Consulting giant McKinsey allegedly fed the opioid crisis. Now affiliates may profit from treatment

McKinsey's wholly-owned hedge fund affiliate, MIO Partners, holds indirect stakes in addiction treatment centers and a maker of overdose treatments. Professor Emeritus of Accountancy Marianne Jennings, who's expertise is in legal and ethical studies, says the conflict of interest between the hedge fund and the McKinsey consulting business cannot be easily remedied.

McKinsey's wholly-owned hedge fund affiliate, MIO Partners, holds indirect stakes in addiction treatment centers and a maker of overdose treatments. Professor Emeritus of Accountancy Marianne Jennings, who's expertise is in legal and ethical studies, says the conflict of interest between the hedge fund and the McKinsey consulting business cannot be easily remedied.

In this story published Feb. 8, 2021, on NBC News:

On conflicts of interest, there are two ways to handle them — you disclose them and manage it or you don't do it. I don't know how you manage that unless you can show me there is absolute isolation of this fund. No matter how you slice it, you benefit. I don't see how you don't have an interest in that and input in that.

– Marianne Jennings, professor emeritus of accountancy