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About David

David Fine was the first South African to join McKinsey’s Johannesburg office when it opened in 1995. Now a director, he leads the office and McKinsey’s work in South Africa. He is deeply committed to the country’s development and transformation, and works with government and business leaders to strengthen public services, boost job creation, and improve life for all South Africans.

A major focus of David’s work is designing large-scale performance transformations in both the public and private sectors. He believes McKinsey’s core contribution lies in shaping breakthrough solutions to complex problems—and in mobilising people’s energy to implement those solutions and deliver great outcomes.

David has worked closely with senior leaders in South Africa and elsewhere to design and deliver such integrative solutions. For example, he supported the largest merger in South Africa, including defining the new organisation and operational architecture. He helped lead a large-scale performance-transformation program at a major publicly owned company. He helped a leading bank rethink its future—including its role Africa’s economic rebirth. He shaped a multisector strategy to combat HIV/AIDS in a Southern African country. And he led a broad, performance-based-culture change program for a major South African mining company—building insights and capabilities from the top team right through to the frontline.

David is excited about bringing together talented, committed people—in McKinsey, its clients, and its partners—to build transformational solutions in the areas that matter most for South Africa’s future, including education, health, justice, infrastructure, and economic development.

Published work

Africa at work: Job creation and inclusive growth,” McKinsey Global Institute, August 2012

South Africa in the spotlight: An interview with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe,” McKinsey Quarterly, May 2010

Assessing Africa's business future: An interview with the CEO of Absa,” McKinsey Quarterly, June 2010

From lean to lasting: Making operational improvements stick,” McKinsey Quarterly, November 2008

AIDS: A flicker of hope in Africa,” McKinsey Quarterly, January 2001

Education
University of Witwatersrand PhD in chemical engineering

Johannesburg Office

Sandown Mews East
88 Stella Street
Sandown 2196
South Africa
Voice: 27 (11) 506 8000
Fax: 27 (11) 506 9561

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