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Gautam Kumra

Senior Partner and Chairman - AsiaSingapore

Chairman of McKinsey’s offices in Asia; helps McKinsey’s clients in Asia create change that matters, by building leading institutions and counselling leaders to deliver transformational change.

Gautam Kumra is the chairman of McKinsey’s offices in Asia. He serves on McKinsey’s Shareholder’s Council, the highest decision-making body of the firm, which effectively functions as McKinsey’s board of directors. He is also a member of the global Acceleration Team, which oversees the implementation of the firm’s strategy and critical priorities.

Gautam was previously the managing partner for McKinsey’s India offices, and led the firm’s People & Organizational Performance Practice in Asia. Over his 30-year career at McKinsey, Gautam has worked closely with a diverse range of Indian, Asian, and global clients, advising them on growth strategy, organization transformation, leadership development, and governance. His experience spans all major sectors of the economy, and he is one of the leading thinkers behind McKinsey’s research and insights on transformational change.

Passionate about developing CEO leadership, Gautam founded the McKinsey Leadership Institute and the Bower Forum. He is a driving force for the McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence, which helps Asian CEOs perform at their highest level to deliver transformational change. He has worked with companies on large-scale change efforts that capture the benefits of digital evolutions, such as the shift to cloud, digital consumer journeys, and building talent. He also helps leaders across the public, private and social sectors drive sustainable, inclusive growth.

Beyond McKinsey, Gautam is a founding board member of the Public Health Foundation of India, and serves on the governing board of IIM Bodh Gaya, a not-for-profit institute of management education in eastern India. Additionally, he is a founding board member of the IIT Delhi Endowment Board and a member of the Business Advisory Council of the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York.

Published work

CEO excellence: How do leaders assess their own performance?,” McKinsey & Company, February 2024

Asia on the cusp of a new era,” McKinsey Global Institute, September 2023

Four steps to success for new CEOs,” McKinsey & Company, April 2023

Asia’s top CEOs embrace change with boldness and resilience,” McKinsey & Company, January 2023

How Asian business leaders can prepare for a volatile future,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

The future of (hybrid) work,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

India as a pharma innovation hub: An interview with Dr. Reddy’s G. V. Prasad,” McKinsey & Company, August 2022

Why Infosys’s Nandan Nilekani is urging leaders to use tech for good,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

How to be a great 21st-century CEO,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022

India’s turning point: An economic agenda to spur growth and jobs,” McKinsey Global Institute, August 2020

Innovating business models to boost India’s economy,” McKinsey & Company, August 2019

“Creating Indian Multinationals: Good for business, great for India,” essay in `The Path Ahead: Transformative ideas for India,´ published by Rupa, April 2018

Mastering the CEO’s mandate,” Mint, January 2014

Education

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
MBA

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
B.Tech., Chemical Engineering