Ankura Announces Addition of Performance Improvement Practice

Global expert services and advisory firm appoints a team of senior professionals to lead Performance Improvement practice with specific focus on Retail and Consumer Products

Ankura Consulting, LLC (“Ankura” or the “Company”), an independent global expert services and advisory firm, announced the addition of its Performance Improvement (“PI”) practice that works with businesses and their stakeholders across a variety of industries, with a specific focus on retail and consumer products.

Ankura’s Performance Improvement practice will be led by Senior Managing Directors, Keith Jelinek and Rick Maicki, who have over 50 years of combined experience advising executives, board members, private equity, and other stakeholders. Rounding out the leadership team are Managing Directors, Michael Casey, Frank Jones, and Laura Wheeler, who collectively bring a blend of operating, financial and digital transformation expertise with some of the most widely recognized brands and highly regarded companies in the world.

The PI team’s core offerings include inventory and working capital, store portfolio optimization, digital marketing and customer engagement, supply chain/manufacturing optimization, SG&A/indirect cost rationalization, labor workforce optimization, improving stores customer engagement, and merchandising effectiveness.

Keith Jelinek, Senior Managing Director, said: “We are excited to be at Ankura where we will have a platform that will enable us to bring the best firm-wide resources to our clients. We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues across all practice areas as well as geographies, as we continue to expand our reach outside of the US.”

Rick Maicki, Senior Managing Director, commented: “Our industry experience, as both operators and consultants, plus our data driven approach, including a set of analytical tools that we utilize, allows us to quickly address any situation and provide transformative solutions for our clients in a much more manageable time frame. This competitive advantage allows us to better serve our valued clients in a more efficient and productive manner.”

The PI team provides a unique skill set that combines their global consulting expertise with their direct industry corporate tenure, having worked on some of the most recognizable brands.

Kevin Lavin, Ankura’s Chief Executive Officer noted: “We are excited to welcome our newest colleagues. Their exceptional experience in transforming both healthy and distressed companies further strengthen our ability to bring the best resources to our clients. The team’s retail and consumer products industry expertise are a valued addition to our robust roster of industries that serve our clients across our practice areas and aligns with our continued growth trajectory.”

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