Screaming need for competent overseas senior management - Anonymous employee GreySpark Employee Review

2.0
2 Jun 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Small growing company. Very strong and credible CEO who is a definite leader in the field. If you work closely or directly under the CEO, then you have a lot of value that can be gained from him. London-based Partners are quite competent and are genuinely good people.

Cons

Micromanagement. Partner who manages every dollar as if it comes out from under his bed. Partner who is extremely scripted and is unable to think independently, or think on his feet. Partner who is very insecure - he is a good person, but is definitely out of his depth. Need to stop hiring experienced professionals if they are going to totally disregard their previous experience. Local management that is totally out of touch with the market. You will face obvious obstacles in achieving your quarterly bonus once you get close to hitting your targets. Despite their career growth track, best of luck getting there. Management favors certain staff members to the point of defending them even if egregious errors are made.

avatar
GreySpark Response
10y
Thank you for your positive feedback on the dynamics of the firm. GreySpark HK operations have grown significantly under the consecutive stewardships of two Partners now and will keep on growing strongly for the years to come. With regards to the individuals that GreySpark attracts and retain: 1 - GreySpark searches for and hires people with both the talent (sometimes raw) and the potential to rise to the top of the consulting profession. We then dedicate care, money, time and effort to allow these individuals to develop into true leaders 2 - Nobody has ever joined, worked or stayed in GreySpark because she or he had to. People work for GreySpark because they choose to. As a consequence, if you develop a true passion for consulting in financial services, and if you keep up with the pace of a very demanding profession, you will rise to senior management positions and even to partner in a fewer number of years than in any other global management consultancy. On the other hand, as soon as GreySpark is no longer the place where you aspire to be in the long term, you are more than welcome to take with you all the training, the skills, the knowledge, the experience and the relationships built during your time at GreySpark; these invaluable assets acquired during your "GreySpark years" with undoubtedly help you achieve new heights, wherever you go, whatever you do. Everyone at GreySpark is very proud of our colleagues who continue to be the leaders that firm had a part in them becoming. The most sincere congratulations to the GreySpark alumni who: - have started their own businesses and several FinTech companies - joined and hold management positions in the most prestigious financial institutions - head trade associations and think-thanks - joined and hold management positions in the most prestigious consulting firms

Explore other reviews about GreySpark

5.0
18 Sept 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

GreySpark has a strong culture in terms of ideas and knowledge sharing. People have the opportunity to contribute, to be challenged intellectually and to learn, leading to a natural tendency towards thought leadership and being in step with the current (and future) challenges that our clients have to contend with. GreySpark is an international firm with a client-centric approach and is able to successfully partner with its customers on global mandates in key financial hubs including London, Hong Kong and New York.

Cons

Although GreySpark has a comprehensive career ladder framework which caters for people that can progress via a "Management / Commercial" track or an "Expert" track, continued investment in helping people to think of themselves as a "business owner" and not just an "employee" will help to define the mentality of whether people embrace the opportunity with GreySpark as a business opportunity as opposed to just a day job.

1
3.0
18 Feb 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

work life balance, enjoyable team

Cons

small company, poor location of offie

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All