TLDR: Accenture is reportedly outperforming its consulting peers in recruiting AI advisory talent from top Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). This surge in hiring reflects a growing demand from global clients for AI strategy and implementation, marking a significant turnaround for consulting firms after a period of slowed recruitment.
Accenture is at the forefront of a significant recruitment drive for AI advisory talent from India’s leading business schools, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). This aggressive talent acquisition strategy positions Accenture ahead of its consulting rivals, as firms prepare to guide companies worldwide through an unprecedented business transformation powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
The demand for management consulting roles has seen a remarkable increase at these prestigious institutions. For instance, at IIM Bangalore, management consulting accounted for a record 46% of all offers during summer placements, a notable rise from 38% in the previous year. IIM-Lucknow has also observed an uptick in consulting offers for its 2027 batch, with Accenture Strategy emerging as one of the largest recruiters, extending 47 offers.
This intensified hunt for AI-focused management talent mirrors the escalating requirements of clients for both strategic guidance and scalable implementation of AI solutions. This trend also signals a turnaround in hiring plans for consulting firms, which had previously slowed recruitment approximately two years ago due to global economic uncertainties and geopolitical conflicts.
Accenture’s role is described as a ‘bridge between boardroom ambition and technology execution,’ with its consulting arm assisting clients in defining AI-first operating models, assessing organizational readiness, and prioritizing investments aligned with measurable business value. The company’s success in the AI domain is evident, having secured $4.78 billion in new business in the 12 months leading up to August 2025, a figure that surpasses the combined incremental revenue of India’s 15 largest IT services firms in 2024-25.
IIM-Ahmedabad, which is set to commence summer placements for its 2025-2027 batch, anticipates a similar rush from consulting firms. Viswanath Pingali, chairperson-placements at IIM-Ahmedabad, commented, ‘Based on my discussions, in the coming days I expect consulting firms to increasingly meld AI with significant human intervention, thereby enhancing the quality of their offerings.’ He added that academic research supports the notion that human intervention combined with AI yields significantly better results than AI interventions alone.
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Prem Prakash Dewani, placement chairperson at IIM-Lucknow, highlighted that ‘AI and analytics-driven transformation mandates are reshaping consulting engagements globally.’ He noted that firms are increasingly seeking talent with cross-functional understanding to meet these evolving demands. Other prominent recruiters mentioned include Bain, BCG, Kearney, and McKinsey.
