Chris Hughes, Columnist

McKinsey Is Becoming an MBA Case Study in Crisis

A change in leadership would mark a proper show of accountability for the firm’s role in the opioid crisis, plus a chance to reset its culture.

February 24, 2021 at 5:50 PM UTC

By Chris Hughes

Chris Hughes is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering deals. Previously, he worked for Reuters Breakingviews, the Financial Times and the Independent newspaper.

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Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg

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McKinsey & Co.’s management consultants know full well that changing leadership is sometimes the best way to handle a crisis. And it looks like they’re now applying this advice to their own firm.

Kevin Sneader will not serve a second term as global managing partner, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, after he failed to win sufficient support during the firm’s ongoing referendum on the leadership. Such a defenestration would bring two benefits. It would mark a proper show of accountability for the firm’s role in the opioid crisis, and offer a new chance to attempt a reset of its culture.