Erik is a leader in our Strategy Practice in the Americas and directs our work in innovation globally. He is one of the firm’s foremost experts on matters related to innovation and its critical components, including innovation strategy, new-product development, business-model creation, open innovation, culture change, and R&D management. He also has extensive expertise in marketing, having led many projects around the world focused on marketing strategy, brand building, marketing organization design, and capability building.
Previously based in Shanghai, Erik works with Asia-based companies as well as leading multinational corporations. He serves clients in a range of industries across both Asia and North America—including high tech, telecommunications, consumer goods, and retail.
In 2004, Erik coauthored Seeing What's Next: Using the Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change, which introduced a set of tools for companies to use in setting innovation strategy, pursuing disruptive innovation, and managing complex innovation systems. He is the author of several articles on R&D and innovation, as well as on the unique challenges facing China.
Prior to joining McKinsey in 2000, Erik was part of the team that created OnStar, the in-vehicle security and communication system. He was also Chief Innovation Officer at LG where, among other successfully commercialized digital experiences, he led the effort to design LG's award-winning Smart TV interface.
Published work
“Beyond the hype: New opportunities for gen AI in energy and materials,” McKinsey & Company, February 2024
“Courageous growth: Six strategies for continuous growth outperformance,” McKinsey & Company, October 2023
“Taking fear out of innovation,” McKinsey & Company, March 2023
“Choosing to grow: The leader’s blueprint,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022
“Committed innovators: How masters of essentials outperform,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022
“How virtual work is accelerating innovation,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022
“Fear factor: Overcoming human barriers to innovation,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022
“The next frontier in consumer goods: Digitally enabled innovation,” McKinsey & Company, April 2022
“Innovation—the launchpad out of the crisis,” McKinsey & Company, September 2021
“The Committed Innovator: A conversation with Amy Brooks of the NBA,” McKinsey & Company, July 2021
“The Committed Innovator: A conversation with Tanya Baker of Goldman Sachs Accelerate,” McKinsey & Company, July 2021
“The committed innovator: A conversation with Dometic’s Peter Kjellberg,” McKinsey & Company, June 2021
“The committed innovator: A conversation with board director Ireena Vittal,” McKinsey & Company, March 2021
“Innovation: Your launchpad out of the COVID-19 crisis,” McKinsey & Company, March 2021
“The committed innovator: An interview with Anjali Sud, CEO of Vimeo,” McKinsey & Company, December 2020
“Building an R&D strategy for modern times,” McKinsey & Company, November 2020
“Innovation in a crisis: Why it is more critical than ever,” McKinsey & Company, June 2020
“Building new businesses: How incumbents use their advantages to accelerate growth,” McKinsey & Company, December 2019
“The innovation commitment,” McKinsey Quarterly, October 2019
“The eight essentials of innovation,” McKinsey Quarterly, April 2015
“China's innovation engine picks up speed,” McKinsey Quarterly, June 2013
“A CEO's guide to innovation in China,” McKinsey Quarterly, February 2012
“Innovating in China's automotive market: An interview with GM China's president,” McKinsey Quarterly, February 2012
“Three snapshots of Chinese innovation,” McKinsey Quarterly, February 2012
Seeing What's Next: Using the Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change, Harvard Business Press Books, 2004
Past experience
LG
Chief Innovation Officer
OnStar
Head of marketing and product development
Marketing Corporation of America
Consultant
Education
Harvard Business School
MBA
Middlebury College
BA, international politics, economics