News
Ethan Franklin and John Frehse Join Ankura as Senior Managing Directors
August 8, 2017
Business Advisory Firm Adds Recognized Labor Strategists to Growing Roster of Cross-Discipline Experts
Chicago, New York, and Washington — Tuesday, August 8, 2017 — Ankura Consulting (Ankura) announced today that labor strategists Ethan Franklin and John Frehse, founders of Core Practice, LLC have joined the firm as Senior Managing Directors. Mr. Franklin will be based in Chicago, while Mr. Frehse will be based in New York. They bring an established methodology and strong set of labor strategy expertise to Ankura’s already broad list of offerings.
Since 1997, Mr. Franklin and Mr. Frehse have been dedicated to working with companies globally to build bridges between operational best practices, employee effectiveness, and morale. They have developed and implemented strategies for more than 100 companies, delivering to corporate leaders innovative labor solutions that capture cost savings and drive employee engagement. Their work spans a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, automotive, chemical, electronics, pharmaceuticals, power, call centers, banking, insurance, distribution, telecommunications, mining, government, and healthcare.
With over 25 years of experience, Ethan Franklin has successfully developed and implemented innovative labor strategies that have resulted in substantial annual cost savings. Labor strategies that not only improve company profitability but also dramatically improve employee morale by deliberately incorporating the needs of the workforce. Prior to Core Practice, Mr. Franklin served as vice president of delivery for the Workforce Management Practice at Blue Pumpkin Software, now Verint, where he recruited, trained and directed the strategic services team. His ability to engage both clients and their employees while driving cost-saving initiatives is recognized throughout the industry.
Before founding Core Practice, John Frehse was head of Global Strategic Services Sales for Blue Pumpkin Software, now Verint. Included among his many clients are a luxury automobile manufacturer, a global food manufacturer and an international telecommunications company. Mr. Frehse sits on the board of directors of The Workforce Institute and serves as a thought leader for its think tank. He is also a member of the advisory board for HR.com’s Workforce Management practice, where he educates leadership teams on union negotiation strategies and employee engagement methodologies. He frequently speaks publicly on labor-related issues. At the upcoming Sodexo Quality of Life Conference in London this mid-October, he joins other experts to discuss “Embracing Tomorrow’s Needs, Exploring New Solutions,” where he will focus on the topic of labor strategy in a multifaceted conversation on future societal considerations.
Ankura Co-President Kevin Lavin stated, “The addition of labor strategies to Ankura’s world class client service capabilities is very exciting. John and Ethan’s thoughtful approach as business advisors is well-established and highly effective. They take a 360-degree view of business health through the lens of insightful and proven labor strategies. Their creative and innovative processes also make them a great fit with our colleagues at Ankura. I look forward to working with John and Ethan.”
Mr. Franklin added, “Ankura is an organization that lives the philosophy that John and I have been applying to our clients for years: People are the most valuable resource of a company. Ankura’s commitment to collaboration, both with clients and internally, matches our dedication to delivering successful projects for our clients. We look forward to continued growth in our labor strategy practice, especially now with the ability to provide our clients Ankura’s unparalleled depth of service offerings.”
Mr. Frehse said, “This represents an amazing opportunity for our professionals to leverage decades of experience in a rapidly growing and highly successful firm. The level of passion for what we do is mirrored at Ankura, and the depth of expertise is unmatched. We are incredibly excited to join a firm with a culture of collaboration. This will enhance the services we provide our clients.”
###
