EFESO Taps Veteran Strategist to Architect AI-Driven Supply Chains

HOUSTON, TX – July 09, 2026 – In a move that underscores the critical importance of supply chain resilience in today's volatile global landscape, EFESO Management Consultants has appointed Kerry Rosenhagen, a 25-year industry veteran, as Expert Director and leader of its new Supply Chain Design practice. The appointment is a clear signal of intent from the global operations consultancy to double down on providing sophisticated, technology-driven solutions for companies navigating an era of unprecedented disruption.

As nations and corporations grapple with shifting trade policies, geopolitical friction, and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, the architecture of global supply chains has become a central pillar of strategic defense and competitive advantage. EFESO, a leading “pure player” focused exclusively on operations strategy, is positioning itself to guide clients through this complexity by bringing in a leader renowned for designing robust and efficient networks for Fortune 500 giants.

A Strategic Play for Market Dominance

EFESO's decision to bring Rosenhagen aboard is more than a high-profile hire; it's a calculated strategic maneuver. In a competitive consulting market dominated by large, multi-practice firms like Accenture and Deloitte, EFESO differentiates itself by its deep, specialized focus on operations. The creation of a dedicated Supply Chain Design practice under a recognized expert is designed to sharpen that competitive edge.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kerry to EFESO and have him lead our Supply Chain Design practice," said Andreas Doerken, CEO, EFESO Americas. "Kerry's combination of technical expertise, comprehensive industry understanding, and innovative thinking strengthens our ability to help clients implement decision-making frameworks that optimize production economics, manufacturing footprints, and distribution networks. I am excited to work with Kerry as we enhance our ability to deliver measurable value to our clients navigating complex global supply chains."

Rosenhagen’s extensive background validates this confidence. His most recent role as a Principal Strategist at Cobalt Advisors saw him crafting advanced optimization strategies for senior leadership teams. Before that, he spent two decades at Chainalytics, a firm he was instrumental in building into a powerhouse of network optimization consulting before its acquisition by NTT Data in 2021. Throughout his career, he has guided more than 80 companies across sectors—from industrial manufacturing and chemicals to retail and eCommerce—in fundamentally redesigning their supply networks to be more efficient, cost-effective, and resilient.

The Architect of AI-Augmented Networks

At the heart of Rosenhagen’s approach is the application of advanced decision science and analytics to corporate strategy. This isn't simply about finding cheaper shipping routes; it's about creating a unified, dynamic model of a company's entire end-to-end operation. This model integrates manufacturing footprint planning, sourcing decisions, distribution network logic, and inventory strategy into a single, coherent framework. The goal is to allow leadership to see the complex trade-offs between cost, service levels, and resilience, and make informed decisions accordingly.

Rosenhagen's vision for the new practice at EFESO is explicitly forward-looking, aiming to infuse this established methodology with next-generation technology. "The work EFESO has done with industry leaders across the world made this an incredibly compelling opportunity," Rosenhagen stated. "I was drawn to the company by the depth of the team’s experience, its rich history of innovation and the exceptional relationships EFESO has forged with its customers and partners. I look forward to working with Andreas and the rest of the EFESO team to build a supply chain design capability that pairs deep production operations expertise with world-class network modeling, enhanced by modern, AI-augmented technology."

This integration of AI is crucial. Traditional supply chain modeling has often been a static, project-based exercise. With AI, these models can become living digital twins of the supply chain, capable of running continuous simulations. They can predict the cascading impact of a sudden port shutdown, a new trade tariff, or a spike in commodity prices, and then prescribe the optimal response in near real-time. For global corporations, this capability transforms supply chain management from a reactive, cost-cutting function into a proactive, strategic enabler of growth and stability.

Navigating the New Geopolitical Chessboard

This technological leap is arriving at a moment of profound need. The relatively stable, globalized trade environment of the late 20th and early 21st centuries has given way to a more fragmented and unpredictable world. Supply chains, once optimized purely for cost and efficiency through lean, just-in-time models, are now being redesigned with resilience and redundancy as primary objectives. According to industry analysts, companies are no longer asking only "What is the cheapest way?" but also "What is the most secure way?"

EFESO's enhanced practice, under Rosenhagen’s leadership, is tailored to answer this new, more complex question. By establishing a unified decision framework, the firm enables organizations to strategically evaluate and re-architect their global networks. This involves a holistic assessment of a company's manufacturing footprint—deciding where to build factories and source materials—as well as optimizing the distribution networks that move finished goods to the end customer. This comprehensive approach ensures that strategic decisions made in the boardroom are fully aligned with the operational realities on the ground.

The practice promises to deliver not just a plan, but a clear roadmap for implementation. For clients facing a dizzying array of risks and opportunities, this structured approach provides a methodology for making confident decisions that balance short-term costs with long-term strategic imperatives. This is the essence of building a truly resilient system—one that can absorb shocks and adapt to change without collapsing. By bringing in a leader with deep experience in translating complex data into actionable strategy, EFESO is betting it can become the go-to partner for companies looking to fortify their operations for the turbulent decades ahead.