A little over three years ago the musically inclined Pierre Gentin took his keyboard and guitar from his office as head of global litigation at Credit Suisse bank in New York and joined the litigation group at Wall Street's Cahill Gordon & Reindel. After 20 years in-house, Gentin said he wanted to “grow.”

This month Gentin continued that growth. He left the law firm to return in-house, as the new general counsel at international consultant firm McKinsey & Co.

He replaces Jean Molino, who is retiring in April after serving 34 years as McKinsey's GC. In a statement, the company praised Molino and her team “for enabling our firm to expand its positive impact with clients, and in society, everywhere we operate.”

Corporate Counsel recently interviewed Gentin about his move. Here are excerpts from that interview, edited for brevity and clarity:

Corporate Counsel: You've been an assistant U.S. attorney, then a senior Wall Street in-house lawyer for two decades, and in 2015, you started a new chapter in your life by going into private practice. Why did you decide to return in-house?

Pierre Gentin: To me, the opportunity to be general counsel of McKinsey & Co., the world's pre-eminent consulting firm, is an incredible privilege. To lead a dynamic professional team globally, to help shape the strategy and contribute to the culture of a storied firm, to tackle the broadest range of legal issues around the world—that's a dream job.

This specific role came about when Jean Molino announced her retirement after almost 35 years. So I was intrigued by this unusual opportunity, and once I met the firm's leadership, I was convinced this would be a wonderful step.

CC: What size is your legal department at McKinsey?

PG: There are currently over 100 lawyers and other professionals in our department.

CC: What are your top priorities in your new job?

PG: I'm starting to learn the culture and history of McKinsey, getting to know the firm's leaders, understanding our practices and offices around the world, and, of course, my own team in the legal department.

There's a strong and robust culture of internal debate and self-reflection at McKinsey and I am beginning to add my own perspective to that conversation. I'm excited to do my part to help this great firm continue to thrive as we prepare to enter our second century.

CC: How does working for McKinsey, the world's largest consultancy, differ from working at Credit Suisse?

PG: Obviously, there are many differences between a public financial services company and a private consulting firm, but there are also many similarities.

Both are global firms offering diverse services, both are filled with remarkably talented people, and both have long histories of achievement and successful evolution over time. Also, a number of McKinsey consultants have gone on to work for Credit Suisse; in fact, the current CEO of Credit Suisse is a McKinsey alum.

CC: Do you have any regrets about the career changes you've made? 

PG: None. I feel very grateful for the opportunities that I've been given.

CC: In the last two decades, McKinsey has been associated with a number of challenging situations, including a graft scandal last year in South Africa. What role will you be playing, if any, in changing the culture or enhancing the reputation of the company? 

PG: In the short time I've been with McKinsey, I've been struck by the strength of the firm's culture. As a newcomer, I hope to contribute new and different perspectives as well. I'm confident we will learn lessons where we make mistakes and continue to raise the bar.

CC: Do you have any advice for an attorney considering leaving an in-house job to go into private practice; or leaving private practice to go in-house?

PG: Both law firm and in-house roles have their strengths. It's a very personal assessment and I'd encourage anyone thinking of moving between in-house and law firm roles to speak with people who've already made those transitions. More generally, I'd encourage lawyers to be open to different professional roles and experiences during their careers.

For me, government service, private-sector lawyering, teaching—that diversity of experience—has taught me many great lessons over the years and helped me identify what I value most as a professional and as a human being.

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