Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) appointed Ben YoKell as a supply chain services practice managing director within its corporate performance improvement (CPI) group.

Leveraging nearly a quarter-century of experience, YoKell helps clients with supply chain and operational challenges, optimizing business capabilities to scale with growth, improved service, accelerated revenue, expanded profitability and enhanced return on capital. He focuses on manufacturing and distribution network optimization, inventory optimization, integrated business planning (IBP) and sales and operations planning (S&OP), demand forecasting and supply planning, cost to serve and product profitability, technology selection and implementation and supply chain business process improvement.

YoKell has worked in multiple sectors including food and beverage, consumer and retail, distribution and industrials while delivering $350+ million in measurable client value creation.

“Ben’s successful track record implementing improved supply chain strategies and transforming operations aligns with A&M’s operational heritage and results-driven approach,” Sean Laffere, a CPI managing director and national solution leader for the supply chain services practice, said. “His keen insight into upstream and downstream issues will enable clients to pinpoint root causes of supply chain issues and execute the most effective solutions. Ben’s supply chain management expertise strengthens our capability to help clients tackle complex challenges amidst economic volatility and unpredictable market disruptions.”

YoKell’s notable engagements include:

• Leading a supply chain planning transformation at an omni-channel retailer experiencing hypergrowth that included process redesign, technology selection and deployment
• Directing a network optimization initiative that reduced annual distribution and logistics costs by 20 percent for a manufacturer facing severe margin compression
• Developing an optimized branch replenishment strategy for a distributor, requiring $50 million less inventory for the same service levels while reducing operating costs by over 15%

Additionally, he has led multiple buy-side and sell-side diligence efforts, post-merger integration work, separation and carve-out readiness initiatives, and many functional assessments, root cause diagnostics, supply chain analyses and operational improvement initiatives.

“A&M’s integrated global platform enhances the firm’s ability to drive performance goals that yield positive and profitable change for clients without sacrificing value,” Yokell said. “Operational and supply chain pressures can result in profitability crises, even when companies experience dramatic growth. A&M’s offerings go well beyond cost takeout strategies. These capabilities provide for sophisticated value creation and EBITDA improvement opportunities through enhanced processes, technologies, and ways of working, along with execution excellence.”

Prior to joining A&M, YoKell served as the practice leader for Integrated Demand & Supply Planning with Chainalytics (now NTT Data). Previously, he had served as the sourcing and supply chain transformation solution leader for Grant Thornton’s Advisory practice and as partner-in-charge of Supply Chain M&A services with Grant Thornton’s transaction advisory practice.

YoKell was named a “Top 25 Operations Consultant and Leader” by The Consulting Report, and a “Provider Pro to Know” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive.