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Álvaro Bau

PartnerMadrid

Helps global energy companies develop growth strategies, implement advanced digital technologies, and achieve sustainability and operational excellence

Álvaro is a partner in McKinsey’s Madrid office specializing in energy transition and commercial optimization topics. Álvaro leads key projects within the energy sector, especially in petroleum marketing and retail, and he has extensive experience in digital and advanced analytics, as well as downstream operations.

He advises his global energy and materials clients on growth, business management, and energy transition strategies. This includes helping them optimize product strategies, implement advanced digital technologies, and develop sustainability transition plans. He has worked extensively with companies in the oil and gas sector to execute digital transformations, focusing on emissions reduction and operational efficiency. Alvaro has driven downstream refining and product optimization projects, improving market positions and scaling operations. In addition, he has developed electrification outlooks and decarbonization pathways for several countries across multiple sectors.

Some of his recent client work includes:

  • designing the strategy roadmap to build a national leader in the biomass sourcing landscape
  • implementing an innovative marketing approach to improve the commercial performance of a leading global petrochemical company
  • developing a strategic diversification plan for a European gas distribution company
  • developing the greenhouse gas abatement curve and optimal decarbonization journey in a Spanish energy transition
  • designing the hydrogen strategy of a European company across multiple use cases (e.g., industry, mobility, synthetic fuels)

Published Work

Fuel retail in the age of new mobility,” McKinsey & Company, April 2021

Lubes growth opportunities remain despite switch to electric vehicles,” McKinsey & Company, December 2018

Past Experience

Merrill Lynch
M&A summer analyst

Education

Columbia University
MBA, business administration

Comillas Pontifical University
MSc, industrial engineering