Incito Taps Global Ops Veteran Michael Olive as COO for Major Expansion

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 03, 2026 – Incito Consulting Group, a firm specializing in culture-driven operational excellence, has announced a significant leadership addition, appointing 30-year enterprise veteran Michael J. Olive as its new Chief Operating Officer. The move is a clear signal of the firm's ambition to aggressively scale its global operations and solidify its position in the highly competitive management consulting market.

Olive joins Incito with a mandate to accelerate growth, enhance operational infrastructure, and deepen the firm’s impact on its enterprise clients across the manufacturing, aerospace, and industrial sectors. His appointment comes as the operational excellence consulting segment, valued at a significant portion of the over $300 billion global management consulting industry, is projected to grow at a robust 8-10% annually through the end of the decade.

A Defining Moment for Global Ambition

Incito's leadership views this appointment as a pivotal moment. "I've known Michael for more than 25 years, and he is one of the most principled and capable leaders I've ever worked with," said Izzy Galicia, Founder and CEO of Incito. "He combines operational rigor, strategic vision, and extraordinary character. Bringing him on as COO marks a defining moment in Incito's evolution and positions us for our next chapter of global impact."

This "next chapter" involves navigating a landscape dominated by global giants like McKinsey and Accenture, as well as a host of specialized niche firms. By bringing in a leader with Olive's proven track record in scaling complex international operations, Incito is making a strategic play to enhance its competitive posture. The move suggests a deliberate strategy to build the internal architecture necessary to support a more substantial global footprint, moving beyond its established expertise to challenge larger incumbents on a broader scale. The firm, whose name is Latin for "Inspire," aims to translate its unique consulting philosophy into a globally scalable delivery model under Olive's operational stewardship.

An Architect of Enterprise Transformation

Michael J. Olive’s resume details a career spent architecting large-scale performance improvements for global organizations. His most recent role was Senior Vice President at GP Strategies, a global performance improvement company. There, he was responsible for a formidable operation, leading a team of 1,700 professionals spread across 40 countries and managing a business portfolio valued at over $180 million. Critically, he delivered consistent double-digit profitability, a metric that speaks directly to his capacity for efficient and effective operational management.

Throughout his career, Olive has directed complex operational excellence initiatives across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. These projects have consistently resulted in multi-million-dollar annual savings for clients, cementing his reputation as a leader who delivers tangible, bottom-line results.

His expertise is rooted in a deep technical background. A graduate of Boston University's College of Engineering with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Olive began his career at aerospace giant Pratt & Whitney. He was part of the prestigious MED 92 program, contributing to high-stakes manufacturing initiatives for the Boeing 777 and the Joint Strike Fighter. It was here that he first engaged with Lean implementation teams, an experience that would shape his professional trajectory. He later went on to lead consulting teams trained in the world-renowned Toyota Production System, further honing his skills in driving efficiency and eliminating waste.

Marrying Culture with Operational Rigor

At the heart of Incito's market proposition is a commitment to "culture-first" transformation. The firm operates on the principle that sustainable change is not merely about redesigning processes but about engaging people and reshaping organizational mindsets. The hiring of a COO known for operational rigor and large-scale systems could, from the outside, seem like a pivot. However, the company frames it as a powerful synthesis.

The challenge for many culture-focused consultancies is scaling their high-touch, people-centric approach without diluting its effectiveness. Olive’s role appears to be the answer to that challenge: providing the structural and operational backbone needed to deploy Incito’s methodology consistently and effectively on a global stage. His expertise in building robust systems is seen as the enabler, not the replacement, of the firm’s cultural focus.

Olive himself echoed this sentiment. "Incito represents the future of transformation—practical, disciplined, and people-centered," he stated. "I'm honored to join this exceptional team and help scale our impact while preserving the values that define the firm." This alignment is crucial, suggesting that Olive’s mandate is to build an operating model that amplifies, rather than stifles, the very cultural elements that differentiate Incito in the marketplace.

Navigating a Shifting Industrial Landscape

Olive’s appointment is also timely given the profound shifts occurring across the industries Incito serves. The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, is forcing manufacturers, aerospace companies, and industrial giants to fundamentally rethink their operations. The integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a futuristic concept but a competitive necessity.

Furthermore, recent global disruptions have placed unprecedented pressure on supply chains, demanding greater resilience, agility, and visibility. Companies are also facing increasing demands from stakeholders to improve sustainability and meet ambitious Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. These trends require a holistic approach to operational excellence that balances technological adoption, process optimization, and strategic foresight.

With his background in engineering and experience with complex systems like the Joint Strike Fighter, Olive is uniquely positioned to understand these technical and logistical challenges. His new role as COO will involve overseeing Incito’s global delivery, operational infrastructure, enterprise partnerships, and strategic growth initiatives. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring that Incito's consulting services not only address traditional Lean Six Sigma principles but also equip clients like Nike, Silgan Containers, and others in their portfolio to thrive amidst the complexities of the modern industrial environment. As COO, Olive is tasked with ensuring the firm's promise of driving both top-line growth and bottom-line savings is delivered with precision and scale across the globe.