Georg Hüwel - Independent Consultant and Interim Manager

Recommended expert

Cologne, Germany

Experience

Aug 2025 - Present

6 months

Independent Consultant and Interim Manager

RTB Consult

Independent consultant and interim manager in corporate management, business development, supply chain, procurement, and transformation.

Oct 2014 - Jul 2025

10 years 10 months

Cologne, Germany

Co-Founder, Managing Director, Shareholder

Servite GmbH

Supplying staff under the Temporary Employment Act to hospitality and industrial clients.
Developing and marketing software for temporary employment agencies, staffing service providers, and companies with field sales.

Jul 2011 - Oct 2012

1 year 4 months

Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland

Director of Supply Chain, Spare Parts Business EAME

AGCO International

Responsible for master data management, forecasting and planning, dealer inventory management, and parts procurement for the spare parts business in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Leading a team of 6 direct reports with a total of 110 employees in the region.
Building a new reporting system and adapting the organization to a brand-based sales structure.
Simplifying the KPI system to focus the organization on key metrics such as delivery reliability and cost efficiency.

Mar 2009 - Oct 2014

5 years 8 months

Cologne, Germany

Independent Consultant and Interim Manager

RTB Consult

Restructuring a German production site in the healthcare sector and relocating production from Germany to Asia.
Developing a new supply chain strategy for a medium-sized metal industry company and forming a joint venture with a Turkish manufacturer.

May 2006 - Apr 2008

2 years

Brussels, Belgium

Project Manager, Value Stream Management Implementation

WABCO Vehicle Control Systems (now ZF)

Leading a two-year organizational transformation project to move the company towards lean practices and digitalization.

Jan 2005 - Dec 2008

4 years

Brussels, Belgium

Director Global Supply Chain, BU Vehicle Dynamics and Controls

WABCO Vehicle Control Systems (now ZF)

Global responsibility for local manufacturing plants of the business unit, assembling parts and modules for mechanical and electronic brake systems for trucks and buses.
Organizational structure based on lean principles (value streams) including all business functions.
Led a team of 9 direct reports with a total of 1650 employees in the region (Germany, France, Poland, India, China, Brazil), reporting directly to the division head and VP Global Manufacturing.
Maximized business unit profitability by managing product costs of USD 600 million (USD 500 million material, USD 100 million manufacturing) with an annual investment budget of USD 15 million.
Developed strategy for low-cost countries.
Shifted suppliers and implemented the group's supplier lean program in the business unit.
Developed 5-year production and sourcing plan with corresponding site relocations and supplier changes.
Initiated regular kaizen events in the value streams focusing on standardization and visual management at the gemba.
Conducted value analyses on hydraulic brake systems to achieve lower part costs through redesign.

Feb 2001 - Dec 2004

3 years 11 months

Brussels, Belgium

Director Indirect Materials Procurement EMEA

American Standard Companies

Annual budget responsibility of USD 350 million for indirect materials with 7 direct reports and 60 employees in the region.
Consolidated procurement for three business units in EMEA and harmonized procurement policies.
Introduced a web-based spend tool to increase cost transparency and cost awareness by function.
Achieved annual savings of at least 3.9%.

Nov 2000 - Jan 2001

3 months

Brussels, Belgium

Purchasing Manager Indirect Materials EMEA

Honeywell Europe S.A.

Managed 5 direct reports and 75 employees in the region.
Annual purchasing budget of USD 500 million.
Reported to the VP Supply Chain EMEA.

Feb 1999 - Oct 2000

1 year 9 months

Barcelona, Spain

Purchasing Manager Indirect Materials and e-Procurement Europe

GE Power Controls

Annual budget responsibility of USD 113 million for material usage with 12 direct reports.
Initiated the use of electronic procurement tools such as procurement intranet, e-tenders and auctions.
Built a data warehouse.
Led Bullet Train initiatives (GE's cost reduction concept) with productivity improvements of 15.3%.
Conducted negotiation rounds in Q4, resulting in backend bonuses of USD 750,000 before year-end.

Jan 1996 - Jan 1999

3 years 1 month

Neu-Isenburg, Germany

Purchasing Manager Indirect Materials Germany

GE Finance Holding

Established the German GE Sourcing Council to bundle volumes and reduce the supplier base by 25%.
Introduced standardized procurement policies.

Jan 1996 - Jan 1999

3 years 1 month

Frankfurt, Germany

Head of Purchasing Indirect Materials Central Europe (DACH)

GE Medical Systems

Responsible for a procurement volume of USD 50 million with 3 direct reports.
Consolidated the procurement process.
Qualified new suppliers for cables and electronic displays, achieving a 15% price reduction.
Negotiated broader specifications with customer service for plastic parts to increase supplier competition.
Shifted from single sourcing to multiple sourcing to drive continuous annual productivity gains.

Jan 1993 - Dec 1995

3 years

Hanover, Germany

Head of Purchasing Chemicals and Packaging

Solvay Germany GmbH

Responsible for procuring fluorspar and packaging materials such as corrugated cardboard, glass, and big bags.

Aug 1992 - Dec 1992

5 months

Brussels, Belgium

Project Manager Europe

SOLVAY & CIE.

Analyzed distribution channels and managed the sale of mercury and copper from decommissioned Solvay Group electrolysis plants.
Developed a market and usage analysis for copper and mercury with traders and other buyers.
Sold all stocks of mercury and copper throughout the project.

May 1991 - Jul 1992

1 year 3 months

Hanover, Germany