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Deniz Cultu

Serves leading financial services institutions on service operations, strategy, operating model, and performance transformation

Deniz helps major banking and insurance companies develop growth and go-to-market strategies, incorporate digital and analytics into service operations, modernize operating models, and transform financial performance. He is a leader of our insurance underwriting and property-and-casualty insurance claim efforts in North America; he also leads the adoption of innovative service operations approaches in McKinsey’s Transformation Practice in the region.

His recent client work includes the following:

  • leading the end-to-end transformation of the commercial lines underwriting process to reduce cycle times while improving quality and service levels for a leading US property and casualty insurer
  • developing a predictive model to identify and flag highest-risk workers compensation claims to improve claimant outcomes and provide greater service for a leading US multiline property and casualty carrier
  • creating a go-to-market strategy for a leading analytics-focused private equity-owned insurance technology company
  • developing a multiyear corporate growth strategy for a publicly traded diversified banking-services provider
  • evaluating the market attractiveness of specific segments of the global life insurance, retirement, and asset management market for a leading North American life insurer
  • redesigning the global operating model to improve service, quality, and efficiency through creating new centers of excellence, management systems, and processes for a leading global specialty lines insurer

Deniz is active in the Minneapolis-St. Paul community, serving on the board of directors of the YMCA of the North. He also served as the chair of the risk-management advisory board for the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for hosting the game and free to access events.

Published work

Global Insurance Report 2025: The pursuit of growth,” McKinsey & Company, November 2024

Repositioning commercial P&C underwriting for market uncertainties,” McKinsey & Company, January 2023

Claims 2030: Dream or reality?” McKinsey & Company, May 2022

Navigating the next decade of US insurance claims,” McKinsey & Company, October 2020

How North American claims organizations can respond to the coronavirus,” McKinsey & Company, May 2020

The future of insurance claims,” McKinsey & Company, October 2019

Education

Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
MBA

University of Pennsylvania
BS, electrical engineering