Finley, P. Foster

Foster is a Managing Director in AlixPartners’ Performance Improvement practice. He has a track record of high-impact, complex project execution and delivery for operations-intensive clients. His distinctive competencies include supply chain strategy, asset effectiveness, logistics management and inventory optimization. Some of the typical assignments that Foster has led include:

  • Assumed interim role as operating Head of Logistics for a PE-owned construction accessories manufacturer and distributor. Initiated transportation savings and procurement gains of approximately 10% of EBITDA by: building a center-led transportation shared-services function; redefining transportation processes; selecting and rolling out supporting technology; and negotiating new carrier contracts.
  • Procurement transformation for a $2B leading specialty retailer of apparel in North America. The results included a 20% annual cost reduction of addressed categories and a supporting reconfiguration of the procurement organization.
  • On behalf of a Fortune 100 grocery retailing and food logistics business, led the strategy development, design and market entry approach for an upstart third party lead logistics provider.
  • Business strategy development, design and industrialization of the world’s first common ocean carrier platform on behalf of a premier container shipping line. The resulting profitable business supports common logistics access, management and support for shippers and consignees across a growing number of participants.
  • Re-design and transformation for one of North America’s largest snack food producers’ DSD networks resulting in a sustained 6% operating cost reduction.
  • Logistics network design and facility layout for a new growth channel for a major North American book and media retailer.


Foster has over 20 years of consulting and industry experience. Most recently, he served at A.T. Kearney, where as a Vice President in the Operations Services Practice, he co-led the global supply chain offerings. Prior to that he spent six years at Deloitte Consulting in the consumer business practice. Prior to management consulting, Foster ran manufacturing operations for Rockwell Automation in Milwaukee (formerly Allen-Bradley Co.) for seven years.

Foster holds an MBA from Marquette University in Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, a Certified Turnaround Professional and is a Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management. He is a member of and frequent presenter at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (formerly Council of Logistics Management).