Curriculum Vitae

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Knut Alicke

Supply Chain Expert · McKinsey Partner Emeritus · Author · Professor · Business Angel

info@alicke-scm.com LinkedIn alicke-scm.com

Senior supply chain executive and thought leader with 25+ years of global consulting experience at McKinsey & Company, including 21 years as Partner and Master Expert. Deep expertise in end-to-end supply chain transformation, digital supply chain, S&OP, inventory optimisation, warehouse automation, and AI/GenAI integration. Recognised Top 10 Global Supply Chain Influencer (2022–2024). Published author and university professor with a strong track record of impact across 100+ client engagements in manufacturing, pharma, retail, consumer goods, chemicals, and medtech.

Professional Experience
Senior Advisor · Business Angel · Coach · Keynote Speaker
2025 – Present
McKinsey & Company (Senior Advisor) | Independent
  • Advisory to McKinsey on supply chain strategy, AI/GenAI applications in SCM, and client engagements
  • Business Angel — investing in and advising startups in supply chain, logistics, and procurement
  • Keynote speaking on digital supply chain, SC 4.0, risk & resilience, and AI-enabled planning
  • Executive coaching for supply chain leaders on transformation and capability building
Partner & Master Expert, Supply Chain
2004 – 2025
McKinsey & Company, Stuttgart | Global Leadership Team, Supply Chain Practice
  • Led 100+ supply chain engagements across discrete manufacturing, pharma, retail, consumer goods, chemicals, and medtech
  • Designed and delivered 50+ end-to-end SC diagnostics: maturity assessments, benchmarking, future-state design, and leadership alignment
  • Drove 30+ E2E supply chain transformations covering process redesign, operating model, IT backbone selection, S&OP implementation, and SC Control Tower setup
  • Led 20+ warehouse transformation projects: lean assessment, automation technology evaluation, and ongoing coaching — achieving 10–15% cost reduction while improving picking accuracy
  • Member of the Global Leadership Team of McKinsey's Supply Chain Practice; shaped global knowledge and methodology development
Senior Vice President, Consulting & Research
2001 – 2004
ICON Ges. für Supply Chain Management mbH, Karlsruhe
  • Member of the management team; led consulting and research activities in supply chain management
  • Delivered client projects and contributed to proprietary SCM research and methodology
Research Assistant
1996 – 2001
Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Institute for Conveying Technology and Logistics
  • Conducted research in logistics systems; completed PhD (summa cum laude) and Habilitation
Academic & Teaching Roles
Honorary Professor (Prof. h.c.)
Current
University of Cologne, Seminar for Supply Chain Management & Management Science
  • Teach in execMBA Supply Chain and SC Games Seminar (Master level)
Visiting Professor / Executive Education Faculty
Ongoing
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) · London Business School · SKEMA Business School, Lille
  • KIT: Supply Chain Management (Master)
  • London Business School: Supply Chain Executive Leadership programme
  • SKEMA: End-to-End Supply Chain Management (Master)
Education
Habilitation (venia legendi in Logistiksysteme)
2003
Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Department of Mechanical Engineering
PhD (Dr.-Ing.) — summa cum laude
1999
Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Institute for Conveying Technology and Logistics
  • Dissertation awarded by BVL (Federal Logistics Association of Germany)
Publications & Thought Leadership
Books
  • From Source to Sold (with Radu Palamariu) — Bestselling business book on Amazon, 2022. Stories of leadership in supply chain.
  • Planung und Betrieb von unternehmensübergreifenden Logistiknetzwerken, Springer, 2001
Articles & Media
  • 20+ articles on digital supply chain, risk & resilience, SC 4.0, supply chain organisation, capability building, and transformation
  • Regular podcast guest; bi-weekly co-host on Felgendreher & Friends (supply chain & logistics)
  • Active presence on LinkedIn and Substack with practitioner-focused supply chain content
Recognition & Influence
  • Top 10 Global Supply Chain Influencer — awarded by Supply Chain Digital, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • #6 Global Procurement Creator — 2025
  • Top 10 Supply Chain Influencer — ISCEA (International Supply Chain Education Alliance), 2026
  • Multiple keynote addresses at BVL, IHK Stuttgart, SAP, Kinaxis, o9 Solutions, and client leadership events
  • Advisory board / Global Advisory Council member, Alcott Global (SCM), NEOIntralogistics
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