This is a profile image of Varun Marya

Varun Marya

Senior Partner, and Global Leader, Advanced IndustriesBay Area

Global leader of McKinsey's Advanced Industries practice, advises companies on strategic questions and challenges related to technology and innovation in complex and highly technical industries such as automotive, industrials, semiconductor, and aerospace and defense.

Varun leads our global Advanced Industries practice. This includes the automotive, industrials, semiconductor, and aerospace and defense sectors.

Varun previously led our Aerospace & Defense practice, focusing on large-scale performance transformations, end-to-end digitization, and the development of new business models. A strong advocate for tech-enablement, Varun also previously led our Americas manufacturing work, where he focused on the shift from regular to digital manufacturing. He co-led the creation of our Digital Capabilities Center in Chicago.

Since joining McKinsey in 1998, Varun has used his organizational, commercial, operational, manufacturing, and supply-chain expertise to help industrial companies thrive, particularly in the aerospace, private-equity, and high-tech sectors. Varun has led corporate-wide transformations for a range of advanced industries and private-equity portfolio businesses, often helping to accelerate comprehensive turnaround efforts.

Varun began his McKinsey career in our Johannesburg office and transferred to the San Francisco office in 2001. Varun serves on the advisory board of the Center for a New American Security, an independent, bipartisan, nonprofit organization that develops strong, pragmatic, and principled national-security and defense policies.

Published work

Navigating the gray-to-green transition in aerospace & defense,” McKinsey & Company, March 2023

How technology is shaping learning in higher education,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022

Using machine learning to improve student success in higher education,” McKinsey & Company, April 2022

Digital: The next horizon for global aerospace and defense,” McKinsey & Company, May 2021

Seizing the moment: Talent challenges and opportunities in aerospace and defense,” McKinsey & Company, April 2021

Call to action: How A&D companies can build the workforce of the future,” McKinsey & Company, August 2020

The great remake: Manufacturing for modern times,” McKinsey & Company, August 2017

Excellence in cost management: A new era for aerospace,” McKinsey & Company, August 2013 (PDF–793 KB)

Education

University of Cambridge
BA, MEng, manufacturing engineering