Kathleen A. Murray
Kathy Murray brings deep experience and creativity to her work as a business growth executive, angel investor and advisor. She draws on her sales and operational expertise to build cooperation, streamline operations and drive revenue, helping each firm grow. Kathy serves as Principal of McMorran Strategists, LLC. Before that, she held senior C-suite positions in sales, business development and operations at publicly traded companies and partnerships — Aetna, PwC and FARO. Her current affiliations include serving as a Board Member of the Daily Gazette (a family-owned media company in Schenectady), Co-founder of Tech Up for Women, Founder of Executive Forum (EF) Angels, Chair of the Harvard Business School Women's Association, Life Trustee of the University of Rochester Board and Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association. Kathy speaks and teaches often on business development, angel investing, innovation, strategic thinking and relationship building. Previously, she sat on the Board of Verity Wines LLC, a wine distributor serving New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; the Board of New England Mechanical Services, an HVAC firm formerly in Hartford, CT; and the Advisory Board of TempBuddy, a SaaS enterprise software provider for staffing firms based in Dublin, Ireland. She was recently named a Centennial Laureate by the Ellis School and recognized by the Women's Venture Fund. As Managing Director of Operations at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (PwC) from 2000 to 2008, Kathy built and led a range of services — global sourcing and procurement, real estate leasing and facilities, security, crisis management, operational risk management, records, travel services, event management and supplier diversity — along with the technology that supported them. In 2013, she worked at FARO Technologies Inc., a leading provider of 3D laser measurement tools, in Global Market Development, seeking new markets for its innovative 3D products and services. Before 2000, she served at Aetna Inc. as Senior VP of Aetna Retirement Services and earlier as COO of Aetna Business Resources. She launched her career in sales and marketing leadership roles at Aetna and at INA (now Cigna). At various points she has overseen more than 3,000 staff with related budgets of $550 million, along with responsibility for procurement spending of over $3 billion. Kathy earned a BA in Math and General Science from the University of Rochester and the Advanced Management Program degree from Harvard Business School.
Alan E. Murray
Alan is an engineer who handles all of the behind-the-scenes support for McMorran Strategists LLC — technology, finance and taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads McMorran Strategists, LLC?
The firm is led by Kathy Murray, Founder & Owner. Kathy is an experienced, creative business growth executive, angel investor and advisor, and serves as Principal. Alan E. Murray, an engineer, supports the firm's technology, finance and taxes.
Where does Kathy Murray focus her work?
Kathy uses her sales and operational skills to foster cooperation, improve operational efficiency and grow revenue. Her work spans angel investing, board service and Tech Up for Women, and she frequently speaks and teaches on business development, angel investing, innovation, strategic thinking and relationship building.
What is Kathy Murray's professional background?
Kathy has held senior C-suite roles in sales, business development and operations at publicly traded companies and partnerships — Aetna, PwC and FARO. At PwC, she served as Managing Director of Operations.
McMorran Strategists, LLC pairs Kathy Murray's leadership in business growth, angel investing and board service with Alan Murray's engineering support behind the scenes. Together they help organizations pursue operational efficiency, stronger relationships and revenue growth.