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Is principal the same as partner at McKinsey

McKinsey partner principal
New answer on Oct 28, 2023
4 Answers
5.7 k Views
John asked on Jun 03, 2019

Thanks.

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Benjamin
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Oct 28, 2023
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer

Hi,

I thought I'd share an update, at least for BCG perspective, given that they changed the titles a few years ago and can be quite confusing.

The current progression for BCG is as follows:

Project Leader (Manager) → Principal → Partner → Managing Director & Partner 

  • The new BCG “Partner” role is actually not an equity partner role, but rather a ‘Senior Principal’ role

Hope this helps to clarify!

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Sidi
Expert
updated an answer on Jun 03, 2019
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 350+ candidates secure MBB offers

Principal is the old word for Partner at McKinsey.

Until about 3 years ago the titles were: Associate Principal --> Principal --> Director

Nowadays, the roles are called: Associate Partner --> Partner --> Senior Partner

At BCG, it is slightly different. Here the word "Principal" refers to the pre-partner position (corresponds to Associate Principal/Associate Partner at McKinsey:

Principal --> Partner --> Senior Partner

Cheers, Sidi

(edited)

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Jun 03, 2019
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Associate Principal is not considered as a partner. You may think of it rather as a senior manager.

Principal = Partner

Best!

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John replied on Jun 03, 2019

What? I'm just asking if they are equivalent, not asking about associate principals nor associate partners which I would assume are equivalent too?

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