Cornerstone Research, the San Francisco-based economic and financial consulting firm, has completed a planned leadership transition with Bryan Ricchetti assuming the chief executive officer role in August 2026, succeeding Rahul Guha who led the firm since 2020. The appointment marks a significant moment for the firm as it advances the succession of internal leadership while maintaining strategic continuity through a year-long transition period during which both executives jointly oversaw key operational initiatives. The move reflects a deliberate approach by the board to ensure stability at one of the consulting world's premier litigation advisory firms.
The appointment came without the involvement of an external search firm, signalling that the board identified Ricchetti as the natural successor from within the firm's senior ranks. Board chair Kristin Feitzinger expressed confidence in the transition, stating that Ricchetti has spent two decades earning the trust of colleagues, clients, and experts across the organization. Guha, who accumulated approximately thirty years at Cornerstone Research since joining in 1996, will remain engaged with the firm as a senior advisor. Ricchetti's predecessor secured tenure that included significant expansion; during his six-year tenure as CEO, Guha increased firm headcount by more than 50 percent, scaled the London office, and established a new presence in Brussels, according to consulting industry recognition he received in May 2026.
Ricchetti brings more than two decades of economic consulting experience to the role after joining Cornerstone in 2007 as an associate. Before becoming CEO, he served on the firm's board of directors for four years, led the Antitrust Practice for eight years, and headed the Economics Practice for two years. He helped expand the Chicago office from ten people to more than 150, a testament to his operational and growth capabilities. Prior to Cornerstone, Ricchetti worked as an economist at the US Census Bureau and as an analyst at MDRC. He holds a PhD in Economics from Cornell University and is recognized as a leading competition economist with expertise spanning antitrust, labor economics, and matters involving market definition and class certification. In 2024, Consulting Magazine named him to its Top Consultants list, and he has been recognized by Lexology as a Global Elite Thought Leader in competition economics.
Cornerstone Research, founded in 1989 by three former MAC Group consultants, has grown to more than 1,000 employees across nine offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. The firm specializes in providing economic and financial analysis and expert testimony to law firms, corporations, and government agencies navigating complex commercial litigation and regulatory proceedings. Under the leadership model established by founder Cynthia Zollinger, who remains actively involved as chair of the board, Cornerstone has built a reputation for rigorous methodology and collaboration with prominent academic experts. The firm competes with similarly specialized competitors including Charles River Associates, Analysis Group, and Compass Lexecon.
Ricchetti's appointment to the top role reflects broader industry dynamics in litigation consulting, where technical expertise and client relationships have become increasingly critical to competitive positioning. The deliberate one-year co-leadership transition suggests board confidence in Ricchetti's ability to navigate the firm through evolving market conditions while maintaining the internal culture that has defined Cornerstone's identity. His emphasis on artificial intelligence and analytical methods, articulated in his inaugural statement as CEO, indicates potential strategic evolution toward technology-enabled consulting. The timing of the transition also coincides with elevated antitrust enforcement activity and regulatory scrutiny across technology, healthcare, and financial sectors, areas in which Ricchetti's deep technical foundation may prove advantageous. The appointment represents both continuity, given Ricchetti's long tenure and insider status, and a generational transition for a firm that has prioritized internal development over external recruitment for its top leadership roles.
