Ep. 111 - Consulting M&A Trends for 2026 w/ Ramone Param
About this episode
Brent and Ramone Param discuss the M&A landscape for consulting firms in 2026, focusing on economic challenges and new value drivers.
In this episode of The Professional Services Pursuit, Brent is joined once again by Ramone Param, Managing Director at Kennedy M&A, to kick off a new series focused on mergers and acquisitions in professional services. Together, they reflect on the 2025 M&A landscape and look ahead to what 2026 holds for consulting firms navigating economic uncertainty, AI-driven disruption, and shifting buyer expectations. Ramone shares firsthand insights from the deal market, offering a clear view of where momentum is building, what buyers are prioritizing, and how firms can position themselves for stronger valuations in the year ahead. Key topics covered in this episode: What changed in 2025—and why optimism is returning in 2026 Where buyer demand is strongest The shift from buying headcount to acquiring AI-enabled consultants, proprietary data, and differentiated intellectual property New value drivers in consulting valuations Ramone’s outlook on a potential transformational, cross-functional deal that could redefine the professional services landscape You can find Ramone’s newsletter by visiting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramoneparam/ Learn more about Kennedy M&A here…
People in this episode
Host: Brent
Guest: Ramone Param
Topics covered
- Consulting M&A Trends
- Economic Uncertainty
- AI-driven Disruption
- Buyer Expectations
- Consulting Valuations
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Keywords
- M&A
- consulting
- economic uncertainty
- AI
- buyer demand
- valuations
- professional services
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Kennedy M&A, Kantata, Acast
Places: 2025, 2026
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