EY has acquired specialist customer consultancy Blackdot Consulting Ltd (Blackdot) to strengthen EY transformation, customer and growth capabilities.

The acquisition will assist EY teams in serving clients to develop and implement customer-centric growth strategies, including design, user experience, digitization, omni-channel, go-to-market and commercialization.

Founded in Sydney Australia in 2001 by Marty Nicholas, Blackdot provides strategy design and implementation services to its clients across Australia, the UK, Singapore and Canada.

Benoit Laclau,  managing partner for consulting UK & Ireland at EY, said: “The acquisition and significant investment involved shows the commitment to supporting new and existing EY clients across the UK and the world. We look forward to welcoming the Blackdot team and clients to the EY organization at what is an exciting period of ambitious growth and development.”

Alison Kay, managing partner for client service UK & Ireland at EY, said: “The acquisition will support EY growth in the UK and Ireland, enhancing the range of skills and capabilities we provide to clients. Blackdot is a great addition to EY consulting teams’ capabilities and we look forward to working with them.”

Founder and CEO Marty Nicholas will join EY Australia and will be based in Sydney, while 64 Blackdot staff will join other EY member firms around the globe including 18 people based in the UK.

Mark Taylor, managing director of Blackdot EMEA, who will join EY in the UK, added: “Combining the EY technology, data, digital and people advisory capabilities with the customer and growth expertise of Blackdot will set us up to better help clients transform and meet their ever-changing customer expectations. We look forward to working with our EY colleagues, both here in the UK and around the world. While this is a huge milestone for everyone who’s contributed to the growth of Blackdot over many years, it really does feel like the end of one great chapter and the beginning of another.”