Oliver Wight appoints Andy Walker as CEO and Birgit Breitschuh as COO – Skilled Insights & Tendencies

Oliver Wight, a global consulting agency specialised in enterprise enchancment, has put in a brand new management crew for its UK and EMEA enterprise.

Efficient the first January 2026, Andy Walker has been appointed Chief Government Officer and Birgit Breitschuh has been appointed Chief Working Officer. Each have been with Oliver Wight for over a decade and can proceed their roles as companions.

In his new position, Walker will oversee Oliver Wight’s strategic planning, industrial course and ambitions throughout the EMEA area, whereas Breitschuh will head inside operations, together with processes, governance, expertise and finance – making certain operational excellence throughout the organisation.

Headquartered in Gloucester, Oliver Wight delivers tasks throughout the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Center East in areas reminiscent of enterprise transformation, built-in enterprise planning, efficiency enchancment, provide chain, change administration, and enterprise intelligence. The enterprise is led by a 22-strong associate group.

In 2025, Oliver Wight was named a number one consulting agency within the UK by Consultancy.org, and beforehand, the agency was named on FT’s checklist of UK’s main administration consultants.

Outdoors of the EMEA area, Oliver Wight additionally has workplaces within the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

Andy Walker

In his client-facing position, Walker works throughout a variety of trade sectors together with sportswear, vogue, brewing, vitality, defence, manufacturing, prescribed drugs, service, retail, and client items. He specialises in built-in enterprise planning, an strategy to operations administration that Oliver Wight has championed for many years.

Walker advises and coaches senior administration on how built-in enterprise planning can assist their organisations redesign enterprise processes and drive sustainable enhancements; enhancing customer support, growing manufacturing unit effectivity, optimising stock, and lowering prices.

Previous to becoming a member of Oliver Wight in 2009, Walker held management roles in trade. He began his profession in skilled companies, amongst others working at EY in its M&A enterprise.

Birgit Breitschuh

Breitschuh in the meantime has a profession that spans 20 years working for main client items corporations. After spending 5 years with Unilever and Kraft, she labored 9 years for Wrigley (Mars), the place she held management positions in its provide chain enterprise.

In her position as European Gross sales & Operations Supervisor at Wrigley, Breitschuh strengthened alignment between gross sales and supply-chain groups and processes. She led a portfolio spanning greater than 35 nations, with accountability for group gross sales exceeding ?1.2 billion.

She joined Oliver Wight in 2013 and relies within the firm’s Munich workplace. In her shopper work, she specialises in innovation, provide chain administration, and alter administration.

Kirsty Braines

After three years as CEO, Kirsty Braines has returned to a full-time position targeted on associate and shopper engagement. She has been with the consulting agency since 2007 and relies within the UK.

“We thank Kirsty for her management and dedication,” mentioned Oliver Wight in an announcement. “Her regular steerage has been invaluable throughout a interval of serious progress and evolution.”