Latest news with #BigFour
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Why AI is primed to be a huge benefit — and a major liability — for consulting's Big Four
Welcome back to our Sunday edition, where we round up some of our top stories and take you inside our newsroom. Elon Musk's foray into politics was the final straw for Mahican Gielen. She traded in her beloved Model 3 for a BYD Sealion 7 Excellence. She said she's overall happy with her new purchase, but there are a few Tesla features she misses. There's a CEO succession crisis brewing. The death of sneaky fees. Apple is the worst-performing Mag 7 stock in 2025, but it could be a good time to buy. Former Target superfans shared with BI why they don't love the retailer anymore. But first: AI meets the consulting giants. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here. This week's dispatch Consulting disruption If you've read BI lately, you know AI is proving to be an asset and a risk for the consulting industry. Several months ago, we asked Polly Thompson in London to take on coverage of the the Big Four: Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG. She immediately zoned in on this tech and how it is poised to help — and disrupt — these massive firms. I chatted with Polly to find out more. Polly, how do you size up AI adoption inside the Big Four? Is it more hype and hope, or embrace and happening? Big Four firms are resting their futures on AI and have poured billions into developing in-house solutions. Employees don't have much choice but to embrace it — the messaging is to learn AI or get left behind — and their Fortune 500 clients will be following their lead. We'll see how quickly their efforts generate returns. Tell us more about how AI is both an opportunity and, in some ways, an existential threat. Consultants specialize in guiding companies through transformations, which means AI presents plenty of opportunities for the Big Four. They face a balancing act between meeting that demand and handling the massive upheaval that AI will bring to their operating models, leadership structures, and job roles. What have you been learning about smaller consulting firms challenging the bigger rivals? Midsize firms are in a sweet spot right now. Consultants increasingly are expected to become specialized and offer deep sector expertise — a demand many of these firms already fill. AI is also poised to help boost their productivity and widen their reach without the need to invest in a vast workforce. They see this as their opportune moment. That said, the midsize firms I've spoken to aren't aiming to be the next Big Four. What are the other top-of-mind topics in your coverage? I want to dig into how these industry shake-ups affect employees at every level of the chain. How should firms train junior employees as AI takes on more? Why are some execs shunning high-paid partnerships? Is there a tech talent war coming at the Big Four? If anyone wants to reach out to me about those questions, email pthompson@ Succession IRL The number of CEO changes for S&P 500 companies is on pace to reach 14.8% this year. With turnover up, BI spoke to corporate observers about how the search for new leaders is getting messy. Poor succession planning, job-hopping, and cuts to middle management are damaging the pipeline. Despite the headache, companies aren't settling, either. " The musical chairs is broken." RIP, hidden fees On May 12, a bipartisan-supported FTC rule cracking down on unfair and deceptive fees went into effect. You can now behold the glory of all-in pricing when you peruse Airbnb, Ticketmaster, or StubHub. Some companies are trumpeting the news, even though showing costs up front wasn't their idea. BI's Emily Stewart took the new rule for a spin. She said it's pretty awesome. Apple's tough year The iPhone maker is the worst-performing Magnificent 7 stock in 2025, with shares down 20% year-to-date. One reason for the decline is the trade war, since most iPhones are assembled in China. President Donald Trump even singled out the tech giant over the issue. Regardless, many Wall Street analysts and investors remain optimistic about Apple's future. To buy — or not to buy — the dip. Veering off-Target Target used to have a dedicated following of customers that treated shopping there as more of a pastime than an errand. In 2025, that's all changed. The retailer's sales, foot traffic, and popularity have plummeted thanks to a DEI messaging fumble, declining in-store experience, and greater industry-wide headwinds. Why former fans are disillusioned. This week's quote: "Employee surveys mostly seem like a way for the executive suite to pat themselves on the back." — Nick Gaudio, creative director at chatbot startup Manychat, on the rise of employee satisfaction surveys. Getting divorced is even harder for millennials than it was for boomers. The TACO trade is the new Trump trade. Here's what to know about the meme ruling the stock market. Middle managers, beware: The Great Flattening layoff trend has moved beyond Big Tech and into retailers like Walmart. General Catalyst's Hemant Taneja is trying to redefine venture capital — and baffling the industry. What did tech CEOs get for pivoting toward Trump? Amazon's sprawling warehouse robot factories offer a glimpse into modern US manufacturing. Anthropic CEO says AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs. Meta is working on plans to open retail stores, internal communication shows. The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Alcaraz finds his personal shade of genius
