QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey (4.6/5) edges ahead of Ekimetrics (4.0/5) overall. QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey is the better choice for large enterprises running AI as a CEO-level program. Ekimetrics is the stronger option for marketing-led companies tying AI to measurable returns. The right choice depends on the size of your program, your budget, and whether you want the same firm to build what it recommends.
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey | Ekimetrics |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2006 |
| HQ | London, UK (McKinsey HQ: New York, USA) | Paris, France |
| Team size | 1,000+ | 400+ |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Board-level strategy and change management backed by McKinsey's own AI engineering group | AI strategy anchored in marketing measurement and sustainability metrics |
| Pricing model | Project fees set per engagement; rates not published | Project fees; rates not published |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Kedro, Vizro, AWS | Google Cloud, Azure, Python |
| Industries served | Banking & insurance, Healthcare & life sciences, Consumer & retail, Manufacturing, Energy, Public sector | Retail, Consumer goods, Luxury, Automotive, Financial services, Healthcare |
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics: overview
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey
QuantumBlack started in London in 2009 as an independent analytics firm and has been part of McKinsey & Company since 2015. McKinsey says it now has more than 1,000 technical practitioners, plus an R&D group, QuantumBlack Labs, of around 200 engineers, designers, and data scientists (per company website; independently unverifiable). A typical engagement pairs a strategy team that works with the chief executive and board with data scientists who build the first models, so the roadmap and the proof come from one firm. That access to the top of a company is the main reason to hire it. Price is the other side of it: fees follow McKinsey's own levels and are not published.
Ekimetrics
Ekimetrics was founded in Paris in 2006 and has 400+ data scientists and consultants across Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong, and other offices. Best known for marketing-mix measurement, it has added AI strategy and sustainability analytics, and in February 2026 it bought Actable, a customer analytics software company. Strategy engagements start from outcomes you can measure, such as marketing return or emissions. The scope is narrower than a general AI roadmap but much easier to tie to a budget line.
Services and capabilities: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics
| Capability | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey | Ekimetrics |
|---|---|---|
| Readiness assessment | ✗ | ✗ |
| Use-case prioritization | ✓ | ✓ |
| TCO / ROI modeling | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI governance & EU AI Act | ✓ | ✗ |
| Build vs. buy advice | ✗ | ✗ |
| Audit of live AI programs | ✗ | ✗ |
| Change management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Can build what it recommends | ✓ | ✓ |
Frameworks and platforms: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics
| Framework / platform | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey | Ekimetrics |
|---|---|---|
| EU AI Act | N/A | N/A |
| GDPR | N/A | N/A |
| NIST AI RMF | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | N/A |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | ✓ | ✓ |
| Databricks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Snowflake | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics
| Criterion | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey | Ekimetrics |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Strategy & roadmap engagement, Delivery team, Ongoing advisory | Strategy & roadmap engagement, Delivery team, Ongoing advisory |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics
| Dimension | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey | Ekimetrics |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Banking & insurance, Healthcare & life sciences, Consumer & retail | Retail, Consumer goods, Luxury |
| Best use cases | Setting an enterprise AI agenda that the CEO and board will own., Redesigning operating models and roles around AI at a large company. | Measuring and reallocating marketing spend with AI models., Sustainability reporting and emissions analytics. |
| Typical project type | Strategy & roadmap engagement | Strategy & roadmap engagement |
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics: pros and cons
| QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey | |
|---|---|
| + | Strategy teams work directly with chief executives and boards, which helps when AI spending needs sign-off at the very top |
| + | Change management and capability-building programs come from the same firm that wrote the strategy |
| + | Its own engineers build the first models, so feasibility gets tested before the roadmap is final |
| + | Maintains open-source tools (Kedro, Vizro) that show real engineering practice behind the advice |
| + | Industry depth across banking, health, consumer goods, and energy |
| - | Fees at McKinsey levels put it out of reach for most mid-market budgets |
| - | The firm that writes the roadmap also sells the follow-on work, so the plan may lean toward what McKinsey can deliver |
| - | Large programs mix partners with junior consultants, so confirm who will actually do the work |
| Ekimetrics | |
|---|---|
| + | Ties each AI use case to a number finance already tracks |
| + | Marketing-mix and customer analytics experience going back to 2006 |
| + | Sustainability and emissions analytics are rare among AI strategy firms |
| + | Delivers the models as well as the plan |
| - | Narrower than a general AI strategy firm, centered on marketing and sustainability |
| - | The Actable acquisition (February 2026) is still being integrated |
| - | Little change-management practice |
Who should choose QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey?
A typical fit: setting an enterprise AI agenda that the CEO and board will own.
Board-level strategy and change management backed by McKinsey's own AI engineering group. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Banking & insurance, Healthcare & life sciences, Consumer & retail, Manufacturing, Energy, Public sector.
Who should choose Ekimetrics?
A typical fit: measuring and reallocating marketing spend with AI models.
AI strategy anchored in marketing measurement and sustainability metrics. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Consumer goods, Luxury, Automotive, Financial services, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| Your board wants a costed, sequenced roadmap within a quarter | Ekimetrics |
| You already run AI that is missing its targets | Neither offers a separate audit; ask for a scoped review |
| Regulators will ask how each AI system is governed | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey |
| AI will change roles and processes for many staff | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey |
| You want the strategy firm to build the result too | Both can deliver after the strategy |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey (Not disclosed) vs Ekimetrics (Not disclosed) |
| You need a large team across many countries | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey |
Use case fit: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics
| Use case | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey fit | Ekimetrics fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting an enterprise AI agenda that the CEO and board will own. | Strong | Limited | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey |
| Redesigning operating models and roles around AI at a large company. | Strong | Limited | QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey |
| Measuring and reallocating marketing spend with AI models. | Limited | Strong | Ekimetrics |
| Sustainability reporting and emissions analytics. | Limited | Strong | Ekimetrics |
Verdict: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Strategy Consulting projects. Board-level strategy and change management backed by McKinsey's own AI engineering group.
Ekimetrics (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need sustainability reporting and emissions analytics. If your situation matches that, Ekimetrics is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey vs Ekimetrics FAQ
Is QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey better than Ekimetrics?
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey's strongest advantage: strategy teams work directly with chief executives and boards, which helps when AI spending needs sign-off at the very top. Ekimetrics's strongest advantage: ties each AI use case to a number finance already tracks.
How do QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey and Ekimetrics differ in pricing?
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey's pricing: project fees set per engagement; rates not published. Ekimetrics's pricing: project fees; rates not published. Any hourly bands shown come from Clutch, not a published rate card, so a scoping call is still needed for a project quote.
Which is better for enterprise: QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey or Ekimetrics?
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each consultant before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey and Ekimetrics?
QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey's primary differentiator is: board-level strategy and change management backed by McKinsey's own AI engineering group. Ekimetrics's primary differentiator is: AI strategy anchored in marketing measurement and sustainability metrics. They also differ in team size (1,000+ vs 400+), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Banking & insurance, Healthcare & life sciences vs Retail, Consumer goods).
Verify all details directly with each consultant before making a decision.