We helped McKinsey & Company strengthen its European leadership in advanced analytics and commercial strategy by placing senior hires in Hamburg and Amsterdam.
Their PhD-level analytical rigour and executive commercial experience enabled AI- and ML-led programmes across 8+ markets and influenced revenue in the hundreds of millions.
Situation
McKinsey needed to strengthen its senior leadership in advanced analytics and commercial strategy to accelerate European growth and drive measurable client impact.
McKinsey’s Growth, Marketing & Sales Practice needed to strengthen its leadership bench in advanced analytics, revenue optimisation, and commercial strategy to meet growing demand across Europe.
The brief required senior leaders who could:
- Operate at the intersection of deep technical expertise and commercial leadership.
- Combine PhD-level research capability and board-level commercial leadership
- Deliver measurable impact for clients in multiple industries and geographies.
Approach
We were retained to run a targeted pan-European executive search to strengthen McKinsey’s leadership in advanced analytics and commercial strategy. This involved:
Market Mapping
Identifying senior leaders with doctoral-level analytical rigour and executive-level strategic skills from top consultancies, tech firms and global brands across Europe.
Rigorous Screening
Applying cultural and performance assessments to ensure long-term fit within McKinsey’s high-performance environment.
Candidate Prioritisation
Focusing on individuals with proven thought leadership and a strong track record of high-value client delivery.
End-to-End Management
Overseeing all stages from search strategy through to offer negotiation, balancing speed and quality.
Core Focus Areas
Cultural Fit: Ensuring alignment with McKinsey’s organisational values and goals
Leadership Acumen: Prioritising candidates with demonstrated leadership capabilities
Strategic Insight: Selecting individuals who deliver measurable commercial impact across industries and geographies
Result
The senior leadership placements helped McKinsey expand its advanced analytics and commercial strategy capabilities across Europe, driving significant client impact and industry innovation.
Key Appointments
Advanced Analytics & Commercial Strategy Leader – Advanced Industries, Hamburg
Our search led to the placement of a PhD-level commercial and analytics expert into McKinsey’s Growth, Marketing & Sales Practice to help lead large-scale commercial transformation programmes.
Their work focused on using digital and advanced analytics to transform how clients sell in advanced industries.
They have since been elected Partner and taken on regional leadership responsibilities, underlining the quality and longevity of the hire.
Advanced Analytics Leader – Cross-Sector Financial Services, Amsterdam
We also placed an advanced analytics specialist into McKinsey with a remit to build and scale machine learning and analytics approaches for clients across financial services, telco, energy and retail.
After establishing a strong track record in the Practice, this leader went on to hold Chief Data Officer roles at major European financial institutions, underscoring the longer-term calibre of talent that we bring into senior analytics roles.
Regional Growth & Innovation
Through the senior leaders we placed, McKinsey was able to expand delivery capability across 8+ European markets by introducing AI and ML methodologies that influenced hundreds of millions in revenue.
McKinsey’s thought leadership was strengthened with methodologies and insights widely adopted across multiple sectors.
“Banba understood the unique demands of McKinsey’s advanced analytics and commercial strategy needs across Europe. Their targeted search delivered exceptional senior leaders with the rare blend of PhD-level expertise and executive acumen.
These hires didn’t just join the team, they accelerated our growth, introduced cutting-edge AI and ML innovations, and strengthened our thought leadership across multiple markets.
— Senior Partner, Mckinsey & Company
Through a targeted pan-European executive search, Banba helped McKinsey unlock senior leadership talent combining deep technical expertise and commercial acumen, meeting urgent demands for advanced analytics and commercial strategy across multiple markets. This approach demonstrates how focused, strategic talent acquisition can drive measurable growth, innovation, and long-term leadership in a competitive, high-impact consulting environment.
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