McKinsey & Co. executive named next dean of Darden

Published January 8, 2015 by Jessica Sabbath

U.Va. has named a senior partner at McKinsey & Co. the ninth dean of its Darden School of Business.

Scott C. Beardsley will take the role on Aug. 1, when Darden's current dean, Robert F. Bruner, returns to the faculty after finishing his 10th year as dean of the graduate business school.

Beardsley served on McKinsey's board of directors from 2011 to 2014 and has spent most of his 26-year career with the management consulting firm in its Brussels, Belgium, office. He leads learning and development for all McKinsey professionals and is a top adviser to some of the world's largest companies.

Beardsley joined  the company in 1989, was elected partner in 1995 and senior partner four-and-a-half years later. Before his current role, Beardsley led the firm's strategy practice.A global strategy and regulation expert, Beardsley has served leading clients in the telecom, technology, public, nonprofit and professional services arenas.

A frequent author, speaker and media commentator, Beardsley has presented at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, and teaches as a faculty member in McKinsey's programs. Previously, he lectured in the MBA program of the Belgian business school Institut d'Administration et de Gestion. He chairs the board of directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium.