Max is a recognized authority on CEO succession and on how senior executives can develop their leadership skills and careers. He has counseled the boards of many Fortune 500-size companies on CEO and executive succession, and his books on leadership, management, and coaching have sold more than a million copies.
Formerly a partner at McKinsey, he is now director of the firm’s Senior Partners Office, working globally, though based in London. In this role, he helps senior people find new opportunities to use their expertise, have a greater personal impact, and make a meaningful social contribution as they continue to shape and evolve their careers. Many of his programs connect senior partners with the relevant needs of not-for-profit institutions, other public initiatives, and corporate boards.
Before rejoining the firm, Max was a partner at two global headhunting firms. He led various aspects of leadership consulting at those firms and for 10 years helped the boards of many large organizations to assess and develop their senior executives, including in the context of CEO succession.
Previous roles at McKinsey spanned 17 years and included consulting to clients in the banking and consumer goods industries, and, as a partner, leading professional development in the United Kingdom. He has a passion for helping individuals as well as organizations to grow, and his books on leadership, motivation, and coaching have sold in more than fifteen languages.
Max also supports educational causes, having for 6 years served as governor of the University of Roehampton during a pivotal era in its development, and serving on its remuneration and people committees.
He is an award-winning writer on the outdoors and has a passion for adventure travel. He shares this passion through talks at schools and through books such as The Call of the Mountains (Luath Press, October 2013) and Trek to Everest (Rucksack Readers, December 2016).