Robert Rourke elected L.E.K. Consulting's Americas Region Head
Chicago-based management consultancy L.E.K. Consulting has promoted Robert Rourke to Head of the Americas Region. Rourke, who joined L.E.K. in 1996, has over 25 years of management consulting experience.
Robert Rourke will replace Managing Director Peter McKelvey, who served as Americas Region Head for the past six years. “The partners wish to thank Peter McKelvey for his significant contributions leading the Americas Region, a term during which the Region achieved extraordinary growth,” said L.E.K. Global Managing Partner Stuart Jackson.
As the Americas leader, Rourke will guide the firm’s regional strategy and operations, while also chairing L.E.K.’s Americas Regional Management Committee and serving on the Global Leadership Team. He brings 27 years of consulting experience to the role, with particular expertise in growth strategy and M&A across a range of industries.
Previously, Rourke served as Managing Director and Head of Americas Building Products & Materials – a practice which he established and built into a market leadership position. During the past five years, he served as an advisor to over $50 billion in M&A activity in the North American portion of the industry alone.
In the course of his 22-year tenure at L.E.K, Rourke also served as Chicago office Head, as well as the first Head of the Americas Industrial practice.
“On behalf of all of L.E.K.’s partners, it’s a pleasure to congratulate Robert Rourke on his appointment as Head of our Americas Region,” said Jackson. “In addition to the significant innovations he has initiated within our Building Products teams and within that industry overall, he helped develop L.E.K.’s Industrials practice into one of the firm’s largest and fastest-growing areas.”
“On top of all of that, he has mentored numerous L.E.K. people, many of whom now have leading roles the firm,” added Jackson.
Before joining L.E.K., Rourke was a Manager with Accenture for five years. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, as well as a BA in finance from Syracuse University.
Aside from his consulting work, Rourke is a frequent lecturer at his alma mater – the Kellogg School of Management – one of the world’s most prestigious business schools. Rourke is also a board member of The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, and recently led a pro bono L.E.K. project for the Chicago Child Advocacy Center.
Earlier this year, he was named one of Consulting magazine’s Top 25 Consultants for Excellence in Leadership – a ranking which denotes the most influential and impactful consulting industry professionals.
