Xantus Consulting has been shortlisted in three categories of this year’s Management Consultancies Association (MCA) Awards to be announced in April 2011.

The annual Awards celebrate the best in a wide range of management consultancy activities. Xantus has been nominated for the Strategy Award and the Technology Award with its client United Utilities, while Associate Director James Cockroft is challenging for IT Consultant of the Year.

In 2009 United decided to sell Utility Solutions, its diverse non-regulated business portfolio worth some £0.5bn, requiring a complex programme of IT rationalisation while continuing 'business as usual' during the negotiation period.

With a highly centralised technology function, but no dedicated IT Department, Utility Solutions turned to Xantus to assist with the task of creating and implementing an IT strategy for the sale. This included uncoupling the IT systems, applications and data; re-negotiating supplier Service Level Agreements and providing direct support during negotiations with potential purchasers. Additional complexity was added by the need for total confidentiality throughout the preparation and negotiation period.

In November 2010, Utility Solutions was purchased successfully by six trade buyers, helped by Xantus' IT strategy and consulting support. So much value was placed on Xantus' work that its approach to IT separation, planning and governance was replicated and re-applied to other functional areas of United Utilities in preparation for the sale.

IT Consultant of the Year
Reaching the shortlist for IT Consultant of the Year recognises James Cockroft’s significant contribution and success with Xantus over more than five years. With a specialist focus on IT sourcing and technology architecture, James' work has also included project management, process development and benchmarking for clients as diverse as Aviva, Barclays, BirdsEye, Diageo, GlaxoSmithKline, National Australia Group and Unilever.

For CEO of Xantus Consulting, Steve Watmough, the nominations are a welcome boost for the company: "We often receive positive testimonials from our clients, but to be nominated for two such prestigious awards in the world of management consultancy means recognition from our peers and that is a significant accolade."

He continued: "We have our fingers crossed that both James and the Xantus Team can win their categories. They are up against very strong competition and I hope we can have a double celebration on the night."

The results will be announced at the MCA Awards Dinner in London on 7 April, 2011.