Sionic partners with Armstrong Wolfe on COO forums in Toronto

Financial services consultancy Sionic has entered a new strategic partnership with Armstrong Wolfe, a consultancy specializing in market intelligence for chief operating officers. Sionic’s Toronto office will become a formal Market Insight Partner in Armstrong’s quarterly COO forums.

In April 2019, NYC-based Sionic Advisors merged with London-based Catalyst Development, backed by investment from private equity firm Livingbridge. The two firms had a similar employee footprint (160 employees) and specialization, focusing on advisory offerings to the financial services industry – including strategy & operations, risk & regulatory compliance, technology, and change management.

The deal created one of the larger global financial services sector consultancies, with nine offices across North America, Europe, and Asia, and annual revenue of more than $60 million. A year earlier, Livingbridge had backed Catalyst’s acquisition of wealth management specialist Knadel.

In June 2019 the company rebranded to Sionic, combining the color palette of Catalyst’s former logo with the Sionic Advisors logo, while deleting “Advisors.” Craig Sher, the former CEO of Sionic Advisors, was also named the leader of the combined firm.

Today, the London-based consulting firm has more than 300 professionals across 12 offices in Europe, Asia, and North America, including a Canadian office in Toronto. The company plans to open additional new bases in the US, Europe, and Asia in the future.

Sionic has now announced it will partner with Armstrong Wolfe, providing insights during the consultancy’s quarterly COO forums in Toronto (Armstrong Wolfe also hosts forums in London, New York, Toronto, Hong Kong, and Singapore). The first event takes place today in Toronto.

Based in Cheltenham, UK, Armstrong Wolfe delivers services in executive search, career management, and market intelligence, focusing on the financial services industry. The firm’s COO forums promote cross-industry teamwork and dialogue, facilitate experience sharing, and offer insights into today’s thinking and solutions.

Chris Crowe, Sionic co-founder, managing partner and Canada head, said, “Meaningful insight comes from experience. Sionic understands our clients’ world from the inside: we have held these roles ourselves and we know in practice what it takes to be a leader in Global Banking & Markets.  We are therefore delighted to be partnering with Armstrong Wolfe who have an unparalleled reach into the COO community.”

Maurice Evlyn-Bufton, CEO of Armstrong Wolfe, added, “Armstrong Wolfe, with its exclusive Market Access, is delighted to welcome Sionic as its strategic partner in the region, offering Toronto’s COOs market colour, content, and context. We will work closely with Sionic’s leadership team in preparing and delivering a series of executive forums throughout 2020 and continue to seek ways to add value to the COO community.”