Six leading executives from a range of industries will form McKinsey’s 2023 External Advisory Group. Founded in 2019, the group provides our Shareholders Council—our global board of directors—with external advice to inform firm strategy and governance. It also advises our most senior line leaders, including our chief financial officer, our chief risk officer, our chief people officer, and our client capabilities leaders.
External Advisory Group members are distinguished in their fields and have a demonstrated record of success leading large organizations and chairing boards. We’re pleased to share the six members of McKinsey’s 2023 External Advisory Group, along with highlights from their notable affiliations. (For more details on these members, please visit the External Advisory Group page on McKinsey.com.)
- Oracle board member and former UK minister of industry and trade Rona Fairhead
- Alphabet board member and former TIAA CEO Roger Ferguson
- Nestle board member and former Inditex CEO Pablo Isla
- Prudential board member and former SingTel CEO Chua “SK” Sock Koong
- HSBC Non-Executive Chairman and former AIA Group Chief Executive and President Mark Tucker
- Boeing board member and former Aetna CEO Ron Williams
“We are proudly a single global private partnership,” says McKinsey global managing partner Bob Sternfels, “but we’re humble enough to know that external input and perspectives are critical in today’s complex world. This group of external advisors plays a key role in shaping the way we think about building a more resilient organization and accelerating sustainable and inclusive growth. We’re grateful for their commitment and guidance.”
The External Advisory Group, which will assemble this month for its first meeting this year, provides advice directly to our Shareholders Council, which oversees and directs the firm’s strategy and governance. Over the last several years, advice from the group has informed our approaches to building a more inclusive organization, measuring the impact of our work, accelerating sustainability, increasing our expertise and capabilities, and helping our clients navigate disruptions such as the global pandemic.
Along with many of our clients, we’ve navigated numerous challenges over the past several years, thanks in part to good counsel from leaders who have helped broaden our perspective.
Rodney Zemmel, McKinsey senior partner and Shareholders Council member
“The advice this group of leaders has provided over the years has proved invaluable,” says McKinsey Digital co-leader Rodney Zemmel, a senior partner and Shareholders Council member who helped found the group. “Along with many of our clients, we’ve navigated numerous challenges over the past several years, thanks in part to good counsel from leaders who have helped broaden our perspective.”
True resilience, the ability to thrive as disruptions continue, forms the foundation of sustainable and inclusive growth. We know that building it today requires balanced agendas and bold moves: launching new businesses; embracing new and better technology; accelerating the transition to net zero; and rethinking the future of the workplace for people around the world.