FTI Consulting Expands Global Financial Services Practice with Strategic Leadership Appointments and Senior Hires

FTI Consulting has reinforced its global Financial Services practice through strategic leadership appointments and the addition of 15 Senior Managing Directors and Managing Directors in 2025. The firm named Stella Mendes and Jean-Werner de T'Serclaes as Global Practice Leaders, signaling continued investment in financial services expertise amid growing industry challenges.

The Financial Services practice now comprises more than 200 professionals who collaborate with clients across diverse issues including high-stakes risk management, performance optimization, restructuring challenges, and growth transformation opportunities. Ms. Mendes leads the company's global financial services regulatory and compliance offerings, while Mr. de T'Serclaes oversees business transformation services for financial services clients. This leadership structure reflects the dual focus on regulatory compliance and strategic transformation that characterizes current financial sector needs.

The multidisciplinary team includes respected bankers, restructuring specialists, forensic experts, CPAs, CFAs, attorneys, economists, technology professionals, strategic communications experts, former operators, policymakers, and former bank and securities regulators. All team members possess extensive financial services industry knowledge, with specific expertise in helping clients comply with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulations. Recent senior additions to the practice include Alma Angotti, Chris Allen, Michael Herde, Michael Peters, and Julien Wallen.

Financial institutions currently face rapidly evolving regulations, sophisticated criminal activity, and economic uncertainty according to Ms. Mendes. She emphasized that financial services leaders worldwide rely on FTI Consulting's experts to navigate complex challenges, from sudden disruptions to planned transformations. The firm remains committed to investing in its global platform to deliver end-to-end solutions that help clients mitigate risk and maintain operational freedom.

A 2024 Economist Impact study sponsored by FTI Consulting revealed significant risk perceptions among financial services general counsel. Twenty-nine percent identified regulatory and compliance crisis events as posing the greatest business risk, while an equal percentage viewed technology crisis events—including unforeseen AI effects or data failures—as the primary threat. Operational crisis events such as equipment breakdowns, logistical delays, or labor shortages followed closely at 28%.

Mr. de T'Serclaes noted that seismic geopolitical shifts in 2025 will continue presenting opportunities for financial services leaders as they assess risks and embrace innovations to maintain competitive advantage. The multidisciplinary financial services team at FTI Consulting leverages diverse industry expertise to help clients identify and maximize growth opportunities during this period of significant industry transformation.

With its globally integrated Financial Services practice, FTI Consulting positions itself uniquely to help clients address challenges and opportunities across the financial services sector. More information about the firm's offerings can be found at https://www.fticonsulting.com.