Bruce Simpson

Bruce Simpson is a lawyer and business leader deeply committed to human rights. He is a Senior Advisor to Blackstone, and also to McKinsey & Company, on ESG/Purpose, advising on how companies can deliver positive societal impact, and long term shareholder benefits, through their core business. 

He has led McKinsey’s Canadian Practice, and convened the Operations Practice, the largest practice globally, as well as serving on McKinsey’s global board. He has led global initiatives on Innovation, knowledge development and people leadership.

Bruce serves leading institutions in the public and private sector, and is a strong advocate for corporate social responsibility. He led a major effort for McKinsey globally to galvanize private sector companies to shift from doing traditional CSR activities alongside their business, to full integration of ‘societal purpose’ inside their core business system. This requires redefining corporate strategy, products and services, renewing culture, and taking social/ environmental responsibility for the entire value chain, including suppliers and a broad set of stakeholders. Careful implementation of these strategies enables long term triple bottom line impact for society, the environment and shareholders.

His client work also includes designing and implementing transformation programs to improve performance, and achieve cultural renewal, fully engaging the work force at all levels.

Prior to moving to Canada in 2000, Bruce held various leadership roles at McKinsey in New York and Paris. Before joining McKinsey, he worked in Marketing at Procter & Gamble in Europe.

Bruce has published articles and given speeches on Business in Society, Canada in the Pacific Century, Public Sector Productivity, reenergizing NAFTA, and strengthening business relationships between Canada/Japan. He is also active in the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. He serves on the Canadian Boards of Catalyst, the Trans Canada Trail, and Human Rights Watch. He is also on HRW’s international Audit Committee.

Bruce holds a BA and an MA in law from Cambridge University and an MBA and an MA in international studies from Wharton Business School and the Joseph H. Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bruce was awarded a Churchill Medallion by Her Majesty the Queen for exploration in China, was a professional ski racer and musician, and is a keen sea kayaker in the arctic. He and his wife Tracy have three sons.