VP Operations

• 7 sites in 3 countries (FR, NL, IT) (€180m sales, 450 FTE).
• Pure restructuring task (cost out, WC reduction, etc.).
• Footprint consolidation (2024: 1 site closed in FR, 2025: closing 1 site in NL).
• Reporting into the group COO.

Responsible for a global production network of 8 production sites representing €200m sales and 1000 FTE.

Restructuring and consolidation of the hole Willi Elbe Group:

• Reduction of overhead / structure costs by reducing number of sites from 8 to 5 Closure of Grabs site (CH) and Tamm site (DE)and relocation of production to the Kuklen site (BG). Fix cost sharing in Valle de Santiago site (MX) based on Maquila agreement production for another Aequita portfolio company.
• Improvement of value streams to reduce inventories and shorten lead times Implementation of global capacity planning for strategic footprint decisions; 20+ internal relocation or outsourcing projects completed to improve value stream and reduce costs.
• Implementation of massive cost saving programs savings of €8m in production identified by deep and detailed analysis of all processes and wastes as well as global multiplication; Building global acting teams in SCM and manufacturing engineering for local to global support.

Responsible for Eberspächer's external European JIS (Just-in-Sequence) plants (5 production sites in 5 countries representing a 3 digit million Euro sales and 230 FTE in total) at the operational and strategic level in terms of efficiency, quality, customer satisfaction and optimal use of resources.

• Led the strategic transformation of European JIS operations: standardizing structures and optimizing value chain efficiency through Lean initiatives, KPI-driven management, and internal change processes. Successfully established a new plant in Slovakia to expand operational capacity and flexibility.
• Restructured the EU pipe bending footprint: relocating a full production unit (300 products, 13 lines, 120 employees) across four countries. Built a new manufacturing segment in Romania from the ground up – ensuring seamless continuity and improved cost structure.
• Strengths demonstrated: strategic foresight, operational excellence, cross-border execution, and the ability to lead major transformations under complex conditions.

• Planning, industrialization and ram-up of complex chassis modules: ball screw drives; mechatronic active roll control.
• Practice leader SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die): Development of methods and tools for SMED (as part of the Lean production system of the company); Execution of 20+ workshops in EU; Set-up time reduction of up to 50+ %; Thus reduction of minimum lot size &WIP, increase of flexibility.