The Consulting Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Automotive Consultants and Leaders of 2023. Globally, the automotive industry is a significant economic sector, comprising a wide range of companies involved in the design, development, production, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. Though the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic has largely passed, its impact can still be felt, affecting production and sales as well as causing disruption in the supply chain. Recently, regulatory pressures and a growing trend in consumer preferences has the automotive industry shifting gears towards developing cleaner, more environmentally-friendly vehicles, especially as more companies experiment with innovative transportation technologies.
Among the prominent leaders mentioned in this list include Jonathan Van Wyck, the Managing Director & Partner of Boston Consulting Group. A formidable force within the automotive industry, Van Wyck leads several practice areas within BCG and is deeply involved with the firm’s pursuits in AI and technology. Serving as the Vice President and Head of Wipro’s Automotive business in North America, Jaydip Mukhopadhyay is another instrumental figure, credited with providing technology and digital solutions to Wipro’s clients across the globe. As the Americas Lead of Kearney's Automotive and Industrial Practices, Doug Mehl has effectively led the practice to achieve significant growth, more than doubling in size since 2020. He carries an extensive background of providing clients with strategic advice for over 28 years.
As some of the most astute minds in the industry, the leaders for this year’s awards earned their spot on our list by providing expert advice and guidance to their clients. They play a critical role in navigating the complex and evolving market of the automotive industry, offering direction on a wide range of issues.
Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Automotive Consultants and Leaders of 2023.
1. Jonathan Van Wyck
Company: Boston Consulting Group
Title: Managing Director & Partner
Based in Minneapolis, Jonathan Van Wyck wears many hats within Boston Consulting Group. Van Wyck leads the Industrial Goods Practice Area in North America which includes three diverse sectors: Automotive & Mobility, Greentech & Engineered Products, and Materials & Process Industries. Van Wyck primarily focuses on serving automotive and agribusiness companies.
He is also a leader in the Operations Practice and BCG X, which is the 3,000 person Tech Build and Design unit of BCG. He has been deeply involved in building BCG’s innovative MFG AI suite which is an integrated set of capabilities and products designed to help manufacturers solve the most pressing pain points in their factories using AI and technology.
He has extensive experience in the automotive industry serving OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and off-highway equipment manufacturers on a range of topics including growth strategy, digital transformation, sustainability and operational improvement. Van Wyck has previously worked out of BCG’s Chicago, Vienna and Johannesburg offices.
Outside of BCG, Van Wyck is a Board Member for Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis where he serves on the Executive Committee and Chairs the Finance and Accounting Committee. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame.
2. Christian Malorny
Company: Kearney
Title: Partner & Managing Director & Head Global Automotive Practice
Christian Malorny is one of the best-known top management advisors in the automotive industry, serving automotive manufactures as well as suppliers around the globe. With a 30-year track record at McKinsey and at Kearney, Malorny is known as one of the sharpest thinkers in shaping his clients in automotive. His deep expertise with an engineering background makes him an admired and sought-after senior consultant from clients in Europe, North America and China.
His core topics are growth and cost strategies, advanced technologies for autonomous and connected mobility, sustainable and resilient cost structures, as well as industry consolidation and M&A. Malorny advises industry associations as well as governments on regulations and industry strategies. He has been quoted in media worldwide, named by the famous Manager Magazin as “Worldhead Automotive” and serves on advisory councils for start-ups.
Malorny, who holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Berlin, has written hundreds of publications and five books. He has been awarded with the European Quality Award from the European Foundation for Quality Management for his scientific contributions in the field of Total Quality Management and Business Excellence, the highest award for research in Quality Management in Europe.
His passion for cars led to a collection of classic sport cars and to one of the most famous Porsche Poster collections globally. On weekends, you can see Malorny at classic car rallies or on the racetrack.
3. Alan Martinovich
Company: Arthur D. Little
Title: Senior Partner
Alan Martinovich is a Senior Partner in the Boston office of Arthur D. Little, where he heads ADL’s Global Growth Competency Center and its North American Automotive & Industrial Practice. Martinovich has over twenty years of experience advising clients on issues related to corporate competitiveness, strategy, and innovation. He has served both in an external advisory role to C-level executives and as an operating member of senior management teams.
Martinovich received his MBA from Columbia Business School at Columbia University. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in economics and marketing from the University of Toronto.
4. Andreas Nienhaus
Company: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner
Andreas Nienhaus is a Partner of Oliver Wyman‘s Automotive & Mobility team and Head of the Oliver Wyman Mobility Forum. He is based out of Frankfurt, Germany. Nienhaus has worked on numerous large assignments in the mobility segment with a focus on growth strategies as well as sales and commercial excellence.
