Mover

arry Levitan

Andersen Consulting

1666 K Street, NW

Washington, DC

20006

MANAGING CONVERGENCE

In a clear nod to the convergence of the telecommunications and utility industries, Andersen Consulting is combining its domestic consulting practices for these areas under the direction of one person.

Larry R. Levitan, a 31-year veteran of the firm, has been named U.S. managing partner for what the company describes as two of its most dynamic businesses.

"The telecommunications and utilities industries are undergoing dramatic change," said John T. Kelly, managing partner Americas. "Larry Levitan has shown a strong ability to help clients anticipate and cope with change. His leadership will greatly strengthen our ability."

The Telecom Industry Group, Andersen's fastest-growing practice, generated $237 million in revenues in calendar 1993. Andersen fields more than 3,000 telecommunications consultants serving almost every major carrier around the globe with strategic planning, customer contact and network operations systems services. The group is also systems integrator for Time Warner's proposed interactive network in Orlando. The $232 million Utilities Industry Practice employs more than 2,500 consultants worldwide, providing re-engineering, systems integration and business process management services to utilities.

Levitan said much of the firm's work in either industry involves identifying opportunities for clients on the emerging information superhighway. Of particular interest to telecommunications clients, he said, is the broadband delivery of new multimedia products and services.

Levitan said it's no coincidence that Andersen decided to combine the domestic consulting practices of these two industries. "We felt there are a lot of synergies between these two groups," he said. Both industries are heavily dependent on technology and to varying degrees, facing deregulation and the prospect of competition.

Although the telecommunications industry is five to ten years ahead of utilities on the road to deregulation, he said, the challenges both face are similar. During his 31 years at Andersen, Levitan has been consulted for a wide array of telecommunications, utility and other industries. He's served as managing partner for the Northeast and Southeast regions.