David G. Fubini
David Fubini is currently the Henry B. Arthur, Senior Lecturer at the Harvard Business School and is also an Emeritus Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company.
At Harvard Business School, David teaches MBA courses on Strategy, Leadership, Organization Behavior, and Marketing. He is also the HBS faculty chair for the Leading Professional Services Firm Executive Program and is a core member of the executive Mergers and Acquisitions and Board of Directors programs.
During his 34 years with McKinsey, David was a leader of the Marketing and Organization Behavior Practices and a geographic entrepreneur as he re-energized McKinsey’s New England operation in the early 90’s, leading the Firm’s successful expansion in the region for over a decade. David also co-chaired and was a member of many of the Firm-wide Committees responsible for McKinsey’s governance structure.
David was the co-founder and leader of the Firm’s global practice supporting transactions, mergers, and integrations; focusing on helping clients architect and execute the major
transformational programs critical to large acquisitions, divestitures and mergers. David led the efforts of large number of these transactions over the past two decades including leading efforts for nearly a dozen of the 25 largest global transactions. He has deep knowledge of the leadership and operational challenges that accompany these major transformative events.
Public examples of his transactions and integration work include:
Led the effort supporting the integration of IBM’s PC business with Lenovo; working closely across operations in China, Raleigh, NC, and Armonk, NY
When Rio Tinto (acting as a “white knight”) acquired Alcan Aluminum, David worked across operations in Australia, London, and Canada to facilitate the creation of the second largest aluminum player in the world.
David led the McKinsey effort aiding Merck’s integration with Schering Plough to form one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world
Helped DuPont divest a major portion of their chemical operations.
When Coca-Cola vertically integrated by acquiring Coke Enterprises, David led the team supporting this integration
Led the effort to integrate US Airways and American Airlines to form the U.S.’s largest air carrier.
Played a crucial role leading Raytheon’s multiple efforts to merge Hughes, E Systems and TI’s Defense operations (and divest Amana Appliances) to create one of the largest defense contractors in the United States
David led the strategic marketing repositioning efforts for a number of significant clients:
Helped the U.S.’s largest retailer redesign its human resource strategy in light of shifting economic realities and the emergence of aggressive on line retailers.
Repositioned the offerings of New England’s largest health payor in light of new market and regulatory challenges
Helped a major data provider leverage its core franchise to become a leading digital and online data player
Assisted General Motors in repositioning their Nameplate Divisions and launch the Saturn dealer franchise
David is a member of the Board of Directors of Leidos, Bain Capital Specialty Finance, MITRE Corporation and JM Huber (6th generation family company) He was formerly on the Board of Compuware (which was sold in 2014) and a past member of the Shareholders Committee of ZS Associates.
The Governor of Massachusetts appointed David to be a Trustee of The University of Massachusetts System where David served from 2014-2019. David is also a member of the UMass Amherst Foundation and a member of the UMass Eisenberg School of Business Dean’s Advisory Committee and was a past member of the Harvard Business School Dean’s Advisory Council. David is, or has been a member of several prominent Boston civic organizations, including the Executive Committee of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, WBUR, Inner City Scholarship Fund, and the Municipal Research Bureau. He was previously a member of the Executive Committee of the Boston Chamber of Commerce and The Boston Municipal Research Bureau. David served six years as a member of the Massachusetts Court Management Advisory Board; a group appointed by the State legislature, charged with overseeing Massachusetts Court reform. He is presently co-chair of the YMCA Boston Board of Overseers.
Prior to joining McKinsey, David was an original member of a small group that was to become the McNeil Consumer Products Company of Johnson and Johnson, helping launch the Tylenol family of products into the OTC marketplace.
David is a graduate of UMass Amherst with High Honors and Harvard Business School with Distinction. He has authored three books: “Mergers, Leadership Performance, & Corporate Health” as well as “Let Me Explain” a biography of his father, Eugene Fubini, outlining his many contributions to the Defense Department from 1960 onward. More recently he authored “Hidden Truths What Leaders need to Know but Are Seldom Told.”
David lives in Brookline, MA with his wife Bertha and their four children.
June 2023
