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class="IndependentProfile_mck-c-independent-profile__wrapper-text__iYyLm"><h1 data-component="mdc-c-heading" class="mdc-c-heading___0fM1W_2734c4f mdc-u-ts-2"><span>Sander Smits</span></h1><div data-component="mdc-c-description" class="mdc-c-description___SrnQP_2734c4f mdc-u-ts-8">Senior Partner<a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/nl/overview" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Amsterdam</span></a></div><div data-component="mdc-c-description" class="mdc-c-description___SrnQP_2734c4f mdc-u-ts-8 mdc-u-mt-3"><p>Transforms operational performance and optimizes research and development for leading companies in the advanced industries sector</p></div><div data-component="mdc-c-link-container" class="mdc-c-link-container___xefGu_2734c4f mdc-c-link-container--display-column___X0HDD_2734c4f mdc-u-mb-2 mdc-u-mt-3 mdc-u-grid-gutter-md"><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="#" class="mdc-c-link-icon___SEKyg_2734c4f" aria-haspopup="dialog" title="Email" aria-label="Email" data-sid="F898050C-F978-4DF3-B2E8-05A4CDB652D5" data-layer-event-prefix="Exit Link" data-layer-action="click" data-layer-category="social" data-layer-subcategory="partner" data-layer-subcategory2="email" data-layer-text="Share this profile on email"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--radial___y3csX_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xl___3BEee_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--primary mck-email-icon"></span></a><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="linkedin.com/in/smits-sander" class="mdc-c-link-icon___SEKyg_2734c4f" target="_blank" title="LinkedIn" data-sid="" aria-label="LinkedIn" data-layer-event-prefix="Exit Link" data-layer-action="click" data-layer-category="social" data-layer-subcategory="partner" data-layer-subcategory2="LinkedIn" data-layer-text="Share this profile on LinkedIn"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--radial___y3csX_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xl___3BEee_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--primary mck-linkedin-thin-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">LinkedIn</span></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="mck-o-container"><div class="mck-o-container--wrapped mck-o-container--mobile-spacing"><div class="mdc-o-container__body Profile_mck-c-profile__wrapper__BqMov"><div class="Profile_mck-c-profile__container-main__rUO05"><h2 data-component="mdc-c-heading" class="mdc-c-heading___0fM1W_2734c4f mdc-c-heading--title___5qyOB_2734c4f mdc-c-heading--border___K8dj3_2734c4f"></h2><div class="mdc-o-content-body Profile_mck-c-profile__content-body__r8B5S"><p>Sander leads McKinsey鈥檚 advanced industries sector in the Benelux and the firm鈥檚 product development work in Europe.</p> <p>Since joining McKinsey in 2004, Sander has helped companies in the high-tech industry to improve their operational efficiency and overall performance. Often focusing on the research and development function, he helps establish more agile ways of working and leads programs to make product development more productive. Across functions, he leads large-scale performance transformations to establish a foundation for growth.</p> <p>Examples of Sander鈥檚 recent client work include the following:</p> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li>transforming global performance for a leading industrial company</li> <li>leading the buy-out trajectory of a large telecom equipment manufacturer</li> <li>optimizing the product development process for a leading semiconductors manufacturer</li> <li>driving an R&D efficiency and effectiveness program for a leading power electronics company with a focus on portfolio, footprint, and lean methodologies</li> <li>transforming the R&D function for a global telecom equipment company, including increasing productivity and implementing agile approaches</li> </ul> <p>Prior to joining McKinsey, Sander was a research scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and at Tohoku University in Japan. He holds advanced degrees in business, law, and theoretical physics. </p></div><div class="Profile_mck-c-profile__area-a__YIGXu container-placeholder mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-lg"></div></div><div class="Profile_mck-c-profile__sidebar-wrapper__E52KM"><div class="container-sidebar mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-xxl"><button data-component="mdc-c-button" aria-label="" type="button" id="button_id" class="mdc-c-button___U4iY2_2734c4f mdc-c-button--primary___Ed-lT_2734c4f mdc-c-button--size-large___jwpUy_2734c4f" data-layer-event-prefix="Exit Link" data-layer-action="click" data-layer-category="social" data-layer-subcategory="partner" data-layer-subcategory2="email" data-layer-text="Share this profile on email"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mck-email-icon Profile_mck-c-profile__contact-icon__Xw5Jp"></span></button><div class="mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-xxl" data-layer-region="profile-expertise"><div><h2 data-component="mdc-c-heading" class="mdc-c-heading___0fM1W_2734c4f mdc-c-heading--title___5qyOB_2734c4f mdc-c-heading--border___K8dj3_2734c4f"></h2><div><ul class="List_mck-c-list___Lb7q"><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/capabilities/operations/how-we-help-clients" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Operations</span></a></li><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/capabilities/operations/how-we-help-clients/operations-transformation" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Operations Transformation</span></a></li><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/capabilities/operations/how-we-help-clients/product-development-procurement" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Product Development & Procurement</span></a></li><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/industries/industrials-and-electronics/how-we-help-clients" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Industrials & Electronics</span></a></li><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/how-we-help-clients" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Strategy & Corporate Finance</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><div class="mdc-o-content-body Profile_mck-c-profile__content-body__r8B5S Profile_mck-c-profile__additional-body__hv_Ft"><h3>Published work</h3> <p>“<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/taking-the-measure-of-product-development">Taking the measure of product development</a>,” McKinsey & Company, October 2018 </p> <p>“<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/make-milestones-matter-with-decision-gatesstage-gates-with-real-teeth">Make milestones matter with ‘decision gates’—stage gates with real teeth</a>,” McKinsey & Company, June 2017</p> <h3>Education</h3> <p><strong>INSEAD</strong><br /> MBA</p> <p><strong>Leiden University</strong><br /> MA, law<br /> MS, physics</p></div></div><div class="mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-xl mdc-u-mt-5"></div></div></div></main></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{"locale":"en","dictionary":{},"sitecoreContext":{"route":{"name":"Sander Smits","displayName":"Sander Smits","fields":null,"databaseName":"web","deviceId":"fe5d7fdf-89c0-4d99-9aa3-b5fbd009c9f3","itemId":"f898050c-f978-4df3-b2e8-05a4cdb652d5","itemLanguage":"en","itemVersion":1,"layoutId":"ae753eb4-a035-40b4-83bf-4b4438df6742","templateId":"882cb5bd-9600-43d9-9d6b-de8134d4a7eb","templateName":"Profile","placeholders":{"jss-main":[{"uid":"8babdffb-0cfb-45a5-8364-eb32fa63d241","componentName":"Profile","dataSource":"","fields":{"data":{"profile":{"id":"F898050CF9784DF3B2E805A4CDB652D5","name":"Sander Smits","engTitle":"Sander Smits","displayName":"Sander Smits","url":"/sitecore/content/McKinsey/Home/Our People/Sander Smits","template":{"name":"Profile"},"title":{"jsonValue":{"value":"Sander Smits"}},"background":{"jsonValue":{"value":"\u003ch3\u003ePublished work\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\"https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/taking-the-measure-of-product-development\"\u003eTaking the measure of product development\u003c/a\u003e,\u0026rdquo; McKinsey \u0026amp; Company, October 2018\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\"https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/make-milestones-matter-with-decision-gatesstage-gates-with-real-teeth\"\u003eMake milestones matter with \u0026lsquo;decision gates\u0026rsquo;\u0026mdash;stage gates with real teeth\u003c/a\u003e,\u0026rdquo; McKinsey \u0026amp; Company, June 2017\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEducation\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eINSEAD\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\nMBA\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLeiden University\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\nMA, law\u003cbr /\u003e\nMS, physics\u003c/p\u003e"}},"about":{"jsonValue":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eSander leads McKinsey\u0026rsquo;s advanced industries sector in the Benelux and the firm\u0026rsquo;s product development work in Europe.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince joining McKinsey in 2004, Sander has helped companies in the high-tech industry to improve their operational efficiency and overall performance. Often focusing on the research and development function, he helps establish more agile ways of working and leads programs to make product development more productive. Across functions, he leads large-scale performance transformations to establish a foundation for growth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExamples of Sander\u0026rsquo;s recent client work include the following:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etransforming global performance for a leading industrial company\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eleading the buy-out trajectory of a large telecom equipment manufacturer\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eoptimizing the product development process for a leading semiconductors manufacturer\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003edriving an R\u0026amp;D efficiency and effectiveness program for a leading power electronics company with a focus on portfolio, footprint, and lean methodologies\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etransforming the R\u0026amp;D function for a global telecom equipment company, including increasing productivity and implementing agile approaches\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrior to joining McKinsey, Sander was a research scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and at Tohoku University in Japan. He holds advanced degrees in business, law, and theoretical physics. \u003c/p\u003e"}},"additionalExpertise":{"jsonValue":{"value":""}},"expertisePosition":{"jsonValue":null},"autoFetchPublishedWork":{"boolValue":false},"externalPublishedWork":{"jsonValue":{"value":""}},"aboutName":{"jsonValue":{"value":"Sander"}},"expertise":{"jsonValue":[{"id":"73078009-f095-409e-a3b5-f68e57634b52","url":"","name":"Operations","displayName":"Operations","fields":{"Related Link":{"value":{"href":""}},"Title":{"value":"Operations"},"Faceted Search":[],"Practice E-mail":{"value":"Ops_dot_com_First_Alert@mckinsey.com"},"Closer Tout Link":{"value":{"href":"/capabilities/operations/our-insights","id":"{ACE206E6-B83F-453B-8655-1C1A7016B420}","querystring":"","text":"","title":"","class":"","url":"/McKinsey/Home/Business Functions/Operations/Our Insights","linktype":"internal","name":"Insights on Operations"}},"Working With Us 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