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Michael returned to Boston Consulting Group in 2017. He is a core member of the firm’s Global Advantage practice and a member of the Industrial Goods practice.

For more than 25 years, Michael has worked at the nexus of corporate strategy, public policy, and international geopolitics. He has been a member of the senior staff of the prime minister of a G7 country; a BCG principal; and a C-suite executive responsible for strategy, international trade, and international business development. He has successfully resolved trade disputes and/or market access barriers in the US, the EU, Russia, China, and Brazil. He has lived and worked in all three NAFTA countries, including running a Mexican manufacturing site with 225 unionized employees. Michael is a board member of the ICICI Bank Canada.

Michael began his career as a staffer in the Parliament of Canada, where he rose to become executive assistant to the prime minister. In this role, he participated in trade and diplomatic missions to 22 countries. He first joined BCG in 1995, working in the Toronto and Monterrey offices, and serving clients primarily in manufacturing. In 2001, he became a senior executive of Bombardier Inc., where he held leadership and C-suite roles in strategy, operations, international trade, and industrial services.

Michael is also fluent in French and Spanish.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION


  • M.I.A., international affairs, Columbia University
  • M.Sc., journalism, Columbia University
  • B.A., political studies, Queen’s University
  • Visiting Undergraduate, Harvard University

Publications and Videos

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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The Shifting Dynamics of Nearshoring in Mexico

Mexico still enjoys big advantages as a manufacturer for North America. But growing labor and infrastructure constraints—and US protectionism—threaten to erode its competitiveness.
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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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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.
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Lessons in Energy Resilience from the War in Ukraine

Bold policy moves and flexibility enabled Europe to weather the loss of Russian gas during the war in Ukraine. What can we learn from the crisis?
How Process Industries Can Catch Up in AI - Hero Rectangle

Five Steps for Solving the Rare-Earth Metals Shortage

The global 2050 carbon emissions targets may be eclipsed by a rare-earth supply-demand imbalance—unless governments, investors, and companies take swift, aggressive, and purposeful action.
How ASEAN Can Use Its Trade Advantage to Power Ahead

How ASEAN Can Use Its Trade Advantage to Power Ahead

Southeast Asia has benefited greatly from recent shifts in global trade. Here are several strategies that can help the regions’ companies make their next leap.
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Your Next Move in a Shifting Trade Landscape

Global trade has been transformed by Brexit, geopolitical tensions, the pandemic, and other shocks. Here’s how North American companies are adapting.
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The Unwinding of Global Tech Supply Chains

A wave of new rules is making it a riskier world for corporate technology pipelines. Understanding—and planning for—the challenges will be crucial.
Protectionism, Pandemic, War, and the Future of Trade | rectangle

Protectionism, Pandemic, War, and the Future of Trade

Risks associated with the Russia-Ukraine war and complications in China-US trade are encouraging a major reorientation toward ASEAN and other developing markets.