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Damian Hattingh

Leads our consumer work in Africa, advising consumer goods companies and retailers across the globe on commercial initiatives and supply-chain transformation, with particular focus on the African consumer landscape

Damian leads our consumer work in Africa. His experience includes advising companies in Africa, Europe, and North America.

Since joining McKinsey over a decade ago, Damian has helped prominent retail and consumer companies drive successful commercial initiatives, including optimizing routes to market, pursuing stronger revenue management, and using advanced analytics to drive commercial excellence. He has also guided efforts to address supply-chain related opportunities, including manufacturing and operational transformation.

Examples of his work include:

  • developing a market-entry and route-to-market strategy for an international food firm seeking to enter Nigeria
  • directing a turnaround strategy for a global consumer goods company’s Ghana operations
  • designing a revenue growth management strategy for a multinational player in Nigeria
  • implementing a manufacturing and supply chain transformation for a Nigerian beverages company
  • developing global regulatory strategies for leading alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages firms
  • directing a fresh-food transformation for a major grocery retailer in South Africa
  • developing a 5-year growth strategy for a top South African beverage company

Damian has taken particular interest in the African continent’s consumer markets and retail economy and he shares his insights through McKinsey publications. He is fluent in English and conversant in Afrikaans.

Published work

A growth arena: State of grocery retail 2024 Middle East and North Africa,” McKinsey & Company, October 2024

2020 Top picks: Our most popular articles,” McKinsey & Company, December 2020

Lions (still) on the move: Growth in Africa’s consumer sector,” McKinsey Global Institute, October 2017

South Africa’s cautious consumer,” McKinsey & Company, July 2016

Africa’s growing giant: Nigeria’s new retail economy,” McKinsey & Company, December 2013

The rise of the African consumer,” McKinsey & Company, November 2012

Education

New York University, Stern School of Business
MBA, finance, operations

University of Cape Town
BS, economics, music