This is a profile image of Asutosh Padhi

Asutosh Padhi

Senior Partner & Global Leader, Firm StrategyChicago

Asutosh leads McKinsey global firm strategy and is a counselor to CEOs on enterprise transformations.

Asutosh is McKinsey & Company’s Global Leader of Firm Strategy, responsible for shaping the strategic vision, accelerating the firm’s pace of innovation, and evolving the partnership model as McKinsey turns 100 in 2026. He is also a part of the Enablement Team, which is the firm’s operational leadership team.

Asutosh is an experienced CEO counselor who works closely with CEOs and management teams of iconic, high-performing companies to help shape and implement bold enterprise transformations. His client work includes a combination of strategic, operational and organizational topics across revenue acceleration, margin and cash flow management, and large-scale operating model redesign.

Asutosh was previously the North America Managing Partner for three years, leading the firm across the United States and Canada. In this role, Asutosh significantly professionalized the firm by enhancing client service risk management and integrating compliance into core processes. Under Asutosh's leadership, the firm strengthened its expertise in key capability areas like energy transition, technology, and AI, and focused on attracting and growing diverse and distinctive talent. Asutosh’s contributions were critical in driving client impact and shaping the firm's approach to societal challenges, notably improving the lives of diverse groups including minority business leaders and military veterans.

Asutosh previously led McKinsey’s Advanced Industries sector globally, which includes the automotive, industrial, semiconductor, and aerospace and defense sectors. He is the founder of the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, which helps companies, investors, governments, and social sector entities transform and prepare for a more autonomous and interconnected future. He also launched the firm’s US Board Forum, an exclusive event series designed for non-executive directors of prominent companies, providing a broad spectrum of board leadership insights. Asutosh is the bestselling author of Titanium Economy: How Industrial Technology Can Create a Better, Faster, Stronger America. The book highlights the future of industrial technology companies and the playbook these companies can use to drive excess shareholder value creation.

Asutosh has been a prominent speaker and his perspectives on industrial technology, macroeconomics, productivity, and leadership have been featured broadly. He also was responsible for leading the firm’s product development and procurement capabilities and helped launch global design-to-value labs, which combine design-thinking with technical insights to drive product creation.

Asutosh has extensive board experiences and was a member of the Shareholders Council, the firm’s equivalent to a board of directors, for five years. He is currently an active board member of the Aspen Institute, the Field Museum, and the Conference Board. Asutosh is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of Technology. He is a proud member of the Chicago community and travels across the world.

Published work

Wesco CEO John Engel on beating the odds with a merger of equals,” McKinsey & Company, July 2024

John Rogers on overcoming pessimism with patience,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, April 2024

Making the energy transition real with Tamara Lundgren,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, February 2024

2024 and beyond: Will it be economic stagnation or the advent of productivity-driven abundance?,” McKinsey & Company, January 2024

The Exchange: The new vocabulary of geopolitics with Jon Huntsman Jr.,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, December 2023

Leadership Rundown: Balancing innovation and empathy with Thomas Kurian,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2023

Leadership Rundown: Why the world needs a ‘school for CEOs’,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, August 2023

Leadership Rundown: Is technology a force for good?,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, July 2023

Leadership Rundown: The download from Davos,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, March 2023

Rekindling US productivity for a new era, McKinsey Global Institute, February 2023

Leadership Rundown: Opportunity through ownership with Pete Stavros,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, February 2023

2023, a testing year: Will the macro-scenario range widen or narrow?,” McKinsey & Company, January 2023

Shorter for longer: Navigating the taut talent tightrope amid economic uncertainty,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, January 2023

The future of US manufacturing is hiding in plain sight,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

Planning for 2023: How US-based businesses can succeed when capital and talent are constrained,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

Leadership Rundown: Tracking the Rise of The Rest with Steve Case,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, December 2022

The board’s role in building resilience,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

The Titanium Economy: Emerging stronger in the face of disruption,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022

The Titanium Economy: Capturing opportunities in the energy transition,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022

The Titanium Economy: How to overcome the challenge of filling high-quality jobs,” McKinsey & Company, October 2022

The Titanium Economy: An introduction,” McKinsey & Company, October 2022

Leadership Rundown: Finding power in purpose with Kathy Warden,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Author Talks: How industrial technology is creating a more inclusive economy,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Leadership Rundown: Building a ‘Best for All’ business with Dave Burritt,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Delivering the US manufacturing renaissance,” McKinsey & Company, August 2022

Something’s coming: How US companies can build resilience, survive a downturn, and thrive in the next cycle,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

Navigating inflation: A new playbook for CEOs,” McKinsey Quarterly, April 2022

The labor market is upside down. Here’s what CEOs can do about it,” McKinsey & Company, February 2022

Want to drive inclusive economic growth? Start with manufacturing,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022

The CEO agenda in 2022: Harnessing the potential of growth jolts,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022

A sustainable, inclusive, and growing future for the United States,” McKinsey & Company, November 2021

How the automotive industry is accelerating out of the turn,” McKinsey Quarterly, July 2021

“The next wave of M&A in advanced industries: Are you prepared?,” McKinsey & Company, January 2021

“Organizing for speed in advanced industries,” McKinsey & Company, August 2020

Reimagining industrial supply chains,” McKinsey & Company, August 2020

Why now is the time to stress-test your industrial supply chain,” McKinsey & Company, July 2020

Coronavirus: Five strategies for industrial and automotive companies,” McKinsey & Company, March 2020

The future of mobility is at our doorstep,” McKinsey & Company, December 2019

The new realities of premium mobility,” McKinsey & Company, November 2019

For OEMs in the United States, the aftermarket is fertile ground,” McKinsey & Company, April 2019

Reimagining mobility: A CEO’s guide,” McKinsey Quarterly, February 2019

Winning tomorrow’s car buyers using artificial intelligence in marketing and sales,” McKinsey & Company, February 2019

Reserve a seat—the future of mobility is arriving early,” McKinsey & Company, December 2018

How OEMs can seize the high-tech future in agriculture and construction,” McKinsey & Company, March 2018

How mobility players can compete as the automotive revolution accelerates,” McKinsey & Company, October 2017

R&D after the crisis: McKinsey Global Survey Results,” McKinsey Quarterly, April 2010

R&D in the downturn: McKinsey Global Survey Results,” McKinsey Quarterly, April 2009

Upgrading R&D in a downturn,” McKinsey Quarterly, February 2009

Education

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
MBA

Indian Institute of Technology
BS in mechanical engineering