This is a profile image of Vishal Agarwal

Vishal Agarwal

Senior PartnerSingapura

Leads our sustainability work in Asia with a focus on energy-transition strategy, green business building, and sustainable finance

As the co-leader of our Sustainability Practice in Asia, Vishal specializes in advising clients from the public and private sector on net-zero and decarbonization strategies, end-to-end operations transformations, capital-project delivery, and digital operations. He is also one of the leaders of the Singapore Innovation & Learning Center, our key capability-building hub and testbed for digital solutions.

Vishal plays a critical role in leading our efforts within the carbon management ecosystem – including carbon markets, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and CO2 removal (CDR) solutions. Recently, in support of the COP28 Presidential Action Agenda, he worked alongside the Monetary Authority of Singapore to drive the creation and adoption of high-integrity transition credits to mobilize financing in hard-to-abate sectors.

Vishal has also been instrumental in driving climate investment in the region supporting banks, private equity firms, and investors to create investment strategies, identify and assess the most promising opportunities for carbon reductions, and develop new sustainability-related products.

Over the last decade at the firm, Vishal worked extensively in the energy sector across Australia, China, India, and Southeast Asia to implement holistic transformations that drive sustainability and decarbonization of operations at power utilities, oil and gas companies, and other manufacturers.

Examples of Vishal’s recent projects include:

  • supporting an Asian plantation company on a precision forestry project, using advanced technology to accelerate growth and performance
  • developing a comprehensive decarbonization roadmap for an electric utility company in Southeast Asia to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
  • leading green business-building roadmaps for multiple energy companies in Asia across renewables, mobility, hydrogen, and nature-based solutions
  • delivering an end-to-end supply-chain optimization for a complex Southeast Asian business, which resulted in savings of $150 million through better planning, digital tools, and reduced logistics spending

Published work

Indonesia’s green powerhouse promise in ten bold moves,” McKinsey & Company, April 2024

Malaysia’s green business building opportunity on the net-zero journey,” McKinsey & Company, January 2024

How to power Indonesia’s solar PV growth opportunities,” McKinsey & Company, October 2023

Charting a path for Vietnam to achieve its net-zero goals,” McKinsey & Company, October 2022

How carbon markets can help Malaysia achieve its climate targets,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Ten ways to boost Indonesia’s energy sector in a postpandemic world,” McKinsey & Company, December 2020

Automation and the future of work in Indonesia,” McKinsey & Company, September 2019

Moving past the ‘pilot trap’ to unleash Industry 4.0 in Indonesia,” McKinsey & Company, February 2019

Cybersecurity and digital resilience: Seven practices for companies in Indonesia,” McKinsey & Company, September 2018

Confronting Indonesia’s productivity challenge” McKinsey & Company, November 2017

Past Experience

Wipro Limited
Senior internal auditor

Education

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
MBA