Nienhaus’ expertise circles around new strategic business design for mobility solutions and data-based strategies as well as digitization in the mobility space, including third party players like roadside assistance, insurance, and startups. He is passionate about developing innovative and sustainable solutions together with his clients that help transform the mobility ecosystem and enhance how we get from A to B.
5. Doug Mehl
Company: Kearney
Title: Partner; Americas Lead, Automotive and Industrials
Doug Mehl is the Americas Lead of Kearney’s Automotive and Industrial Practices. In this role, Mehl serves clients across a broad range of strategy and operations topics, including full profit improvement efforts, and supports efforts for sustainable transition to battery electric vehicles. Under Mehl’s leadership, Kearney’s Americas Automotive and Industrials Practice has more than doubled in size since 2020.
Mehl has been at the forefront of bringing several of Kearney’s most innovative offerings to life. These offerings include Product Excellence and Renewal Lab (PERLab), Kearney’s product design-to-value offering, and the Digital Model Factory, an immersive Industry 4.0 experience to help clients shape their digital manufacturing transformation roadmaps. Mehl was also named as one of Kearney’s Top Project Leaders, an award distinguished by upward feedback from consultant project teams.
Mehl brings 28 years of operating and consulting experience to his clients. Beyond consulting, he has led the start-up of a private equity fund focused on the automotive suppliers and ran multiple operations across the globe for Ford Motor Company. He also earned an MBA from the University of Michigan and a master’s and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University. Mehl currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
6. Jason Alexander
Company: RSM US LLP
Title: Principal Manufacturing Sector Leader
In May 2021, Jason Alexander was appointed the Sector Leader for the North American Manufacturing Practice of RSM US. In this role, Alexander is responsible for one of RSM’s largest industry sectors across all of the service lines of consulting, tax, and audit. He is also responsible for setting and executing the firm’s manufacturing strategy nationally. Alexander serves clients in the manufacturing, automotive, and chemicals sectors and has more than 20 years of experience serving multinational clients with particular emphasis on SEC clients, Fortune 500, and middle market companies.
Alexander has previously advised clients in the areas of accounting, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, process design and improvement, internal audit, regulatory compliance, internal and external financial reporting and information technology system implementation. He has a strong record of accomplishment of people, team and practice development across North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia.
In January 2018, Alexander was selected as an analyst in RSM’s Industry Eminence Program, which positions its analysts to understand, predict and communicate economic, business and technology trends shaping the industries and sectors RSM serves.
Alexander is also a member of the firm’s Inclusion Council, serves as one of the executive sponsors of the AACE Employee Network Group, the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Greater Miami and previously served on the RSM US Foundation Board, as well as RSM’s Southeast Region Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Leader
7. Marc Boilard
Company: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner
Currently a Partner in the Paris office of Oliver Wyman, Marc Boilard leads the Automotive and Industrial Goods practice in France. Boilard started his career at Gemini Consulting before participating in the creation of Hemeria, then joining Oliver Wyman’s Automotive and Industrial Goods practice in 2008 and being promoted as Partner in 2015.
Boilard is an expert in strategy, innovation, and R&D performance, and has carried out numerous large-scale transformation projects for several global automotive and industrial players. Boilard is also increasingly supporting industrial clients in building and deploying climate and sustainability roadmaps.
Committed to helping various communities, Boilard has dedicated a portion of his time to providing pro bono consulting support to non-profit clients and leading significant social impact projects in France. In the past years, he has notably been working with AFEV, a non-profit organization working to increase access to education and employment for under-privileged young people. Boilard is also supporting the Oliver Wyman Paris office’s sustainability journey.
Boilard holds an engineering degree from Centrale Lyon and an MBA from IAE Paris.
8. Aditya Pathak
Company: Cognizant
Title: VP & Head of Automotive, Transportation, & Logistics
With 25 years in engineering, consulting, and management, Aditya Pathak is the Vice President and Head of Automotive, Transportation, & Logistics for Cognizant, a multinational information technology and consulting company.
Founded in Chennai, India, and headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, Cognizant helps its clients modernize their technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences to help them stay ahead of the competition. As a leader, Pathak has turned the automotive, transportation, and logistics industry segments into growth drivers for the company.
