Our history
Take a closer look at our firm’s milestones
More than 80 years after James O. McKinsey founded his small firm, McKinsey has grown into a leading global consultancy.
McKinsey had an established practice in budgeting and finance when he decided to go beyond rescuing fledgling companies to helping healthy organizations thrive and grow.
Marvin Bower, who joined the firm in 1933, is widely credited with shaping the professional management consulting profession and building the firm that is McKinsey today.
McKinsey milestones
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1920s |
James O. McKinsey launches a firm and an industry. |
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1930s |
Marvin Bower introduces McKinsey’s core principles and shapes a profession. |
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1940s
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McKinsey commits to working as “One Firm” as it opens additional offices and attracts new talent as a result of World War II. |
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1950s |
McKinsey expands abroad, opening an office in London, and takes on an increasingly global perspective. |
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1960s |
McKinsey’s international network expands into the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Canada, and Australia. |
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1970s |
The firm makes a substantial investment in knowledge development in key areas: expertise, strategy, and organization. |
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1980s |
Globalization drives our commitment to diversifying the firm’s knowledge and expertise, and sharing them throughout McKinsey. |
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1990s |
Unprecedented global economic expansion spurs growth into nearly 20 additional countries while doubling our number of consultants. |