Akash Lal is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Mumbai office. Since joining the firm in 2004, he has worked extensively with financial institutions in India, Greater China, and Southeast Asia, on topics ranging from business strategy, to organization, to technology. His area of specialisation is wholesale banking.
Akash has deep experience in leading multi-year transformation programs for leading financial institutions. He helped create a major business-building program for a leading Indian bank across multiple business units; drove wholesale banking transformation programs for leading banks in India and other emerging markets; and led a branch sales transformation program for a leading multinational bank in India.
Akash’s experience also includes supporting a global financial institution in its Indian banking entry strategy; designing a health insurance entry strategy for a leading Indian financial institution; and conducting a review of the Indian retail brokerage market for another leading Indian institution.
Prior to joining the McKinsey, Akash worked for seven years at HSBC, where he led the Wealth Management business (HSBC Premier) for Western India.
Published work
“Cracking the code on enhanced digital and cyber risk maturity,” McKinsey & Company, November 2023
“Global capability centers in the next normal,” McKinsey & Company, August 2020
“The power of many: Corporate banking in an ecosystem world,” McKinsey & Company, August 2019
“Between deluge and drought: Liquidity and funding for Asian banks,” (PDF–777 KB), McKinsey Working Papers on Risk, June 2013
“Asia's midcorporate market: Distracting mirage or promising future?” (PDF–869 KB), McKinsey & Company, October 2012
“Rising to the challenge: Transaction banking in Asia-Pacific,” (PDF–366 KB), McKinsey & Company, September 2012
“Payments hubs: Redefining the industry's infrastructure,” (PDF–159 KB), McKinsey on Payments, June 2012
“Global corporate and investment banking: An agenda for change,” (PDF–3.56 MB), McKinsey & Company, May 2012
“Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets: How banks can grasp a $350 billion opportunity,” (PDF–907 KB), McKinsey & Company, March 2012
“Wholesale banking in India: The next frontier,” McKinsey & Company, March 2011
Education
INSEAD
MBA (with distinction)
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Postgraduate diploma, business management
