Careers beyond consultancy
We see from the news that the Asda head Archie Norman is to seek election as a Conservative MP. So what?, you may ask. Well, if you’d been following the spate of articles “The secret sect that rules the world” you’d know that in common with many CEOs and government ministers, Norman was an alumnus of the shy and retiring McKinsey consultancy. In hushed tones, the papers have detailed lists of the great and good who have passed through the hallowed portals. Unfortunately, they failed to ask three vital questions: if McKinsey has taken over the world, how come it’s in such a mess? If these people are so hot, how come they had to give up the heights of strategy consultancy and take low-rent jobs running supermarkets and government departments? And if the essence of strategy is timing, why is Norman standing as a Tory in the next election?
