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Tim Ward

Senior PartnerSouthern California

Leads our work with US state and local governments, bringing the best of our cross-sector expertise in digital, analytics, transformation, service operations, and beyond

Tim has more than 20 years of consulting experience. Since joining McKinsey in 2004, his work has spanned a wide range of topics for state governments, health plan and healthcare providers, higher-education institutions, and not-for-profit organizations.

Tim leads the firm’s work with state and local governments in the United States, and for five years, served as the managing partner of our Southern California office.

Some examples of his recent work include the following:

  • identifying and delivering efficiency and effectiveness opportunities across state governments, designing and implementing new systems of care and support
  • leading major payer-transformation programs on topics including operational-performance improvement, capital planning, enterprise-risk management, corporate and segment strategy, and marketing and pricing
  • designing and delivering transformative-change programs for higher education institutions and not for profits

Tim is a Trustee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and serves on the Executive Committee of the CEO Leadership Alliance – Orange County.

Tim has lived in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. He was awarded the Hicks and Webb Medley Prize in economics while attending University College Oxford.

Published work

Bounce back better: Four keys to disaster resilience in US communities,” McKinsey & Company, October 2024

Deploying generative AI in US state governments: Pilot, scale, adopt,” McKinsey & Company, February 2024

Rewriting the script: LA’s opportunity for inclusive economic growth,” McKinsey & Company, December 2023

Homelessness in Los Angeles: A unique crisis demanding new solutions,” McKinsey & Company, March 2023

Bridging the talent gap in state government postpandemic,” McKinsey & Company, March 17, 2023

Governors-elect have transition teams. What about their cabinets?,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022

A new era of US infrastructure grants,” McKinsey & Company, May 2022

Zero-based budgeting for health plans: Dealing with uncertainty ahead,” McKinsey & Company, September 2020

Affordable housing in Los Angeles: Delivering more—and doing it faster,” McKinsey Global Institute, November 2019

High-performing US states: Is there a secret to success?,” McKinsey & Company, February 2018

Improving care delivery to individuals with special or supportive care needs,” McKinsey & Company, July 2016

Risk adjustment for retrospective episode-based payment: Guiding principles and proposed methodology,” McKinsey & Company, 2014

Past experience

Centigo
Strategy consultant

Halogen
Strategy consultant

Education

University College, Oxford
MA, philosophy, politics, and economics