INFORMS Career FAQ: Elise A. del Rosario

In the decade since Elise del Rosario assumed leadership of the San Miguel Corporation's operations research group, the company has undergone a billion-dollar expansion and built 22 new manufacturing plants.

Today the firm, which produces San Miguel Beer-the top seller in the Philippines and Hong Kong and one of Asia's most widely recognized consumer products-is also into feeds and livestock. Coconut extracts and dairy products. Wines, spirits, fruit juices, and bottled water. Plus joint ventures with Nestle, Coca-Cola, Yamaha Glass, and the New Zealand Dairy Board.

And it boasts a truck fleet and "navy" larger than that of the Philippine armed forces, and contributes 4% of the island's gross domestic product and 7% of its tax revenues.

"We could not have been able to expand at the rate nor dared to undertake the expansion without operations research," said President and CEO Francisco Eizmendi, Jr., as he accepted a prestigious society prize for exemplary and ongoing use of OR recently.

Much of the credit goes to del Rosario who, after short stints providing decision support services for a consulting company and finance functions for a holding company, became a key member of SMC's management team and one of the big reasons for its success.