Zak is a senior partner based in McKinsey’s Johannesburg office, where he leads both the Operations and McKinsey Transformation Practices for the EEMA region. Previously, he led the firm’s transformation work for the Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Practice in North America.
His primary focus is on guiding large-scale improvement programs, where he applies deep expertise in operational and financial turnarounds. Zak’s approach to client service is defined by delivering sustainable, high-impact results, heavily utilizing advanced analytics and AI to unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and organizational health.
Examples of Zak’s recent client work include:
- accelerating the growth of a major global telco by unlocking over $3 billion of incremental cash through traditional cost and capex levers. This capital was subsequently reinvested in new products and a digital backbone overhaul, enabling smarter decision-making through AI-powered “smart capex”
- turning around an underperforming resources player by deploying advanced analytics and AI models to increase production yields by 5 to 10 percent and improve maintenance through predictive algorithms. This intervention boosted frontline productivity and helped the client avoid breaching debt covenants
- serving as interim management for a tech manufacturing company; by optimizing product mix and simplifying design, he successfully reduced capex by over 60 percent within 12 months
- accelerating a major oil refinery project, reducing completion time by three to four months. The effort involved implementing an AI-enabled digital control tower to manage critical packages, alongside improved supplier coordination and planning
- leading the investment effort for a large fund, including the diligence of key targets and the structuring of a multibillion-dollar convertible investment deal. This secured access to high-growth markets in infrastructure and energy, resulting in significant gains during a period of liquidity challenges
Previously, Zak served as an operating partner and COO of a major investment firm focused on tech investments. He is the first person in his family to attend university and has lived and worked on six continents. Fluent in several languages, Zak enjoys hiking and exploring the diverse cultures of the regions where he works.