Before joining Cognizant, Pathak was a General Manager of Healthcare for Wipro Technologies, where he also began his career as a systems engineer. He also previously served Cognizant as a director and client partner for providers & alliances.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in electronics and telecommunications from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, and executive education certificates from Harvard University and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
9. Jaydip Mukhopadhyay
Company: Wipro Limited
Title: Vice President and Head of Automotive
Jaydip Mukhopadhyay is the Vice President and Head of Wipro’s Automotive business in North America. In this role, Mukhopadhyay is responsible for driving overall growth of business in the region, building strategic partnerships with leading automakers, and delivering innovative solutions to accelerate the auto industry’s transformation journey.
In his career spanning twenty-five years within the automotive industry, Mukhopadhyay is credited with building large-scale teams that deliver the technology and digital solutions to global clients helping them succeed in a hyper-competitive industry. Leading one of the fastest growing businesses within Wipro, he has executed some of the most strategic initiatives around digital transformation, cloud computing, autonomous mobility and customer experience.
Previously, Mukhopadhyay used to lead consulting for North America, where he built solutions across product development, manufacturing, sales, marketing & aftersales businesses. He is a member recipient of the U.S. patent on connected sustainable vehicles.
Mukhopadhyay began his career at Tata Motors working across a variety of roles in the manufacturing and supply chain areas. He earned his MBA from XLRI Business School in India and holds a master’s degree in physics from Calcutta University.
10. Inga Maurer
Company: McKinsey & Company
Title: Senior Partner, Member of Automotive & Assembly, Operations, and Private Equity Practices
Senior Partner Inga Maurer has served in a multitude of roles at McKinsey & Company. In addition to leading the company’s Advanced Industries and Automotive Practice, she is a member of its Automotive & Assembly, Operations, and Private Equity divisions. Maurer has contributed her sizable expertise to a great many achievements at McKinsey, most notably leading the company’s comprehensive material cost transformation project for a major international automotive supplier.
Maurer has worked at McKinsey in various capacities since 2005, rising from an internship early in her career to become a senior associate. She served as an investment banking associate at Goldman Sachs before rejoining McKinsey and rising to her current post after nearly a decade of excellence. Maurer earned a degree in economics from the University of Mannheim and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
11. Axel Schmidt
Company: Accenture
Title: Senior Managing Director and Global Industry Sector Lead, Automotive
Axel Schmidt is a 30-year veteran of the business consulting industry, currently serving as the Senior Managing Director and Global Industry Sector Lead of Automotive for Accenture.
Originally formed from the business and technology consulting division of accounting firm Arthur Andersen, Accenture specializes in information technology (IT) services consulting, serving a majority of the Fortune Global 500. In his leadership role, Schmidt leads a global, multidisciplinary team, helping leaders in the automotive sector understand, prepare for, compete in, and shape the future of mobility.
Schmidt joined Accenture in 2012 as Managing Director and Automotive Industry Lead for Austria Switzerland, Germany, and Russia. Previously, he began his career with Roland Berger, last serving as a senior partner. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Stuttgart in Germany.
12. Jody Stidham
Company: Deloitte Consulting
Title: Managing Director, Automotive
With nearly 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Jody Stidham is the Managing Director of Automotive at Deloitte, an international professional services network headquartered in London, England. Founded in 1845, Deloitte is the largest professional services network by revenue and number of professionals in the world and is considered one of the “Big Four” accounting firms. As Managing Director, Stidham is a leader in the firm’s Global Automotive practice, helping clients develop winning strategies that combine innovation and transformation and drive profitable growth.
Previously, Stidham served as Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at FordDirect, a Global Practice Director at Urban Science, and Director of CRM Marketing with General Motors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management and information systems from Kettering University and an MBA from Wayne State University; she also studied e-commerce at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
13. Amy Burke
Company: Ernst & Young
Title: US Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Account and Market Leader
In her capacity as Ernst & Young’s U.S. Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Account and Market Leader, Amy Burke has consistently led unmatched model transformations and technology implementation programs for major automotive and industrial clients. Burke rose to her current position in 2022, having worked as a key principal in advisory services for 11 years and delivered improvement growth plans for 22 large-scale brands across the region.
Burke served as a senior consultant at EY for five years before pursuing management positions at Capgemini. She also worked as a unit manager in charge of Purchasing and Strategic and Systems Planning at Honda of America before returning to EY in 2010. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Tech.
