Bob Sternfels

About Bob

Bob is the leader of McKinsey’s global functions, growth platforms, and new client delivery models. He currently focuses on helping companies in the basic materials, medical products, high tech, financial services, private equity, and consumer goods sectors design next-generation operating models, with the goal of turning operations into a source of competitive advantage.

Based in San Francisco, Bob formerly led our Operations Practice in the Americas. He has advised clients in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia on a range of issues related to operations, strategy, and organization. He is particularly skilled at helping clients achieve and sustain radical performance improvement. His recent projects include supporting a mining company’s performance-improvement initiatives to boost outputs from its mines, helping a semiconductor manufacturer optimize the capital productivity of a new plant, and advising a chemicals company on opportunities to reduce purchasing costs and improve profitability.

Since joining McKinsey in 1994, Bob has directed many important internal initiatives. He previously led our global Private Equity Practice, focusing on portfolio-company transformations. He also helped open our South African office, relocating to Johannesburg for six years.

Bob graduated with honors from Stanford University with a BA in economics and history. He then received an MA in politics, philosophy, and economics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. An avid pilot, swimmer, and cyclist, Bob serves on the board of directors of Quest Scholars, USA Water Polo, and the American Association of Rhodes Scholars.