McKinsey controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Opioid consulting and multistate settlement
Investigations and litigation examined McKinsey's advice to Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers. The firm agreed to a substantial settlement with U.S. states, leading to continuing debate about consultant accountability, conflicts, disclosure, and professional ethics.
2021
McKinsey settles Nevada opioid investigation for $45 million
Settlement
McKinsey agreed to pay $45 million to settle Nevada's investigation into its role in the opioid epidemic. A McKinsey spokesman said the firm did not admit wrongdoing or liability and denied contrary allegations.
Company response
Denial — McKinsey
Source excerpt
McKinsey & Co will pay $45 million to settle an investigation by Nevada of the big consulting firm's role in fueling the U.S. opioid epidemic.
Nevada had been the lone holdout among U.S. states investigating McKinsey's conduct, and Monday's settlement boosts the firm's payout for opioid settlements to about $641 million.
The settlements came after lawsuits showed how McKinsey advised drug manufacturers, including Purdue Pharma, which makes OxyContin, on how to market opioids, including by targeting high-volume prescribers.
2021
Omar Abdulaziz sues McKinsey over alleged report disclosure
Lawsuit filed
Omar Abdulaziz filed a lawsuit against McKinsey in New York, alleging that the firm prepared a report identifying him as a critic of Saudi Arabia and that the report was furnished to Saudi authorities or made accessible to them. McKinsey denied being commissioned by the Saudi government, said the document was intended for internal use, and said it had no evidence of misuse.
Company response
Denial — McKinsey
It was not prepared for any government entity. Its intended audience was internal. We have no evidence that the document in question was misused.
Source excerpt
An exiled Saudi dissident is suing consulting firm McKinsey & Co. in the U.S. for allegedly outing him to Saudi authorities as a critic of the kingdom. Omar Abdulaziz, a Montreal-based Saudi activist, filed the lawsuit at New York's Supreme Court on Monday.
It was not prepared for any government entity. Its intended audience was internal. We have no evidence that the document in question was misused.
2021
McKinsey agrees to $573 million opioid-related settlement
Settlement
McKinsey agreed to a $573 million settlement in a lawsuit concerning its work advising Purdue Pharma and other drugmakers to aggressively market opioid painkillers. The source reports an agreement, not a court finding of liability.
Source excerpt
Consulting giant McKinsey has agreed to a $573 million settlement in a lawsuit over the company’s work advising Purdue Pharma and other drugmakers to aggressively market highly addictive opioid painkillers.
2021
McKinsey agrees to $573 million opioid-crisis settlement
Settlement
McKinsey & Co agreed to pay $573 million to resolve investigations by most U.S. states over its alleged role in increasing opioid sales. The settlement also requires McKinsey to turn over internal documents.
Source excerpt
It also requires McKinsey to turn over tens of thousands of internal documents detailing its work for Purdue Pharma, the drugmaker owned by the wealthy Sackler family and most closely associated with the epidemic, and other drugmakers.
McKinsey & Co, the consulting firm, has agreed to pay $573 million to resolve investigations by most U.S. states over its alleged role in "turbocharging" sales of opioids, fueling a nationwide epidemic.
2021
McKinsey reaches opioid-crisis settlement with US states
Settlement
McKinsey reached a $573 million settlement with US states over claims that its advice to pharmaceutical companies contributed to the opioid crisis. The report said McKinsey would not admit wrongdoing and would accept court-ordered restrictions on some work involving addictive narcotics.
Source excerpt
Global consultancy firm McKinsey has reached a rare $573 million settlement with US states over claims that the company's advice to pharmaceutical giants contributed to the deadly opioid crisis, US media reported Wednesday.
The consultancy firm will not admit wrongdoing, reports said, but will submit to court-ordered restrictions on some of its work with some types of addictive narcotics.
Consulting firm McKinsey will pay $573 million in a settlement with states over its aggressive marketing tactics designed to drive up sales of dangerous opioids like Oxycontin.
2020
South Africa and Gupta-linked state work
McKinsey faced scrutiny over consulting work for South African state-owned enterprises during the Gupta-linked corruption scandal. The episode raised questions about intermediary relationships, public-sector contracting, and the firm's due diligence.