Founder Profile
Marvin Bower
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Marvin Bower?
Marvin Bower is a founder of McKinsey & Company, which was founded in 1926 with James O. McKinsey.
- Company founded
- McKinsey & Company
- Founded
- 1926
- Co-founders
- James O. McKinsey
Background
Marvin Bower graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School and worked as an attorney at the law firm Jones Day before joining McKinsey.
Founding Story
Marvin Bower was an American corporate lawyer who joined McKinsey's firm in 1933 and is often called its modern founder. After James McKinsey's sudden death, Bower took over leadership of the firm. He set strict professional standards, including independence from clients, intellectual honesty and formal dress. He also recruited graduates directly from Harvard Business School in place of experienced industry managers, a practice that shaped the firm's culture and reputation.
Marvin Bower was born in 1903 in Cincinnati. Education: Brown University.