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Greg Fern

Senior PartnerChicago

Brings deep experience in large-scale company transformations spanning high tech, telecommunications, discrete manufacturing, and field services

Greg has more than 29 years of hands-on operating experience spanning business transformations, operations and supply chain management, and finance. He has done this as a P&L owner as well as advising clients across industries including high tech, telecommunications, healthcare, building services, retail, and metals and mining.

Examples of Greg’s recent client work include the following:

  • leading the transformation of a Fortune 100 global building services company, resulting in more than $3 billion of EBIT improvement and more than $1 billion of one-time cash impact as part of a two-year effort
  • serving as the transformation lead for a Fortune 50 healthcare company, driving more than $2 billion of EBIT improvement
  • serving as the chief transformation officer for a metals and mining company in North America, leading an 18 percent cash cost reduction in less than eight months
  • acting as coleader for a working capital transformation at a leading global metals and mining company, freeing up more than $1 billion in working capital

Before joining McKinsey, Greg held roles in high tech, retail, home services, distributor, and software companies. He led the turnaround of Motorola’s accessory business and ran the end-to-end supply chain for Motorola’s cellular handset business. Greg also led the pre- and post-merger integration and restructuring for Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility. As Brightstar Corporation’s chief operating officer, Greg focused on working capital improvement plans and the development of new business models.

Published Work

Unlocking value in large-deal healthcare M&A: How to achieve transformation during integration,” McKinsey & Company, June 2021

Education

Illinois State University
BS, public relations and political science