David G. Knott

Background

About David G. Knott

I am a Senior Partner with McKinsey & Company and lead our Global Health Insurance Practice and Center for US Healthcare Improvement, as well as previously our Center for US Health System Reform. Over the past three decades, I have worked with many of the leading health insurers, providers, large employers, and health agencies. I counsel client CEOs, top teams, and Boards on both strategy development as well as transformation programs, including future operating model definition, organization re-design, capability building, cost restructuring, M&A integration, and Board restructuring. I am passionate about making high quality health care affordable for everyone in America, particularly the least well off, and led the launch of our Medicaid Practice. My publications have focused on growth opportunities in Medicaid, the impact of big data in health care, high performance provider networks, and US health care costs. I have served as a keynote speaker with over a hundred companies as well as industry forums including AHIP, BCBSA, National Governors Association, and NIHCM. Within McKinsey, I am an enthusiastic advocate for advancing the careers of our women professionals. I have served as Global Dean of Inclusive Learning, faculty for our Women’s Pathway to Partner program, and built gender balanced teams to serve the clients I help advise. I was chosen by McKinsey’s female Senior Partners and Partners to receive one of our Firm’s highest honors, the Lowell Bryan Award, in recognition of my impact in helping our women colleagues realize their professional aspirations. I have also helped Chair our Global Partner Review Committee and currently am a member of Echelon, a small group of Senior Partners selected by our Global Managing Partner to help introduce and scale new clients. Additionally, I am on the leadership team of McKinsey’s Special Initiative on CEO Counseling. Outside the Firm, I am a passionate supporter of the arts and serve on the Advisory Board of the New York Metropolitan Opera (underwrote a new opera, The Enchanted Island) and Chair the Executive Committee of the Manhattan School of Music. My wife, Françoise Girard, and I also helped launch Maestro William Christie’s baroque summer opera festival with Les Arts Florissants and the Juilliard School, now celebrating its 14th year. Prior to joining McKinsey, I completed a Ph.D. and Master's in Political Philosophy from Oxford University as well as a B.A. Honours degree in Canada from Queen's University. Françoise and I live in Manhattan and Montreal with our toy poodle, Arthur.