Krishnan Saranathan
About Krishnan Saranathan
Krishnan Saranathan serves as the Senior Vice President of Replenishment at US Foods, where he manages a vast supply chain network. He has extensive experience in data analytics and operations, having held various leadership roles at United Airlines and US Foods over the past two decades.
Current Role at US Foods
Krishnan Saranathan serves as the Senior Vice President of Replenishment at US Foods, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he manages the availability of over 500,000 SKUs across 75 distribution centers throughout the United States. His responsibilities include building a resilient inbound supply chain network that can effectively handle disruptions in product supply and fluctuations in the freight market. Saranathan's focus is on providing industry-leading service to customers through strategic supply chain management.
Previous Experience at United Airlines
Saranathan has an extensive background at United Airlines, where he held various leadership roles. He worked as Managing Director and Head of Data Analytics from 2016 to 2018, and prior to that, he served as Managing Director of Customer Data & Optimization from 2014 to 2016. His tenure also includes positions such as Managing Director of Marketing Optimization in 2013, Managing Director of Mileage Plus from 2009 to 2013, and Director of Operations Research from 2004 to 2007. Saranathan began his career at United Airlines as an Analyst/Senior Analyst from 1995 to 1998.
Education and Expertise
Krishnan Saranathan holds an MBA in Strategy and Finance from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He also earned a Master of Science in Transportation Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. This educational background provides him with a strong foundation in both engineering and business management.
Career Progression at US Foods
Before his current role, Saranathan worked at US Foods in several capacities. He was the Vice President of Logistics from 2018 to 2019 and then served as Senior Vice President of Merchandising Effectiveness and Logistics from 2019 to 2021. His career at US Foods reflects a trajectory of increasing responsibility and leadership within the organization.
Consulting Experience
Earlier in his career, Saranathan worked as a Consultant at Parsons Brinckerhoff from 1994 to 1995. This role provided him with foundational experience in consulting, which he later applied in various capacities within the airline and food service industries.