A global survey of 250 heads of sustainability conducted by independent analyst firm Verdantix finds that, in 2012, Ernst & Young leads in sustainability consulting with a brand preference score of 39%, relative to 37% for KPMG, 33% for Deloitte and 30% for PwC. Among the management consulting firms, Accenture achieved a score of 22% beating McKinsey on 21% and Bain on 15%.
“Global firms and entrepreneurial ventures are battling it out in the sustainability market to develop brand recognition in multiple countries and achieve brand preference over competitors” commented Patty Satkiewicz, Verdantix industry analyst and author of the report, Verdantix Global Sustainability Survey: Brands.
“The big four accounting firms – Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC – have secured the strongest brand preference in both the sustainability consulting and sustainability assurance markets. Since this is a market which requires deep pockets, the Big Four’s dominance already looks ominous for their competitors.”
KPMG achieved the highest brand preference score in the sustainability assurance market with 36%, just ahead of Ernst & Young with 35% of survey respondents indicating a positive brand perception. Bureau Veritas reached 22%, the highest brand preference for a supplier outside of the big four.
The survey is based on interviews with the most senior sustainability decision-makers in firms with annual revenues greater than $250m, across 21 industries in 13 countries.
