Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has launched its first African office in Cape Town. The opening is marked at a time when organisations across South Africa and the broader region face increasing pressure to improve operational performance, strengthen resilience and deliver greater returns from existing infrastructure and capital-intensive assets.

Alvarez & Marsal (“A&M”) was founded over 40 years ago with built its reputation by working alongside management teams in some of the most challenging corporate environments, including landmark restructurings such as ENRON and Lehman Brothers, helping stakeholders navigate unprecedented financial and operational complexity. Today, with over 12,000 professionals across more than 40 countries and a growing presence in Africa, A&M works closely with leadership teams to deliver practical, results-oriented solutions.

The expansion reflects rising demand from corporates, investors and governments for hands-on support to address complex operational and financial challenges, particularly across energy, utilities, mining and other heavy industries. Compounding this, infrastructure reliability, cost pressures and global supply chain disruptions are placing strain on organisations, leaders are being challenged to move beyond strategy and deliver measurable results on the ground.

Bryan Marsal, Co-founder and Co-CEO of A&M, said: “Demand in Africa is growing for differentiated consulting services. Clients urgently need hands-on support to navigate complexity, and a results-driven performance model that unlocks value. We follow our clients, and we’re following that demand.”

A&M is known globally for its work on complex corporate restructurings and turnarounds, as well as for supporting organisations to improve performance, optimise assets and manage risk in high-pressure environments. The firm’s approach combines strategic insight with hands-on implementation, with teams working directly alongside clients to drive execution and accountability.

Marcos Ganut, Global Head of Infrastructure & Capital Projects at A&M, added that the firm’s entry into South Africa reflects a broader shift in client expectations. “Organisations are under increasing pressure to improve reliability, strengthen operational discipline and deliver financial performance, often simultaneously. What we’re seeing is a move away from traditional consulting models towards execution-led support that drives measurable impact. That’s where A&M is different - we don’t stop at strategy; we implement and stay accountable for results.”

The Cape Town office will be led by Managing Director Johan van der Westhuyzen, who brings global experience across heavy industry and consulting. He will work with clients across South Africa and the wider African region, focusing on improving performance, addressing margin pressure and unlocking value from existing operations.

van der Westhuyzen said: “Across Africa, organisations are increasingly under pressure to deliver more from existing operations. In many cases, the challenge is no longer strategy alone, but execution under pressure. The gap between intent and consistent frontline delivery is often where performance is lost.”

He added that global shifts - including the energy transition, supply chain realignment and growing demand for critical minerals - are reshaping industrial and infrastructure priorities across Africa. “South Africa sits at the intersection of many of these dynamics,” van der Westhuyzen explained. “The country has significant industrial capability and long-term potential, but organisations are also operating in an environment of increasing operational, infrastructure and financial complexity. Leaders in Africa are being challenged to improve reliability, execute with greater consistency and build more resilient operations in an increasingly volatile environment.”

Reflecting a broader shift in client demand across industrial sectors, A&M’s entry into South Africa builds on continued global growth of the firm’s Infrastructure & Capital Projects practice in recent years, including in the Gulf, Europe, India and North America.