The Architect
As the chief supply chain scientist for Amazon.com, Russell was not just a thought leader for Amazon’s operations and logistics teams since 2000 but also built a team of analytic experts supporting initiatives in operations globally. Russell has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in practice, management, and research of OR/MS at Amazon. He is one of the most influential scientists in the field of logistics and fulfillment systems for e-commerce. He has used a combination of data analysis, modeling, simulation, optimization, and process control methods to tackle complex challenges and improve the efficiency of Amazon’s operations. Over the last 24 years, he has focused on problems including network design and facility location, inventory planning, order assignment, equipment and process design, vehicle routing, and process control within and across facilities. Ideas and algorithms developed by him and his team have returned billions of dollars to Amazon’s bottom line. Prior to joining Amazon.com, Russell worked in applied R&D for Bayer AG in Leverkusen, Germany, optimizing chemical processes—including creating a manufacturing process for the iconic red color for Legos. A recognized leader in his field, Russell received the 2016 Martin K. Starr Award for his contributions to Production and Operations Management and has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering and as an INFORMS Fellow. Russell holds a PhD in chemical engineering from MIT and a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Princeton.
