Experts & Advisors
David Tait
Managing Director
David Tait is a Managing Director at Ankura, based in Miami. David has more than 25 years of business experience, and has led performance improvement engagements in North America, Asia-Pacific, and the U.S. In addition to extensive experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain, and operations, David has led several industry-changing merger integrations. He is known as a practical leader who works well at all levels of an organization and focuses on change that delivers financial impact.
Experience
David has managed transformational performance improvement projects across a wide range of industries. Recent engagements include:
- For a manufacturer of consumer products, led a team that reduced commodity raw material costs by 14%, technology costs by 20%, and contingent labor costs by 18%, while revamping contract manufacturing. This effort increased the company’s valuation, leading to a successful sale by its private equity owner
- For a global services company undergoing a complete restructuring, led the transformation of procurement operations by streamlining processes, optimizing vendor contracts, and achieving cost savings
- Successfully oversaw the overall merger integration of two national outdoor retailers, delivering $250 million in cost reduction across various purchasing areas, including branded and private label hard lines and apparel as well as indirects
- Led the procurement and contracts restructuring of a national retail chain in Chapter 11, resulting in over $650 million in structural cost reductions enabling the company to emerge from bankruptcy with 80% of its retail network and employee base intact products firm
- Education
- MBA, Strategy and Operations, Ivy Business School
- BA, (Honors), Business, York University
