Alan, who studied economics and finance at university, has spent much of his career focused on the aviation industry’s operations, sourcing, and supply chain functions, as well as on the aerospace aftermarket and maintenance, repair, and operations. “Although my educational background is primarily in business—particularly economics and finance—I have become passionate about aviation and aerospace,” says Alan.
From my first, up-close encounter with a wide-body jet engine, in a client engine shop, I was hooked on the sheer size and capability of these machines
Since Alan’s introduction to the aviation and aerospace practice, through one of Oliver Wyman’s longest standing aviation clients, he has stood at the intersection of both airline and aerospace clients. “I support airline clients in cost-reduction efforts across technical operations, which includes both contracted spend (such as sourcing, supplier management, and optimization) and operational cost categories (such as maintenance operations and programs),” he says. “On the aerospace side, I focus on the aftermarket business from a strategic standpoint, supporting our clients to better understand customer needs, and optimizing specific aspects of the services business such as supply chain, MRO operations, pricing, and cost management.”
He sees the industry undergoing a rapid transformation, which in turn will have an impact on the aviation supply chain. “Growing private investment interest in the industry has pulled my recent focus into smaller, more focused players in the aftermarket,” Alan explains. “These range from tier-1 and 2 component suppliers to maintenance tooling manufacturers to engine component distributors, whose businesses have new and interesting challenges. It is a critical juncture where our unique depth in the industry can sharpen their tools and add value for both clients and shareholders.”