New Delhi: Just a few days ago, the French Open and tennis fans all over the world were transported back to the era of the Big Four; an era when Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray ruled the courts with charm, composure and class. Of the four, only Djokovic is still going strong. The rest have bid adieu to the sport. But we remember their every move mainly because of their consistency. Year after year, week after week, they found a way to excel. The key to that was knowing how to conserve their energy in the first week of the Grand Slam – they would all invariably engage cruise mode. Rarely, if ever, did they falter. Now, if anyone harbours dreams of matching their feats, one can't help but compare. That is where Carlos Alcaraz time and again shows that he is very much his own man. The No.2 seed beat the dangerous Fabian Marozsan 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier in the second round on Wednesday but the manner of his victory was an expression of perhaps his youth. The 22-year-old breezed through the first set in quick time but then found an inspired Marozsán on the other side of the net in the second. The Hungarian upped his level while Alcaraz dipped a bit... just a bit. But that is what makes watching any Alcaraz match such an event – he tends to blow hot, blow cold way more than the Big Four, but when he gets it right, he is a sight to behold. In his on-court interview with Mats Wilander after the win, Alcaraz was asked if he is having fun every time he plays. 'Most of the time (laughs). Sometimes, it's difficult to have fun on the court, you know, I had to suffer. It depends on the opponent as well,' the Spaniard said. 'But most of the time, I'm trying to not think about anything else but enjoying playing, enjoying being on these kind of courts. 'The Philippe-Chatrier is a really beautiful court, so I have to enjoy once I step on the court. Just trying to show good tennis, trying to make the people happy to watch my matches as well. That's the way I enjoy playing tennis.' The showmanship was evident in two shots around the net post, in the way he moved around the court and how he warmed up to the crowd. When the Spaniard is firing on all cylinders, you just have to hope he runs out of fuel. There is no matching him at that point. The 6-1, 6-2 scoreline in the last two sets might lead one to believe that Marozsán played poorly, but it was all Alcaraz – taking the risks and making it work. The fearlessness of his play is a departure from the cold tactical efficiency of the Big Four but it is helping him amass a Grand Slam record others would envy. '(I am) just really proud about refresh(ing) my mind and I started the third set really, really well and ended up playing really great two last sets,' Alcaraz said. 'I didn't feel like I lost the focus at all. He just played much better. So, I just think today I maintain my level during the whole match. But in the second set, he reached just much better level than I did.' Only four players have a better win percentage than Alcaraz (64-12, 84%) in Grand Slams – Bjorn Borg (141–17, 89.2%), Djokovic (383–52, 88%), Nadal (314–44, 87.7%) and Federer (369–60 (86%). It's still early days in his career but one would imagine he would only get better from this point on. For now, though, Alcaraz is aiming to become the first man to successfully defend the title in Paris since Rafael Nadal in 2019-20. He will next play Damir Dzumhur. His 29-2 record on clay since May 2024 doesn't make him as feared as Nadal yet, but it certainly shows that the Alcaraz way is the right one too. And we don't need to tell him that. He knows.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer-Novak Djokovic rivalry set for fresh twist as comeback looms for Spaniard
Rafael Nadal may have admitted that he hasn't picked up the racquet since he retired from professional tennis last November, but a comeback looms for the Spaniard, as rumour has it he is likely to turn to the courts to add a fresh twist to his long-standing rivalry with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. It was Toni Nadal, Rafa's uncle and former coach, who hinted that the 38-year-old could soon be seen in action playing exhibition matches opposite Federer and even Djokovic, who recently claimed ahead of the start of the French Open that his career too is approaching an end. "I imagine he'd like to do some exhibitions with Federer soon, to give back a little of everything tennis has given him and what tennis has meant to him," Toni told CLAY and RG Media. 'It would be very special for people to see the three of them playing again. And yes, I think they'll have to do something, because I suppose people will be motivated to see them play later on.' Although admitting that it wasn't Rafa himself who came up with the idea of playing exhibition matches, but Toni outlined the reason why it remains a strong possibility. "I think I've been close enough to him to know him a little and know that he would be excited to play with Federer. Tennis has been a big part of his life, it's meant a big part to him, and you don't just erase it from one day to the next. Federer and Djokovic, who forged a two-decade-long rivalry with Nadal, one that defined the golden age in men's tennis, were both present in Paris on Sunday for the 22-time Grand Slam winner's farewell ceremony on the Court Philippe Chatrier. Andy Murray, together with whom they formed the Big Four, was also present. Toni reckoned 2026 could be the year for Nadal's return to the court, despite his nephew expecting the birth of his second child this year, and that he had given up on tennis because of his body. "After these months away from the courts, I think at some point he'll want to get back to training and feel like he's playing the ball well. I'm convinced that soon, quite soon, he'll be back playing," he added. A source from the Italian Tennis Federation (ITF) told CLAY that the organisers of the Italian Open are planning a tribute ceremony for Nadal next year. He had won the Rome Masters 10 times in his career. "In 2024, Nadal knew there was a tribute planned, but he didn't want to do it. In 2026, it would be logical for us to pay tribute to him, and it's clear that Paris has raised the bar significantly. The most important thing will be to do something he likes."