14. Alexandre Audoin
Company: Capgemini
Title: Executive Vice President; Head of Automotive Industry at Capgemini Group & Capgemini Engineering
For 25 years, Alexandre Audoin has grown into a leader in the automotive services industry. Audoin currently serves as the Head of Automotive Industry at Capgemini Group & Capgemini Engineering. The Executive Vice President joined the firm in 2020 with its acquisition of Altran, now Capgemini Engineering, immediately becoming a leader in the automotive industry and automotive engineering verticals. Capgemini is a multinational information technology (IT) services and consulting company, headquartered in Paris, France.
Before joining Altran in 2012, Audoin gained in-depth industry experience at Renault and PSA Group with a focus on engineering and powertrain activities. Before joining Altran in 2012, he was an R&D manager for Groupe PSA, and he spent 10 years as a leader at Renault. He holds a degree from the CESI School of Engineering and a master’s degree from the IFP School in France.
15. Klaus Stricker
Company: Bain & Company
Title: Partner and Director; Global Head of Automotive Practice
Dr. Klaus Stricker is a Partner and Director for Bain & Company, one of the “big three” American management consultancies. Founded in 1973, Bain & Company provides advice to public, private, and non-profit organizations as well as management consulting services to Fortune 500 CEOs. Stricker co-leads the firm's Automotive practice and is a member of its Advanced Manufacturing & Services practice. His clients include global manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers in the automotive after-sales industry.
Stricker's main focus areas are the strategic realignment, restructuring, and reorganization of companies and the development and implementation of programs for profitable growth and operational improvement. He has been a valued member of the firm since joining in 1999. He studied industrial engineering at the Vienna Technical University and completed his doctorate in production engineering.
16. Rick Kozole
Company: Alvarez & Marsal
Title: Managing Director and Leader of the Automotive & Industrials Group
Rick Kozole is the Managing Director and Leader of the Automotive & Industrials Group at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), a global professional services firm notable for its work in turnaround management and performance improvement. Founded in 1983, A&M has helped several large, high-profile businesses, including Lehman Brothers, HealthSouth, Tribune Company, Target, and more.
Kozole brings more than 25 years of consulting experience serving international clients across the automotive, aerospace and defense, and industrial sectors. He is recognized in his field as a proven leader who drives transformative cost and performance improvements for both healthy and distressed organizations.
Before joining A&M, Kozole was a senior partner at A.T. Kearney, where he was a global leader in automotive aerospace/defense, industrials, and transportation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in operations management and management and supervision from Michigan State University and an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business.
17. Cara Haffey
Company: PwC U.K.
Title: U.K. Manufacturing and Automotive Lead
Cara Haffey has been a mainstay at PricewaterhouseCoopers U.K. for over 20 years and currently serves as the company’s U.K. Manufacturing and Automotive Lead. Leveraging her experience as a chartered accountant, Haffey is a key player in PwC’s mergers and acquisitions deals and has worked with clients throughout the U.K. to benefit manufacturing companies of all sizes.
Before beginning her tenure at PwC in 2000, Haffey was an operational research analyst at British Airways. She is Vice Chair of the London ICAS Committee, a part-time member of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a board member of the mental health social enterprise, Innovating Minds. Haffey earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Lancaster University.
18. David Woodward
Company: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director, Leader of Automotive
Business transformation and restructuring expert David Woodward is the Senior Managing Director and Leader of Automotive at FTI Consulting. In this position, which he has held since 2007, Woodward leads FTI’s efforts in areas including multinational operations, business planning, litigation, and acquisitions and divestitures. In addition to his duties with FTI, he is repeatedly called to advise the boards of companies including his previous home, J. L. French Automotive Castings.
Woodward’s reputation as a visionary leader in the automotive sector is built on decades of excellence at a wide variety of companies. Before joining FTI, he contributed his talents to corporate excellence at Chassix, EY, and Talon Group, among other organizations. Woodward began his illustrious career as a senior auditor at KPMG, working with clients in the retail and manufacturing industries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Westminster College.
19. Cindy Wells
Company: Crowe
Title: Managing Director
Cindy Wells is a Managing Director in the consulting group at Crowe, a multinational professional services and consulting firm. Crowe uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit services to public and private entities. The firm and its subsidiaries also help clients make smart decisions that lead to lasting value with its tax, advisory, and consulting services. Wells specializes in production and planning with a specific focus in the metals industry. Cindy has more than 25 years of experience supporting ERP implementation, testing and documentation, trade and logistics, and production.
Wells boasts nearly 40 years of industry experience and is an expert in enterprise resource planning (ERP). Before joining Crowe in 2016, Wells was a senior consultant and solution architect at AKA Enterprise Solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in computer information systems from the Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business.
