Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) hired Rick Kozole as managing director. Based in Detroit, Kozole will serve as the leader of the firm’s newly-launched North American automotive and industrials group. Kozole also joins the senior leadership team of A&M’s global aerospace, defense and aviation team. His appointment expands A&M’s ability to provide these sectors with complex, enterprise-wide restructuring and performance improvement solutions in the areas of engineering, procurement, manufacturing, quality and logistics.
Kozole brings more than 25 years of experience in driving transformative cost and performance improvements for both healthy and distressed organizations. His experience spearheading multi-billion-dollar transformation and cost savings initiatives for major automotive, aircraft, naval and space organizations will benefit A&M’s clients. Kozole will advise transformations utilizing an integrated mix of initiatives, which include market entry strategies, capital planning, product development improvement, supply chain cost reduction, lean manufacturing, service operations improvement, product and assembly process standardization, and warranty cost reduction.
Prior to joining A&M, Kozole was a senior partner at A.T. Kearney and led the firm’s Global Automotive, Aerospace / Defense, Transportation and Industrials group. While at A.T. Kearney, he developed multiple organizational capabilities, including product development and manufacturing centers of excellence.
The addition of Kozole follows the recent hire of Managing Director James Marceau, who also joined the senior leadership team of A&M’s global Aerospace, Defense & Aviation team. Their combined expertise with complex value chain issues, financial performance improvement, innovation and growth across the business and enterprise lifecycle will help clients drive change and maximize value.
Tom Elsenbrook, managing director and leader of A&M’s Corporate Performance Improvement group, commented, “Rick’s appointment furthers our ability to help clients in this sector facing unprecedented market challenges to better ensure growth, innovation and financial viability through sustainable transformation. Rick’s expertise aligns with the firm’s heritage of operational excellence and strengthens our ability to provide clients leadership, action and results.”
Kozole added, “The multitude and pace of change that automotive, aerospace and defense, and industrial companies must now manage demand A&M’s hands-on senior leaders and integrated approach. I look forward to working with the team and harnessing the firm’s horsepower to drive value for clients.”
