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Marc Gilbert is a core member of the Industrial Goods and Consumer practices at Boston Consulting Group and a leader in BCG’s Global Advantage and Operations practices. He leads the firm's work in geopolitics and trade impact within the Global Advantage practice and is the global lead of BCG’s Center for Geopolitics. He has engaged with clients in North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, helping them navigate today’s unprecedented shifts in the global business landscape. Marc spends much of his time advancing artificial intelligence (AI) in Canada, including in his role as a board member of SCALE.AI.

In addition, Marc is a core member of BCG’s Centre for Canada’s Future. In that role, he helps move Canada forward by providing insight and expertise on the country’s most important issues. The Centre also aims to convene leaders from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to work together to achieve impact.

Since joining the firm in 1997, Marc has driven and implemented large transformations and global change efforts across all major sectors in North America and Europe. Marc’s project work includes large-scale change, growth, organizational redesign, operational effectiveness, competitive benchmarking, and post-merger integration.

Prior to joining BCG, Marc worked at Merck & Co. in its manufacturing division, in process and new product engineering, and in new plant design. He also worked for Merck’s specialty chemicals division.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • MBA, INSEAD
  • MEng , chemical engineering, McGill University
  • BEng mechanical engineering, McGill University

Publications and Videos

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Climate Coopetition May Be the Best Route to Net Zero

In a shifting geopolitical landscape, policymakers and business leaders need to rethink how they collaborate—and compete—across borders as they work to reduce emissions.
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Economic Statecraft Is Back. Here’s Why It Matters

As geopolitical tensions rise and multilateralism declines, nations are increasingly using trade and economic policies to advance foreign policy goals, complicating the global business landscape.
How Geopolitics Changes the Procurement Equation | rectangle

How Geopolitics Changes the Procurement Equation

As the global business landscape grows more complex and politically fraught, companies are struggling to balance cost reduction, supply chain resilience, and access to key markets.
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Private Equity Adapts to the New Normal in Geopolitics and Trade

To stay competitive in today’s world of unexpected global events and evolving policies, investors need to understand their exposure to risk.
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Toward Open Strategic Autonomy

European leaders must adapt to an increasingly uncertain world, as trade flows and growth levels in 2032 will look very different compared to the past.
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Geopolitical Risk Is Rising. Here’s How CEOs Can Prepare.

The international order hasn’t been this uncertain in decades. CEOs must approach geopolitical risk with the same urgency as digitization, AI, and the climate crisis.
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An Evolving BRICS and the Shifting World Order

As more big emerging markets join the BRICS+ nations, the grouping could give the Global South a greater voice in world affairs and challenge the domination of existing institutions.
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Which Economies Benefit the Most from Free Trade Agreements?

An analysis of the trade agreements of over 100 economies and trade blocs shows how various governments compare across several measures of trade engagement.
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Steering Joint Ventures Through Geopolitical Storms

How do cross-border joint ventures protect themselves as the risks of doing business overseas increase? We outline some new rules for a changing world.

Building an Optimal Sourcing Global Footprint | BCG

In this video, BCG’s Marc Gilbert shares his perspectives on an effective sourcing footprint transformation.

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Jobs, National Security, and the Future of Trade

As global trade patterns change due to disruption, regional trade blocs with protectionist leanings gain influence.
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Harnessing the Tectonic Shifts in Global Manufacturing

Trade disruptions have prompted many global companies to shift where they produce and source goods. But getting the desired results requires a difficult balancing act.