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Scott McConnell

PartnerChicago

Serves organizations on diverse topics including operational efficiency, digital procurement and operations, transformation, and growth strategy, with a focus on transportation and logistics companies

Scott is a leader in McKinsey’s Travel, Logistics & Infrastructure Practice, as well as in our procurement work with a focus on source-to-pay. He advises companies on multiple tactical, operational, and strategic issues including front-line efficiency, external spend optimization, design and deployment of digital solutions, organizational change management, operating model transformation, and business unit growth strategy.

Examples of Scott’s client work include the following:

  • reducing the supply-chain cost for a national specialty waste-management transportation company, focused on routing optimization and external-spend reduction, leading to ten percent cost reduction in key specialized categories
  • leading a detailed diligence to develop an EBITDA turnaround strategy for a transportation company, identifying opportunities through new channels, markets, inorganic growth, and operating-model redesign, leading to a 15 percent year-on-year EBITDA growth on a declining baseline
  • redesigning the procurement process for a transit and transportation company, driving opportunities for up to 15 percent cost savings while improving service and P2P efficiency by weeks for each purchase
  • leading the organizational redesign for a global travel company, focused on improving talent and streamlining the organization to support the front line, resulting in improved employee engagement and a ten percent reduction in bureaucratic layers
  • leading a crisis response and ultimately a new customer-centric strategy for a travel and transportation company, resulting in a double-digit increase in customer satisfaction

Prior to joining McKinsey, Scott spent five years in the US Army as a tank officer, including two combat deployments. He led a 400-person squadron through the strategic drawdown of forces as their logistics officer, the largest movement of US equipment and personnel since the end of the second World War. Scott is a leader of McKinsey’s veteran recruiting and supports veterans’ organizations in the Chicago area on a pro bono basis.

Published work

The promise and challenge of multi-client fulfillment for e-commerce,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

Unlocking the omnichannel opportunity in contract logistics,” McKinsey & Company, March 2021

US freight after COVID-19: A bumpy road to the next normal,” McKinsey & Company, July 2020

Resilience in transport and logistics,” McKinsey & Company, February 2020

Four forces to watch in trucking and rail freight,” McKinsey & Company, May 2017

Education

U.S. Military Academy
BS