Annette Danek Akey
About Annette Danek Akey
Annette Danek Akey is the EVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Penguin Random House and a Founding Member at Chief, with over 25 years of experience in supply-chain management and industrial engineering.
Current Positions
Annette Danek Akey currently holds the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Penguin Random House, located in Frating Green, England, United Kingdom. In addition to this, she is a Founding Member at Chief, based in the Washington DC-Baltimore Area.
Previous Roles in Supply Chain
Annette Danek Akey has a long-standing history with Penguin Random House where she served in various capacities. She was EVP Supply Chain from 2019 to 2022 in Westminster, Maryland. Before that, she held the position of SVP Fulfillment from 2013 to 2019. Her tenure with Penguin Random House began earlier when it was Random House, where she served as SVP Fulfillment for a year (2012-2013) and VP Fulfillment from 2006 to 2012. Her roles have spanned numerous responsibilities, including Industrial Engineering and Maintenance as Director and VP from 1999 to 2005.
Educational Background
Annette Danek Akey has an extensive educational background. She earned her Executive MBA in Global Supply Chain from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee in 2022. Prior to that, she achieved a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University in 1993. She began her academic journey by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University, graduating in 1992.
Industry Contributions and Recognitions
Annette Danek Akey has made significant contributions to the supply chain industry, including transforming Penguin Random House's supply chain into a competitive advantage and transitioning it to a new digital marketplace. She was honored with the 2019 Rainmaker Award by DC Velocity for her leadership and contributions to the field. Additionally, she is a noted speaker on supply chain topics and has served as the Conference Chair for the 2017 Warehousing Education and Research Council.
Non-Profit Leadership Roles
Beyond her professional achievements, Annette Danek Akey serves as a Board President for two non-profit organizations: the Carroll Community College Foundation, which provides scholarships to deserving students, and the Warehousing Education and Research Council, a nationally recognized supply-chain think tank.
Specialized Expertise
Annette Danek Akey brings over 25 years of experience in supply-chain management and industrial engineering. Her expertise includes multi-site management, reverse logistics, 3PL, end-to-end, and global strategy planning. She has contributed extensively to making supply chains more efficient and strategically important within organizations.