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Daniel Pacthod

Senior PartnerNew York

As global co-leader of McKinsey Sustainability, Daniel supports leading organizations in accelerating efforts to decarbonize and build new businesses to achieve net zero by 2050 while driving sustainable inclusive growth

Daniel co-leads McKinsey Sustainability, a rapidly growing global client platform focused on energy transition, climate and ESG. He helps clients transform and innovate to reach net zero by 2050, and build a more inclusive and sustainable world.

Daniel has also served on McKinsey’s Shareholders Council since 2014.

Previously, Daniel founded and led McKinsey Accelerate, a group of more than a thousand practitioners, helping leading organizations sustain transformational change through capability building and leadership development. Daniel chaired the Technology and Capabilities Committee on our global governance board, overseeing the strategy to tech-enable and innovate the firm. Daniel also founded and led McKinsey New Ventures, a standalone unit created to incubate new digital client offerings and build alliances and partnerships. He also built and led the firm’s Aerospace & Defense and Industrial Practices in the Americas.

Daniel primarily serves clients across the industrial, aerospace, defense, technology, and software sectors. He has extensive experience in helping leaders achieve sustainable inclusive growth. Other areas of impact include re-inventing incumbents through technology, accelerating value creation across a portfolio of businesses, building new capabilities, and establishing world-class M&A and merger integration capabilities.

Passionate about helping not-for-profit institutions in New York, Daniel serves on the board of trustees of Rockefeller University and on the Advisory Board of the Hospital for Special Surgery. He also served for nine years as a board member of the School of American Ballet.

Published work

The circular cement value chain: Sustainable and profitable,” McKinsey & Company, March 2023

Why Davos matters more than ever,” McKinsey & Company, January 2023

The energy transition: A region-by-region agenda for near-term action,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

A devilish duality: How CEOs can square resilience with net-zero promises,” McKinsey Quarterly, November 2022

Green Growth: Capturing Asia’s $5 trillion green business opportunity,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

The role of space in driving sustainability, security, and development on Earth,” McKinsey & Company, May 2022

The net-zero transition: What it would cost, what it could bring,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022

COP26 made net zero a core principle for business. Here’s how leaders can act,” McKinsey & Company, November 2021

Solving the net-zero equation: Nine requirements for a more orderly transition,” McKinsey & Company, October 2021

Reenergizing an exhausted organization: A conversation with Admiral John Richardson,” McKinsey Quarterly, December 2020

Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Reshape talent,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2020

Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Reimagine structure,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2020

As you return from the summer break, can you lead toward a COVID-Exit?,” McKinsey & Company, September 2020

Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Rethink ways of working,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2020

To lead in the postcrisis tomorrow, put leadership and capabilities in place today,” McKinsey & Company, July 2020

Ready, set, go: Reinventing the organization for speed in the post-COVID-19 era,” McKinsey & Company, June 2020

Why legacy companies must reinvent – or die,” Fortune, September 2018

Translating innovation into US growth: An advanced-industries perspective,” McKinsey Quarterly, May 2011

Past experience

Schneider Electric
Strategy director, Square D

Education

HEC Paris
MBA