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Bernardo Sichel

PartnerChicago

Bernardo Sichel

PartnerChicago

Supports consumer-goods companies across the Americas on growth strategy, international expansion, revenue management, and go-to-market strategy

Bernardo is a leader of our consumer work in North America with a focus on strategy and corporate finance. He formerly led our consumer projects in Spanish-speaking Latin America for five years before moving to the United States.

He has extensive experience serving multinationals and regional champions in both North and Latin America, and in Europe. His work is focused on growth strategy, international expansion, strategic due diligence, scenario planning, and commercial programs, such as revenue management and go to market.

Examples of his client work include the following:

  • designing an entry strategy to a new disruptive category for a Fortune 500 consumer company
  • developing a five-year growth plan for a major regional consumer company in Latin America
  • leading the strategic due diligence and post-merger integration of three assets in a cross-border acquisition for a regional consumer company in Latin America
  • directing the strategic due diligence of a major bottling company’s acquisition by a North American company in the Andean region
  • executing the strategic due diligence and business plan for a regional retailer on behalf of a global fund
  • implementing the revenue management and go-to-market programs for a global spirits player in Latin America
  • leading a scenario-based planning exercise for a business unit at a major defense contractor in the United States

Bernardo has contributed to several business-strategy books and speaks regularly at industry conferences. He has lectured at Wharton’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education and at the European Centre for Executive Development at INSEAD.

Prior to joining McKinsey, Bernardo worked for Decision Strategies International (a strategy boutique affiliated with the Wharton School), Arthur D. Little, Procter & Gamble, and the national oil company of Venezuela. He is proficient in English and Spanish and has basic knowledge of Portuguese.

Published work

The economic state of Latinos in the US: Determined to thrive,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022

Empowering economic growth in the Latino community,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

The economic state of Latinos in America: The American dream deferred, McKinsey & Company, December 2021

Five traps to avoid: The long game of DTC and e-commerce,” McKinsey & Company, September 2021

Agility@Scale: Solving the growth challenge in consumer packaged goods,” McKinsey & Company, July 2018

“Meet today’s Latin American consumer,” CEO Magazine Latin America, 2017

Overcoming obstacles to effective scenario planning,” McKinsey & Company, June 2015

Education

Harvard Business School
MBA

Andrés Bello Catholic University, Venezuela
BA, economics