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Daniel Pacthod

Senior PartnerNova York

Global coleader of McKinsey Sustainability; helps leading organizations decarbonize, transform their core businesses, hyperscale new climate technologies, and build capabilities to win in the energy transition

As global coleader of McKinsey Sustainability, Daniel helps leading organizations decarbonize, transform their core businesses, hyperscale new climate technologies, and build capabilities to win in the energy transition. He advises companies in the aerospace, defense, industrial, and technology sectors on how to innovate and transform in pursuit of a more secure, affordable, clean, and inclusive future.

In support of that future, Daniel also coleads McKinsey’s partnership with the World Economic Forum, and is passionate about raising the ambition of leaders across the private, public, and philanthropic sectors when it comes to accelerating the energy transition.

Some of Daniel’s recent projects include the following:

  • working with a global industrial company to build a new green power business unit
  • helping set up a green technology fund and innovation center
  • advising a private-equity investor on improving the performance of its climate transition investments
  • supporting several green start-ups in accelerating industrial buildouts

Within the firm, Daniel built and led the Aerospace & Defense and Industrial Practices in the Americas. He has also served as a member of McKinsey’s global operating team for three years, founded and led a standalone venture that incubated and scaled digital capabilities and assets across 1,500 practitioners, and started the McKinsey alliance and partnership team.

Passionate about helping not-for-profit institutions in New York, Daniel serves on the board of trustees of Rockefeller University and the advisory board of the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Published work

Strengthening fraying ties: The Global Cooperation Barometer 2024,” McKinsey Quarterly, February 2024

Climate Transition Impact Framework: Essential elements for an equitable and inclusive transition,” McKinsey & Company, December 2023

An affordable, reliable, competitive path to net zero, McKinsey & Company, November 2023

The role of public–private–philanthropic partnerships in driving climate and nature transitions, McKinsey & Company, November 2023

A sector progress tracker for the net-zero transition,” McKinsey & Company, November 2023

Full throttle on net zero: Creating value in the face of uncertainty,” McKinsey & Company, September 2023

Yes, nuclear can help answer the climate and energy security challenge,” McKinsey & Company, May 2023

The circular cement value chain: Sustainable and profitable,” McKinsey & Company, March 2023

Why Davos matters more than ever,” McKinsey & Company, January 2023

The energy transition: A region-by-region agenda for near-term action,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

A devilish duality: How CEOs can square resilience with net-zero promises,” McKinsey Quarterly, November 2022

Green Growth: Capturing Asia’s $5 trillion green business opportunity,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

The role of space in driving sustainability, security, and development on Earth,” McKinsey & Company, May 2022

The net-zero transition: What it would cost, what it could bring,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022

COP26 made net zero a core principle for business. Here’s how leaders can act,” McKinsey & Company, November 2021

Solving the net-zero equation: Nine requirements for a more orderly transition,” McKinsey & Company, October 2021

Reenergizing an exhausted organization: A conversation with Admiral John Richardson,” McKinsey Quarterly, December 2020

Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Reshape talent,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2020

Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Reimagine structure,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2020

As you return from the summer break, can you lead toward a COVID-Exit?,” McKinsey & Company, September 2020

Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Rethink ways of working,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, September 2020

To lead in the postcrisis tomorrow, put leadership and capabilities in place today,” McKinsey & Company, July 2020

Ready, set, go: Reinventing the organization for speed in the post-COVID-19 era,” McKinsey & Company, June 2020 

Past experience

Schneider Electric
Strategy director

Education

HEC Paris
MBA