4 June 2026
The International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) announced the launch of its Code for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Management Consulting during its International Consultants Day celebrations, a landmark initiative designed to guide management consultants in the ethical, transparent, and accountable use of AI technologies across consulting engagements.
As artificial intelligence increasingly transforms business operations, decision-making, and professional services, the new Code provides a globally applicable framework to help consultants harness the benefits of AI while maintaining the highest standards of professional integrity, client trust, and human judgment.
The Code recognizes that AI offers significant opportunities to enhance research, analysis, insight generation, knowledge management, and service delivery. At the same time, it emphasizes that consultants remain responsible for the advice, recommendations, and outcomes delivered to clients. Artificial intelligence should augment professional expertise rather than replace the critical thinking, contextual understanding, ethical judgment, and accountability that define the consulting profession.
Presented by Nick Warn CMC® on behalf of ICMCI, the Code establishes a set of guiding principles that support the responsible adoption of AI, including transparency in AI usage, protection of confidential and sensitive information, mitigation of bias and unintended consequences, respect for legal and regulatory requirements, and the preservation of professional independence and objectivity.
“The management consulting profession has always been built on trust, competence, and ethical conduct,” said Nick Warn CMC®. “As AI becomes an increasingly powerful tool within consulting practice, it is essential that its use is guided by clear principles that protect clients, uphold professional standards, and ensure that human accountability remains at the centre of decision-making.”
The Code further encourages consultants to maintain appropriate levels of AI literacy, continuously assess the risks and limitations of AI systems, and ensure that AI-generated outputs are subject to professional review and validation before being incorporated into client work.
The launch builds on ICMCI's broader efforts to prepare the profession for the future, including its previous AI thought leadership initiatives and ongoing work to strengthen professional standards, competence frameworks, and ethical practices for management consultants worldwide.
By establishing a common global reference point for responsible AI adoption, ICMCI aims to support consultants, clients, and professional institutes in maximizing the benefits of artificial intelligence while safeguarding the values that underpin trusted advisory services.
About ICMCI
The International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI is the global organization representing management consulting institutes and professional bodies worldwide. Through the Certified Management Consultant (CMC®) designation, international standards, professional development programs, and thought leadership initiatives, ICMCI promotes excellence, competence, ethics, and professionalism across the management consulting profession.
For more information, visit www.cmc-global.org - Full Code Document