Experience

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  The bernini ensemble

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1995

  Conductor & general manager

  As an orchestral and operatic conductor and general manager, I founded, conducted and managed a professional chamber orchestra and opera company made up of 30 of the finest musicians of my generation, and conducted performances at venues including London’s world-renowned Wigmore Hall and the City of London Festival.

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  Uk government

  May 1996 - Sept 2000

  Fast stream civil servant

  As a fast-stream civil servant, I played multiple roles at the centre of the Department of Social Security – then the largest UK government department, with a budget of ~£100 billion (~1/3 of government spending) and 100,000 employees – including as private secretary (chief of staff) to the then Secretary of State, Alistair Darling, in a period when the department transformed its reputation inside and outside of government.

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  Mckinsey & company

  Oct 2000 - Dec 2022

  Global director of risk

  As McKinsey's Global Director of Risk (2011–22), I built and led McKinsey’s first global risk function and was the lead counsellor to the firm’s senior leaders and its partners globally on how they best serve their clients in higher-risk situations. I designed, advised and served as a member of the firm’s global Client Service Risk Committee. I also advised the firm’s board on enterprise-wide risk and resilience and the evolution of the firm's client-service policies.In my previous role at McKinsey, I co-led work to build McKinsey’s global public sector practice – as a Senior Expert on public sector reform, COO of the practice, and a member of its global leadership team (2003–11). I advised on government reform in over 30 countries, led multiple research initiatives on cross-government productivity and performance, and led work to establish the McKinsey Center of Government. Before then, I served clients in asset management, banking, energy, government, insurance and telecoms on strategy, organisation and operations, as a generalist ("integrative") consultant (2000–2003). Show less

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  Alastair levy advisory

  Jan 2024 - now

  Founder, advisor and coach

  We provide expert advice and executive coaching for leaders, teams, organisations and their boards across sectors and regions, by helping them address the opportunities and risks created by an era of increasing volatility and achieve their aspirations for making a positive difference.