20. Kevin Laczkowski
Company: McKinsey & Company
Title: Senior Partner, Global Co-Leader McKinsey Automotive & Assembly Practice
One of the biggest names in global strategy and investments in the automotive world is Kevin Laczkowski, Senior Partner and Global Co-Leader of McKinsey & Company’s Automotive and Assembly Practice. Laczkowski works with clients across the industry, from manufacturers to dealers, in the commercial and passenger vehicle sectors. He contributes decades of experience in performance transformation, strategy, and mergers and acquisition, among other critical areas.
Previous to his work with McKinsey, Laczkowski served on the front lines of automotive innovation, working as a product development engineer with Ford Motor Company and power management company Eaton. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in the same field from the University of Michigan, and master’s degrees in engineering management and business administration from Northwestern University.
21. Christopher Reyes
Company: Slalom
Title: Managing Director
Christopher Reyes is the Managing Director at Slalom Consulting, helping the company deliver purpose-driven solutions to clients in not only the automotive industry, but also media and entertainment, financial services, aerospace, and beyond. Reyes specializes in matters related to strategic advising and business transformation, and has helped lead Slalom to new heights in their work with major brands and nonprofit entities.
Prior to joining Slalom in 2016, Reyes held key management positions at The North Highland Company, DIRECTV, Hitachi Consulting, and other major organizations. An avid volunteer, he is the current president of the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood, and previously led the academic nonprofit organization’s committee in strategy and governance. Reyes holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy and management from the University of Southern California as well as an Executive MBA from the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.
22. Aaswad Kulkarni
Company: Tata Consultancy Services
Title: Head, Vehicle Software Architecture, Automotive Engineering
Aaswad Kulkarni is the Head of Vehicle Software Architecture and Automotive Engineering at Tata Consultancy Services. As the leader of Tata’s vehicle middleware solutions team, Kulkarni is responsible for developing and refining the company’s classic and adaptive AUTOSAR digital infrastructure. He also leads Tata’s vehicle software platform initiatives.
A standout in the world of applied technology, Kulkarni has served in various roles at Tata for nearly two decades, rising from project lead and other posts to his current position in 2021. He previously worked in robot software development for PARI, and he developed embedded software for more than a year at Cruise Controls Pvt. Ltd. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Pune Institute of Computer Technology.
23. Martin Lundqvist
Company: CGI
Title: Vice President, Business Consulting and Automotive, Manufacturing, & Transport
Martin Lundqvist is the Vice President of Business Consulting and Automotive, Manufacturing, & Transport for CGI, a Canadian information technology services and consulting firm. Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world, providing comprehensive, scalable, and sustainable IT and business consulting services that are informed globally and delivered locally. Lundqvist is a leader in the mobility area in Sweden, where he has worked in customer projects, management roles, and as a global spokesperson for CGI.
Lundqvist is passionate about turning new technology into useful solutions and is often hired as a speaker both in Sweden and internationally. He boasts over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, including a decade at CGI. Previously, he was the Director of Mobility for Logica, which was acquired by CGI in 2012. He attended the IHM Business School in Gothenburg, Sweden.
24. Randall Miller
Company: Ernst & Young
Title: Global Advanced Manufacturing & Mobility Leader
As the Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Leader for Ernst & Young, Randall Miller is responsible for the company’s global $5 billion automotive, transportation, aerospace, and industrial products business. A veteran leader in the automotive world, Miller oversees EY’s strategy, market growth, and innovation, and leads its high-profile accounts with international defense and aerospace manufacturers. He previously served as EY’s global risk leader and coordinating partner for over a decade and oversaw the rapid growth of the company’s automotive business over the last 30 years.
Miller began his remarkable career in the automotive sector as a consultant and global lead for transportation with Anderson Business Consulting, leading that company’s Detroit office as a managing partner. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, and marketing from the University of Michigan.
25. Gary Silberg
Company: KPMG
Title: Partner; Global Automotive Sector Leader
With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Gary Silberg has long been a power player at KPMG as a Partner and Global Automotive Sector Leader. Silberg has contributed his business acumen to KPMG clients of all sizes, helping automotive startups devise sustainable long-term business plans and brokering deals between Chrysler and other international brands.
Apart from his extensive accomplishments with KPMG, Silberg continues to shine as a standout thought leader in the automotive industry. In addition to his ongoing advising duties with Ford Motor Company on major partnerships and divestitures, he is frequently invited to speak on behalf of the industry on major media platforms including CNBC, Reuters, and CNN. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia as well as an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
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