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Sebastian Kempf

Senior PartnerDüsseldorf

Leads our lifecycle products and services work for advanced industries in Europe and helps companies with growth strategies, new business models, digital disruptions, and large-scale performance transformations

Sebastian has extensive experience serving leading mobility, industrial, and private equity clients. With a passion for creating new business models and growth opportunities, Sebastian leads our lifecycle and aftermarket practice for advanced industries in Europe, including digital services, aftersales, and auto financing or leasing.

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

  • developing new digital business models—such as e-commerce and digital sales—for mobility clients
  • leading a large-scale performance transformation for a global automotive supplier
  • increasing the pricing and procurement performance for a leading distributor
  • building a greenfield leasing attacker for a leading captive company
  • supporting multiple strategic projects for leading automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as lifecycle management, car data monetization, and direct-to-consumer business
  • developing a growth strategy and aftersales-as-a-service offering for a private equity portfolio company
  • enabling big data and advanced-analytics strategies for automotive companies
  • launching a holistic commercial-excellence program at a leading automotive supplier
  • developing a global strategy for the aftersales division of an automotive OEM

Sebastian has been managing partner of our Düsseldorf office. He has launched our regional startup initiative and engages in transatlantic relationships—being a Young Leader of Atlantik-Brücke e.V—as well as various social initiatives.

Published Work

Winning in the European automotive industry: A micromarket approach,” McKinsey & Company, February 2024

M&A, value creation, and the automotive aftermarket,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023

Business mobility payments: On the road to change,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

Making every part count: A component view on disruption in the automotive aftermarket for light vehicles until 2030,” McKinsey & Company, May 2021

Subscribed to future auto finance yet?,” McKinsey & Company, November 2020

Leaving the niche: Seven steps for a successful go-to-market model for electric vehicles,” McKinsey & Company, June 2020

Beyond coronavirus: The road ahead for the automotive aftermarket,” McKinsey & Company, May 2020

Ready for inspection: The automotive aftermarket in 2030,” McKinsey & Company, August 2018

The changing aftermarket game—and how automotive suppliers can benefit from arising opportunities,” McKinsey & Company, July 2017

Innovating automotive retail,” McKinsey & Company, February 2014

Education

INSEAD
MBA

EBS University of Business and Law
BSc, business management