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Sean O'Connell

PartnerNew York

Supports clients globally in corporate strategy, portfolio strategy, corporate finance, and M&A topics through his expertise in financial services and professional services industries, including fintech

Sean is a partner in McKinsey's New York office and has been with the firm since 2004. He is a leader in McKinsey’s M&A and People & Organizational Performance Practices.

Sean brings deep expertise in corporate strategy, M&A strategy, due diligence, post-merger management, portfolio strategy, and organizational transformation. Sean focuses primarily on supporting financial services and professional services clients, with extensive experience in top-of-the-house strategy and organization across the banking and securities, investment banking, capital markets, technology, and healthcare industries. Sean also leads McKinsey’s work at the intersection of private equity and M&A, supporting private equity companies in their "add on" strategies and tailored project management methodology for rapid-growth-oriented portfolio companies.

Prior to joining McKinsey, Sean worked in global capital markets, project finance, and structural lending at World Bank, developing, structuring, and negotiating investment programs in Central and Eastern Europe. Sean holds an MBA from University of Chicago in accounting and management and a Master’s in economics from Rutgers University, and is a CFA charterholder. He is also fluent in Russian.

Sean lives in New York with his wife and four children. In his free time he enjoys running road races, playing soccer, poker, reading, and listening to music and history podcasts.

Published work

Strategic M&A in US banking: Creating value in uncertain times,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022

Developing an effective M&A blueprint for insurers,” McKinsey & Company, March 2022

Winning at private-equity integrations,” McKinsey & Company, July 2021

Integration agility: what playbooks don’t tell you,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, June 2018

Divestitures: How to invest for success,” McKinsey & Company, August 2015

Education

University of Chicago
MBA

Rutgers University
MA in Economics