Matthew Fitzpatrick, a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and global head of QuantumBlack Labs, is departing the prestigious consulting firm after 12 years to become CEO of Invisible Technologies, a key player in the AI industry focused on data pre-training and post-training for large language models.
During his tenure at McKinsey, Fitzpatrick led the software and research and development arm of QuantumBlack, the firm’s AI division. He oversaw teams that helped companies scale AI projects and was instrumental in developing Kedro, an open-source analytics and machine learning library that has been downloaded more than 17 million times since its 2019 launch. Under his leadership, QuantumBlack Labs grew to employ 1,000 technologists, contributing to McKinsey’s total of 7,000 people working as technologists, designers, and product managers.
Invisible Technologies specializes in critical AI infrastructure services, particularly data pre-training—the initial phase of training for large language model developers—and post-training, which helps refine models for companies adopting AI technology. The company was valued at $500 million in 2024 and has maintained a relatively low profile despite its significant role in the AI ecosystem. According to Fitzpatrick, Invisible has been involved in model training for major AI companies over the past five years but has done minimal publicity.
Fitzpatrick’s move reflects his belief that Invisible can address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: helping businesses effectively integrate AI into their operations. He noted that despite significant hype around AI, fewer than 10% of AI models reach usage and production because enterprises lack the experience to evaluate, train, and operationalize them effectively.
Fitzpatrick connected with Invisible’s founder, Francis Pedraza, through a networking organization, describing the company as “the most under-the-radar critical AI company in the US.” His primary challenge in the new role will be managing growth without sacrificing quality as demand for Invisible’s services increases.
At McKinsey, Fitzpatrick was credited with transforming the firm’s talent acquisition strategy, bringing in more engineers and employees with quantitative skills—“hands-on keyboards guys, not power pointers,” as former colleague Somesh Khanna described them. This shift helped McKinsey integrate deep technical expertise into its traditionally consulting-focused culture. Fitzpatrick will be succeeded at QuantumBlack Labs by senior partner Tomás Lajous.
Key Quotes
Despite the hype around AI, we’re at a point where fewer than 10% of AI models reach usage and production because enterprises don’t have the experience to evaluate, train, and operationalize them. That’s where Invisible shines. I’m bullish we can help customers cross the chasm and realize the massive potential of AI.
Matthew Fitzpatrick explained his motivation for joining Invisible Technologies in the company’s press release, highlighting the significant gap between AI development and practical deployment that his new company aims to address.
It’s the most under-the-radar critical AI company in the US that I’ve ever seen, and it’s been involved in all of the model training for the last five years but has done very little publicity of any kind around that.
Fitzpatrick described Invisible Technologies to Business Insider, emphasizing the company’s significant but largely unrecognized role in training major AI models, suggesting its importance to the AI ecosystem despite its low public profile.
These guys, the new team that Matt was hiring and developing, were even more different — people who basically were hands-on keyboards guys, not power pointers.
Somesh Khanna, a former McKinsey senior partner who retired in May 2024 after nearly three decades, described Fitzpatrick’s impact on McKinsey’s talent strategy, highlighting how he brought technical expertise into a traditionally consulting-focused firm.
Our Take
Fitzpatrick’s move represents a broader shift in the AI industry from model development to operationalization and implementation. While much attention has focused on frontier AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, the real business opportunity may lie in helping enterprises actually deploy and use these technologies effectively. The 10% production rate statistic is particularly striking—it suggests that 90% of AI investments are failing to deliver value, creating enormous demand for companies that can bridge this gap. Invisible Technologies’ focus on pre-training and post-training services positions it at a critical juncture in the AI value chain. Fitzpatrick’s experience scaling AI initiatives at McKinsey and his ability to integrate technical talent into traditional business environments make him an ideal candidate to lead a company focused on practical AI implementation. This move also signals that AI infrastructure and services companies may offer more compelling opportunities than traditional consulting, even at elite firms like McKinsey.
Why This Matters
This executive move signals a significant trend in the AI industry: top talent from traditional consulting firms is migrating to specialized AI infrastructure companies. Fitzpatrick’s departure from McKinsey—one of the world’s most prestigious consulting firms—to lead Invisible Technologies highlights the growing importance of AI operationalization and model training services.
The statistic that fewer than 10% of AI models reach production underscores a critical gap between AI hype and practical implementation. Companies like Invisible Technologies are positioned to bridge this “AI deployment gap,” offering essential services that enable businesses to move from experimentation to real-world AI applications.
This move also reflects the maturation of the AI industry, where infrastructure and implementation services are becoming as valuable as model development itself. As enterprises struggle to operationalize AI, companies specializing in pre-training and post-training services will likely see increased demand and investment. Fitzpatrick’s track record of scaling AI initiatives at McKinsey and transforming talent acquisition strategies suggests he’s well-positioned to help Invisible capitalize on this opportunity and potentially emerge from its low-profile status to become a more prominent player in the AI ecosystem.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/mckinsey-senior-executive-departing-to-head-new-ai-company-2025-1