Acquisition by MSCI is a bid culture clash. It's much more rigid, less entrepreneurial, more bureaucratic and less fun
Pros
The people are extremely smart, dedicated, curious, and humble and relaxed. That is changing with MSCI merger, but that legacy won't die too easily. You are given the opportunity to run with your ideas. Th culture is flat, and fun and relaxed, even thought it's Wall St.
Cons
Cost cutting is so aggressive and arbitrary that it canibalizes growth in business lines that really ought to be growing. Lots of big promises that are consistently broken. The pay is significantly below average. Flat structure often means there are too many cooks to move things forward. Emphasis on being respectful and empathetic, means that incompetent, conniving people who are also pretty nice guys, get promoted. MSCI does not and will not recognize how much the culture keeps us loyal, and there is a massive exodus of talent which has begun and will not abate anytime soon