Robert Phillips is Professor of Professional Practice in the Decision, Risk and Operations Division. He is also Director of the Center for Pricing and Revenue Management at Columbia University. His research and teaching interests are in the broad area of predictive analytics and the use of quantitative methods to help businesses make more effective decisions. His recent research has focused on the ways in which businesses can use their pricing and product positioning to improve profit and create competitive advantage.

Professor Phillips joined the Columbia faculty in 2009. Prior to joining Columbia, he spent 25 years as a consultant and an executive manager in several analysis-based companies. He served as the chief executive officer of Decision Focus Incorporated, a quantitative consulting firm and was a founder and first chief executive officer of Talus Solutions, at the time the largest price-optimization software company in the world. Following the acquisition of Talus by Manugistics, he served as the chief technology officer of Manugistics, a public supply-chain and enterprise optimization software company. He later founded and currently serves as a Director at Nomis Solutions, the leading price and profitability management software provider for financial services companies.

Professor Phillips was a Visiting Professor at the Columbia Business School in 2002 and has been a Lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. His articles have appeared in journals such as Management Science. He is the author of the book, Pricing and Revenue Optimization, and serves on the editorial board of Operations Research.

Professor Phillips received Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics and Economics from Washington State University and a Ph. D. in Engineering-Economic Systems from Stanford University.

Business Professor