NEW YORK, October 23, 2006 – Marakon Associates, a management consultancy that helps Global 1000 companies achieve superior performance and long-term value growth, announced today that it has opened an office in Zurich – its first in Continental Europe.

Marakon, which has been serving the Continent for 20 years, has established the office to better meet the needs of existing clients and to provide a platform for new business growth in the region.

"Over the years, we have built long-standing relationships with a number of major Continental European companies," said Marakon Chief Executive Brian Burwell. "Having a local presence in Zurich will enable us to serve those clients better and connect with new companies that could benefit from our expertise and capabilities, collaborative client-service model and focus on value."

Mike Baxter will lead the office as regional managing partner for Continental Europe. He will be joined by partner Alastair Campbell and principals Ralf Loehrl and Thomas Olsen. Baxter explained that Marakon decided on Switzerland as the site for its new office because of the country’s location at the heart of Europe, its proximity to other big consulting markets, the firm’s already strong Swiss network and Zurich’s concentration of large multinational companies. "This will be the first of a number of Continental offices in select locations over the next few years," he said.

Founded nearly 30 years ago, Marakon works primarily with large corporations across a broad range of industries to help them deliver superior and sustained performance. The firm’s clients have been among the most consistently successful companies in their industries.

The new Zurich office is located on Seefeldstrasse and is staffed by a team of local hires and relocated consultants from Marakon’s London office. Headcount is expected to grow significantly within a few years.

For additional information, please contact Aviva Tropp at Marakon Associates, +1 212 377 5084.

About Marakon Associates:
Marakon Associates is an international management consulting firm that works with senior executives of Global 1000 companies on the issues that most drive corporate performance and long-term value. The Economist has called it "a consultancy that has advised some of the world’s most consistently successful companies." Marakon has offices in New York, London, Singapore, Chicago and San Francisco.