This is a profile image of Chantal Lorbeer

Chantal Lorbeer

PartnerNew York

Drives strategy, growth transformations, M&A, and diversity and inclusion in chemicals; partners with ambitious chemical-industry leaders to transform industry insight into action

Chantal is a partner with McKinsey’s New York office who advises chemicals companies around the globe on the topics of strategy, growth transformations, operating model, and portfolio moves. As a core chemicals practitioner, she leads our chemicals capital markets perspective and Strategy & Corporate Finance domain for chemicals globally.

Chantal works with her clients to pursue ways to grow and succeed in a competitive landscape, whether that is through smart acquisitions that add value, ambitious organic-growth strategies, or new operating models. She has served chemical companies around the world and her work is often shaped by turning industry insights and capital-market perspective into tangible strategic actions.

When it comes to turning ideas into action, Chantal is also passionate about driving talent, diversity, and inclusion topics. She is the founder of the “women in chemicals” roundtable, a network for women leaders in the chemical industry to connect, develop, and grow together. She also advises her clients about how a more diverse, inclusive environment in workforces can enable business value.

Chantal holds a PhD in chemistry and completed a postdoctoral program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. She also frequently writes and contributes to articles in peer-reviewed chemical journals, mostly on material science, luminescence, and nanotechnology topics. Outside of work, she enjoys scuba diving, traveling, photography, and more recently, bodyflying and golf.

Published Work

Securing competitiveness in India’s chemical industry,” McKinsey & Company, June 2024

Chemicals and capital markets: Regional differentiation,” McKinsey & Company, September 2023

Chemicals and capital markets: Growing sustainably”, McKinsey & Company, April 2022

Adapting your operating model to the next normal: The next big move in chemicals,” McKinsey & Company, February 2021

A winning formula for specialty chemical conglomerates,” McKinsey & Company, February 2021

Chemicals and capital markets: Refocusing on the fundamentals,” McKinsey & Company, December 2020

Chemicals and capital markets: Searching for a way back to the winner’s podium,” McKinsey & Company, November 2019

Chemicals in capital markets: Temporary setbacks or new disruptive trends?”, McKinsey & Company, November 2019

Resilience in chemicals: How to prepare for the next downturn,” McKinsey & Company, November 2019

Managing M&A in chemicals: Meeting the new challenges,” McKinsey & Company, January 2018

PAST EXPERIENCE

The LUMINET Project
Project manager

EDUCATION

Ruhr-Universität Bochum
PhD, chemistry

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Postdoctoral program