development
- Defence & Security
The wider H&Z Group was also recognised through its specialist consultancies.
aneon, the Group’s specialist in digital procurement transformation and procurement technology implementation, was recognised in the Procurement & Sourcing and Family-owned Businesses & Mid-Market categories.
Haselhorst Associates, the Group’s restructuring and turnaround consultancy, received recognition across Banking & Financial Services, Industrial Goods, Private Equity, Restructuring & Turnaround, and Strategy & Organisational Development.
Together, these complementary capabilities reflect the breadth of expertise available across the H&Z Group.
LOOKING AHEAD
Technology will continue to change how consulting is delivered, but the qualities organisations look for in a consulting partner are likely to remain consistent: specialist expertise, practical implementation and measurable business outcomes.
Our inclusion in this year’s rankings reflects the work our teams do alongside clients every day, helping turn ambition into impact through strategy, procurement, operations and implementation.
We would like to thank our clients for their continued trust, and our colleagues across the H&Z Group for the expertise and commitment behind this year’s recognition.
READ THE FULL HANDELSBLATT FEATURE
The full Handelsblatt feature explores the trends shaping today’s consulting market, from AI and changing business models to evolving client expectations and new approaches to creating value.