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Richard Gasquet's last stand: The French prodigy who fought through tennis's golden age
The unrelenting domination of the Big Four (Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray) in men's tennis over the last two decades, changed the script for many emerging talents to mere could-haves. Juan Martin Del Potro, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic did manage to sneak a Grand Slam win each during their "brutal" reign. But there was one other, that failed to make the summit. He was the only other player in history, barring Murray, Djokovic and Nadal, to have 600-plus wins on the ATP tour, but paid the price of belonging to the 'golden age of tennis.' In July 1995, Corinne Dubreuil, then a photographer for France's Tennis Magazine, was covering a junior tournament in Blois when she was urged to visit one of the side courts. There, a flamboyant nine-year-old with a stunning one-handed backhand turned heads — it was Richard Gasquet. Months later, Dubreuil featured him on the cover of the February 1996 issue of Tennis Magazine, showcasing that elegant one-hander. The headline read: 'Le champion que la France attend?' (The champion France is waiting for?) Gasquet's breakthrough came in 2005. Riding a 10-match winning streak, he stormed into his first Masters semifinal in Monte Carlo, where he stunned world No. 1 Roger Federer with a blazing down-the-line backhand winner to seal the win — a shot still replayed in tennis highlight reels. But that dream run ended at the hands of another prodigy having his own breakthrough season: Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard beat Gasquet in the semis, then again a month later in the French Open third round en route to his first Slam title. Nadal would go on to win 13 more Roland Garros crowns, taking his Slam tally to 22 and collecting 36 Masters titles. He also won all of his remaining 16 matches against Gasquet. The Frenchman, meanwhile, would win 16 career ATP titles — none above the 250 level. It was never a question of talent or effort; as Gasquet once put it, it was simply bad luck. He did reach a career-high ranking of No. 7 and made three Slam semifinals — Wimbledon (2007, 2015) and the US Open (2013) — along with three Masters 1000 finals. But each time he made a deep run, a member of the Big Four stood in his way. Federer beat him at Wimbledon in 2007 and in two Masters finals. Djokovic ousted him at Wimbledon in 2015 and in another Toronto final. Nadal overpowered him in straight sets at the 2013 US Open. "I think there was perhaps a chance to do something amazing before this era, between 1998 and 2005 — the bar wasn't so high back then," Gasquet reflected recently in an interview with Roland Garros. "Juan Martin Del Potro, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic managed to win a Grand Slam since the rise of the Big Four, but it was tough to make your mark. It was brutal. But it has been an incredible era — the golden age of tennis. There were the Big Four, and four top players from France — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Gaël Monfils, and myself. I think the public enjoyed that." Despite falling short of tennis' biggest prizes, Gasquet's résumé is impressive. He has 610 ATP match wins to his name. One of his proudest moments came in the 2017 Davis Cup, when he teamed up with Pierre-Hugues Herbert to deliver a crucial doubles victory, helping France beat Belgium 2-1. It has been an emotional start to the 2025 French Open. On opening day, Court Philippe Chatrier was brought to tears as organisers staged a one-hour farewell ceremony for Rafael Nadal. A day later, Caroline Garcia bid farewell to professional tennis after a tearful first-round exit. But while emotions ran high, fans kept theirs in check for one more goodbye — Gasquet's. The 37-year-old announced last month that Roland Garros would mark his final appearance as a professional player. And on Tuesday, he ensured the farewell would have to wait, defeating compatriot Terence Atmane in four sets. Next, Gasquet faces world No. 1 and reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the second round — a final challenge worthy of his enduring legacy.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Fab Four reunion makes Novak Djokovic reflect on his ‘end of the road'
Novak Djokovic, however, also said that he is 'proud' that he's still playing as he aims to win the French Open 2025. read more Shortly before the time came to step onto court Philippe Chatrier with tennis veterans Roger Federer and Andy Murray to pay tribute to the recently retired Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic felt he owed much of his success to his former rivals. The Big Four were together for a fleeting reunion but while neither Federer, Murray nor Nadal will be playing at the French Open, former world number one Djokovic, who has a record 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, will be in first-round action at Roland Garros on Tuesday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Big Four rivals my biggest motivation' 'I was thinking about my end of the road as well last night or yesterday when we were watching Rafa having his speech, particularly those moments when we were in the back room, the three of us, and I was just talking to Federer and Murray about their goodbyes and reminiscing and reflecting on the rivalries, and of course part of me is proud that I'm still there, that I'm still going,' Djokovic told a press conference on Monday. 'But at the same time, I was, and I still am a bit sad that they're all gone, because those guys were my greatest motivations of why I competed so intensely and for so long. Djokovic won his 100th singles title at the Geneva Open at the weekend, shortly after parting ways with his coach, Murray. Both saw the irony of the situation. 'In terms of the joke about the tournament, he did congratulate me, and he said, 'now that you have a proper coach, you're winning tournaments',' Djokovic said. 'I didn't take that as a joke. Of course he was joking, but I will say it again: Andy is just an amazing person… For him to join my team and for us to give a shot to this player/coach relationship was really an incredible thing for tennis and for both of us. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I was very privileged and honoured. I still think that he's one of the most brilliant tennis IQ guys out there.'
