RCI Holding and Ascent Group launch HorizonX: A new strategic player for an age of unprecedented change

In a world defined by accelerating disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, technological breakthroughs and constant reinvention, organisations can no longer rely on linear planning or yesterday’s leadership models.

To meet this moment, RCI Holding and Ascent Group announce the launch of HorizonX, a new joint-venture company dedicated to helping leaders and organisations anticipate change, shape strategy, and build the future with confidence.

The Power of two complementary forces

HorizonX brings together the unique strengths of two visionary groups of companies, both well established in the market, with a strong track record of supporting organisations in navigating complex environments for over 25 years:

• RCI Holding brings deep expertise in strategy development, executive advisory, digital transformation and business reengineering supporting organisations facing complex strategic and transformational challenges.
• Ascent Group brings a strong track record in leadership development, foresight, systems thinking, innovation and human-centric transformation, enabling leaders and teams to navigate change with creativity, courage and impact.

Together, they form a powerful alliance, blending rigorous strategic thinking with human-centered leadership, and long-term vision with pragmatic execution.

A response to volatility, complexity, and speed

Markets shift overnight. Technologies redefine entire industries. Leadership decisions must be made with incomplete information and long-term consequences. In this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment, organizations need more than analysis, they need foresight, strategic clarity, innovation capability, and courageous leadership.

HorizonX is founded on a simple but powerful conviction: the ability to navigate uncertainty is now the ultimate competitive advantage. The company will address these needs by offering high-impact services in:

• Strategic Foresight – anticipating emerging trends, risks, and opportunities and helping organizations to build futures scenarios
• Strategy Design & Transformation – turning insights into actionable, resilient strategies and orchestrating systemic transformations that enable organizations to continuously adapt, evolve, and perform.
• Innovation & Business Model Reinvention – unlocking long-term growth in uncertain environments by transforming how organizations create, deliver, and capture value.
• Strategic Leadership – empowering leaders to effectively manage change, decide, inspire, and act under pressure, relying on the critical skills of the future

What sets HorizonX apart is its ability to connect the dots between future insight, strategic intent, and leadership action enabling organizations to move from reaction to anticipation, to blend fragmented initiatives within the organizations into coherent strategy and move from uncertainty to confident action.

A bold European ambition

From its inception, HorizonX is driven by a bold ambition: to become one of Europe’s leading players in Strategy, Foresight, Leadership and Innovation. Built on strong European roots and an international outlook, HorizonX aims to set a new benchmark for how organizations across Europe anticipate change, design resilient strategies, and reinvent themselves in the face of disruption.

“Technological breakthroughs are redefining industries overnight. The launch of HorizonX marks a pivotal moment for leaders and organizations across Europe turning that speed into advantage—pairing strategic foresight with human centered leadership to unlock innovation, transform business models, and build resilient organizations ready for whatever comes next.” said Dan Stratan, RCI Holding CEO.

“By joining forces with Ascent Group, we are creating a new standard for strategic foresight, leadership, and innovation. Our mission is to help organizations not just respond to disruption, but to anticipate it, shape resilient strategies, and move forward with confidence. At RCI Holding, we believe that the ability to navigate uncertainty is the ultimate competitive advantage—and HorizonX is here to empower our clients to build the future, today”.

“HorizonX is born out of the belief that the future is not something to be predicted, but something to be shaped, with vision, courage and passion” said Adela Cristea, the founder of Ascent Group.

“In times of profound change, leaders need partners who can challenge assumptions, expand horizons, and turn complexity into opportunity. RCI Holding is the perfect partner to achieve a bold vision for the future, a group of companies fully aligned with us in vision, values, passion for quality, and integrity.”

With its international perspective, multidisciplinary expertise, and bold ambition, HorizonX aspires not only to advise organisations on the future, but to actively shape the strategic agenda of Europe’s leaders, organisations and institutions.