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Alexander Klei

PartnerZurich

Leads our industrial sector in Switzerland and helps companies develop winning strategies, effectively manage and integrate M&A, design effective operating and organizational models, and create value through sustainability

Alex is a leader in McKinsey’s work in the building technology, chemicals, construction, energy, machinery, materials, and packaging industries, and directs our work in the industrials sector in Switzerland. Most of his projects reflect his expertise in strategy development, M&A, operating-model design, sustainability, technology, and IoT in industrial B2B situations.

Notable examples of Alex’s recent work include the following:

  • leading business transformations to enable businesses reaching new levels of performance, including growth, profitability, and health
  • building long-term business unit and corporate strategies for several companies in the specialty chemicals, materials, and machinery industries
  • supporting industrial companies as they screen potential M&A targets, conduct due diligence, and facilitate synergy capture during post-merger integrations
  • redesigning and implementing new operating models, from organization and processes to people systems and cultural change
  • building and scaling new IoT and technology-enabled businesses for “traditional” industrial organizations in the chemical, machinery, and building-technology industries
  • developing the corporate-sustainability agenda, and executing it via both decarbonization as well as “green growth”

Alex joined McKinsey in 2008. He studied in Switzerland, the United States, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

Published work

Securing the competitiveness of the European chemical industry,” McKinsey & Company, February 2023

How green can green growth be?,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

The role of the electric grid in Switzerland’s energy future,” McKinsey & Company, May 2021

Adapting your operating model to the new normal: The next big move,” McKinsey & Company, February 2021

A winning formula for specialty-chemical conglomerates,” McKinsey & Company, February 2021

Chemicals and capital markets: Refocusing on the fundamentals,” McKinsey & Company, December 2020

The state of the chemical industry—it is getting more complex,” McKinsey & Company, November 2020

Digital in chemicals: From technology to impact,” McKinsey & Company, July 2017

Education

Columbia University
MBA

University of St. Gallen Switzerland
MA, finance
BA, business administration

Erasmus University Rotterdam
MS, strategy