Jordan Bedford

Head of Transformation & Operational Excellence at Nexans | Lean, Digitalization & AI Adoption | Ex-McKinsey | MIT | Biopharma · Chemicals · Materials · Metals · Energy transition

Greater Oslo Region

About

Transformation and operational excellence leader who turns complex, global, technical organizations into predictable, high-performing ones. 20+ years across biopharma, specialty chemicals, and metals & materials — from the shop floor to the executive team — including McKinsey, Genzyme/Sanofi, Elkem, and now Nexans. I lead change that moves both the top and bottom line: business acquisition and integration, market and product strategy, operational excellence, supply chain, and the practical application of digitalization and AI. Deep expertise in achieving top line impact by advancing product and portfolio offering: - business acquisition and integration - market strategy - technology and product development, launch, and lifecycle management - customer technical support Highly skilled in advancing operations to deliver step change bottom line improvement: - direct and support operational excellence - supply chain optimization - development and innovation excellence - procurement optimization - application of digitalization, deep learning, and generative AI - team formation and leadership, talent development and coaching

Experience

  • Nexans (Oslo, Norway · On-site)
    • Head of Transformation and Operational Excellence, PWR-Transmission
      Jan 2026 - Present · 7 mos

      Lead Transformation activities and Lean/Operational Excellence, with heavy focus on Digitalization and AI adoption for Nexans PWR-Transmission. Focus on improving execution predictability, simplifying work, building organizational capability, and accelerating business performance across a global EPCI project-based organization.

    • Snr. Transformation Manager
      May 2025 - Jan 2026 · 9 mos

      Drove weekly Transformation SteerCo and follow-up rhythm. Led cross-functional transformation initiatives focused on operational excellence, product development, and business performance improvement. Worked with executive teams to drive strategy execution, capability building, Lean transformation, digitalization, and sustainable value creation.

  • Owner at Impact Insights AS
    Apr 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos

    We help clients accelerate their operational transformations and Lean business systems

  • Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company
    Aug 2022 - Feb 2024 · 1 yr 7 mos

    • Led client teams in green energy supply chain, e-mobility, automotive, and pharmaceutical production • Drove technology commercialization and ramp up projects, from pilot scale to full scale global production • Improved operations across global, technically complex production environments

  • Elkem AS (10 yrs 6 mos)
    • Director of Innovation and Product Development
      Feb 2017 - Apr 2022 · 5 yrs 3 mos

      Lead the innovation process for Elkem ESM Materials Managed team of researchers and lab engineers in 4 Business Areas (construction materials, polymer additives, oilfield chemicals, refractory additives), responsible for product development and technical support

    • Business Development Manager
      Sep 2016 - Feb 2017 · 6 mos

    • Elkem Business System Director
      Nov 2011 - Sep 2016 · 4 yrs 11 mos

      Lead operational excellence for Carbon Division and associated production facilities in Norway, Brazil, South Africa, and China

  • Genzyme (4 yrs 2 mos)
    • Site Head of Operational Excellence
      Feb 2009 - Jul 2011 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      • Hired and lead a 6 person Lean Transformation team for 600+ person flagship site • Coached leadership team on strategy generation and deployment (Hoshin Kanri) • Trained workers and management on Lean tools and philosophy including Managing for Daily Improvement, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Training Within Industry, and Kaizen rapid improvement workshops • Identified processes for improvement and lead improvement teams in manufacturing, quality, and business processes

    • Corporate Lean Transformation Leader
      Jun 2007 - Feb 2009 · 1 yr 9 mos

      • Developed operational excellence program, including training and event facilitation materials, for Lean transformation as part of global Center of Excellence • Trained teams and facilitated Lean workshops for corporate, manufacturing site, functional, and product teams, on Lean and other Operational Excellence tools