Artefact, global leader in data and AI consulting services, is pleased to announce the addition of six accomplished professionals, Stephen Bennet, James Swait, Don McShee, Berber Rienks, Sylvain Gasquet, and Kal Achanta, to its leadership team as Partners.
We are welcoming 3 new partners to our UK office:
Stephen Bennet: Stephen joins us following a distinguished 20-year Army career delivering digital solutions in complex environments, followed by nearly six years at McKinsey. An experienced Digital, Data, and AI leader, he specialises in Digital and AI transformations and most recently focused on Agentic AI. Stephen brings deep operational leadership experience and strong AI expertise, supporting clients in the delivery of Agentic AI transformations.
James Swaith: James has spent 15 years delivering complex change programmes for a selection of the world’s largest Financial Services institutions, including HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, Santander, Natwest, and Nationwide.
James began his career at KPMG before joining BCS Consulting, a London-based FSI-focused boutique consultancy, where he progressed to lead the firm’s Market Insight, Thought Leadership, and CFO Advisory teams, helping to scale the business before its acquisition by Accenture.
Following the acquisition, James oversaw Accenture’s UK Banking and Capital Markets CFO project portfolio, where he was instrumental in shaping AI offerings and thought leadership.
Don McShee: Don brings over 25 years of experience leading Digital, Data, and AI strategy and transformation for numerous blue-chip organisations. Formerly head of AI, Digital and Data at Moorhouse, he has led the development and scaling of digital consulting capabilities across sectors, including Financial Services, Life Sciences, Public Health, TMT, Energy, and the Public Sector.
We are also welcoming one new partner to our US leadership team:
Kal Achanta: Kal joins Artefact with more than 15 years of experience advising all stakeholders across the US healthcare ecosystem – Medical Devices, Life Sciences Companies, Health Plans, and Providers.
Based in New York, Kal will lead Artefact’s US Healthcare pursuits and help our clients accelerate their value realization through data, #technology, and #agenticAI
Before joining Artefact, Kal was an Associate Partner at ZS and worked with some of the largest US healthcare entities. He partnered with clients at the intersection of Commercial Go To Market Strategy, AI, and Data Transformation to answer two vital questions – Where to Play? and How to Win?
Kal is recognized as an impact-oriented leader who combines deep domain expertise, unstructured problem-solving, and client first mindset to drive sustainable impact.
We are also welcoming one new partner to our Benelux leadership team:
Berber Rienks: Berber Rienks is joining the Artefact adventure as Partner based in the Benelux Office.
Berber brings deep expertise to drive large-scale international digital, data, and AI transformation, ranging from data & AI strategy, target operating model, data governance and management, data platforms, and building a data-driven culture. She covers all the essential components needed to successfully navigate complex organizational transformation..
Berber has almost 20 years of experience leading solution innovation in previous firms (Deloitte, PwC, Accenture) and has a strong footprint across Telco, Technology, Media, and Energy sectors.
Berber is already bringing great energy and her signature “empathy and edge” to the Benelux tribe.
And finally, we’re also delighted to welcome Sylvain Gasquet, who is joining Artefact France as Partner.
Sylvain Gasquet: Sylvain has almost 25 years of experience in Finance / Operations in the Retail Industry and Consulting. Sylvain served as Head of Finance / Controlling in all key areas within the Retail industry (Corporate, Store Management, Supply Chain, Category Management, Procurement). As a consultant, he worked for AlixPartners and, more recently, for Porsche Consulting as Partner in charge of the Consumer Goods and Retail practice in France.
He specializes in large transformations, high-performance organization initiatives, and data-driven value creation plans with a focus in the Retail industry and specific functions transversally (Finance, Category Management, Procurement, Logistics).
