At BCG, we can't think of our ourselves as having impact on an organization. It's about the people. To change a client organization, you must have an impact on individuals. They will be the army that drives transformational change.

Matt Aaronson
Managing Director & Senior Partner
Chicago

Matt Aaronson leads BCG’s Aerospace and Defense practice globally and is also involved with our Industrial Goods and Operations practices. He leads the firm’s Career Development Committee in the Chicago office.

Since joining BCG in 2004, Matt has worked with clients on a range of strategic projects across the capital equipment and engineered products sectors. He now works predominantly with OEMs and suppliers in the aerospace and defense sector, and he specializes in driving large-scale transformational change programs.

Prior to joining BCG, Matt worked at Monitor Group.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Leads BCG's global work in aerospace and defense
  • Growth and business unit strategy
  • Technology commercialization
  • Aftermarket and service
  • Adjacency growth strategy
  • Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
  • Procurement
  • Large-scale transformation
  • Postmerger integration (PMI)

EDUCATION

  • MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
  • BCom, first-class honors, Queen’s University
  • BA, first-class honors, geography, Queen’s University

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Fellow, Leadership Greater Chicago
  • Board Member, Erie Family Health Center

Publications and Videos

The Sustainability Opportunity for Aerospace - Rectangle

The Sustainability Opportunity for Aerospace

The industry has ambitious emissions reduction goals for 2050. Major OEMs can coordinate the effort—and help shape the future of commercial aviation.
Aerospace and Defense Needs to Double Down on Digital - rectangle

Aerospace and Defense Needs to Double Down on Digital

Now is a good time to rethink and refocus technology investments with an eye to improving manufacturing capabilities and better managing production capacity.
Building Beachheads in the US Defense Market Through M and A

Building Beachheads in the US Defense Market Through M&A

Companies should plan now for how they might seize opportunities to establish new platforms in the US defense market.
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Commercial Aerospace Faces Turbulence, Not a Full Downturn

Complacency is not an option—even for thriving aerospace OEMs and suppliers. They must take steps to invest in digital and identify risks and pockets of growth.
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Strong Returns and Expectations for More

The A&D industry is poised for continued growth. The challenge? Valuation multiples have never been higher.
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How Women Can Help Close the Talent Gap in Aerospace and Defense

Despite some high-profile female executives, the A&D workforce is still largely male. With growth looming and companies struggling to fill key roles, that needs to change.
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Getting Real About Blockchain in Aerospace and Defense

Evangelists claim that the technology will revolutionize supply chains. But executives ask if it will create value. The answer: not as much as many think.
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The Aerospace Industry Isn’t Ready for Flying Cars

How will makers of these brand-new vehicles meet aviation-type standards and hold to much shorter development cycles?
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Defense Grows While Commercial Aerospace Slows

Although new orders from airlines have slowed somewhat, the A&D industry continues to outperform the S&P 500, thanks to strong growth among defense contractors.
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Three Steps for Cutting Supplier Costs in Aerospace and Defense

Prime contractors and integrators are getting squeezed by their customers (who want more affordable platforms) and their suppliers (who still charge high prices). Three tactical steps can help.
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Can Airplane OEMs Increase Their Share of Profits?

Airplane manufacturers sit atop the value chain but trail suppliers in profitability. Can they shift the profit balance, or is this the permanent state of the industry?
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A New Procurement Strategy for Defense Contractors

As the US defense industry becomes more competitive and as government budgets shrink, contractors must take systematic steps to analyze and reduce costs among their suppliers.
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