Ralf S. - Interim Manager, General Manager

Norway

Experience

Feb 2025 - Jul 2025

6 months

Kyoto, Japan

Interim Manager, General Manager

Daiichikasei Co. Ltd.

Pharma, biotech, botanical extracts
Took over non-permanent management
Carried out a restructuring
Realigned the company
MBO
Coaching of the leadership team
Implemented new processes
Change management

Dec 2023 - Dec 2024

1 year 1 month

İstanbul, Turkey

Interim Manager, COO, Senior Project Director

Solen S.A.

Confectionery
Responsible for operations rebuilding destroyed plant sections
Coordinated project teams
Led project managers & subcontractors
Managed procurement & assembly of new CAPEX & solar equipment

Apr 2022 - Apr 2023

1 year 1 month

Gaziantep, Turkey

Interim Manager, Senior Director Operations

Solen S.A.

Confectionery
Plant management
Master planning / concept / engineering / realization of a 65,000 sqm plant expansion for production, packaging and logistics
Owner’s representation
Plant relocation (project aborted after multiple earthquakes severely damaged the plant)

Jan 2022 - Feb 2022

2 months

Switzerland

Interim Manager, Senior Project Manager Plant Planning

Hochdorf AG

Dairy
Overall planning of company development for buildings, equipment & services
Led project management for sterile filling line infant milk plant
Resolved collisions

Jan 2021 - Dec 2021

1 year

Changsha, China

Interim Manager, Senior Project Director

Tianlong Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Pharma / cosmetics
Full project management for planning and executing greenfield expansion – production plant (from 72,000 to about 80,000 sqm / total 210,000 sqm)
Preliminary planning for future expansions (incl. solar energy & wastewater systems)
Controlled project processes
CAPEX negotiations
Claim management
Responsible for investment projects
Monitored overall project status

Feb 2020 - Nov 2020

10 months

İstanbul, Turkey

Interim Manager, Overall Project Leader / Plant Manager

Yildiz Holding Corporation

Confectionery
Project management of a 15,000 sqm new plant for production lines
Implemented existing concept for new plant and coordinated additions
Interface between planning / construction / owners / authorities
Liaised with utilities: water, heat

Jun 2019 - Jan 2020

8 months

Bengaluru, India

Interim Manager, Project Director

HEM Corporation

Pharma / Ayurveda
Expansion of production equipment & buildings incl. renovation
Coordinated external contractors
Monitored costs
Set up packaging line
Laboratory construction
Water, solar systems

Feb 2019 - Jun 2019

5 months

İstanbul, Turkey

Interim Manager, Plant Manager / Site Manager

Uelker Food Manufacturing Ltd.

Confectionery
Procured filling and packaging equipment
Site management
Demolition, renovation and expansion of lab / production areas
New fresh and wastewater systems
Solar installation

Oct 2018 - Jan 2019

4 months

Bengaluru, India

Interim Manager, Plant Manager

HDC Drugs Ltd.

Bio-pharma / Ayurveda
Handover acceptance of manufacturing hall (total approx. 20,000 sqm)
Installation & commissioning of packaging line for Ayurveda products
New lab construction
Water system
Power supply

Jul 2018 - Sep 2018

3 months

Beijing, China

Interim Manager, Plant Director

Zhaohui Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Food, pharma
Relocation and installation of a frozen food line (mantou, baozi, medical herbs)
Optimized freezing and packaging lines
Installed analytical lab
Ramp-up

Mar 2018 - May 2018

3 months

Guangzhou, China

Interim Manager, Plant Project Director

Oviten Haoyuan Beverages Ltd.

Beverages
Procured & relocated PET bottling line for soy drinks / malted sports drinks
Demolition & renovation
Lab expansion
Ramp-up

Dec 2017 - Mar 2018

4 months

Hanoi, Viet Nam

Interim Manager, Plant Director / Site Manager

Vina Suzuki Ltd.

Bio-pharma / TCM
Completed & accepted a 5,000 sqm production hall
Reconfigured drying system
Installed flexible packaging line for pharma and food (natural products)

Jul 2017 - Nov 2017

5 months

Japan

Interim Manager, General Manager

Ozawa Shuzo Ltd.

Beverages
Expanded historic production building under Japanese heritage regulations
Increased capacity of existing sake & shochu lines
Restructuring
MBO

Jun 2017 - Jul 2017

2 months

Heilbronn, Germany

Interim Manager, Plant Project Manager

Friesland Campina GmbH

Dairy
Project management for new filling lines
Optimized existing production lines

Mar 2017 - Jun 2017

4 months

George Town, Malaysia

Interim Manager, Plant Manager / Director of Operations

Ingsun Foods Ltd.

Restructured the company
Built a production plant
Trained local management team
Procured equipment
Led plant during ramp-up

Sep 2016 - Feb 2017

6 months

Kumamoto, Japan

Interim Manager, CEO

Morexim Foods Ltd.

Beverages
Partial plant relocation (50%)
Liquidation or restructuring of the company
Continued as MBO
Demolition / renovation of historic plant and boiler systems

Apr 2016 - Aug 2016

5 months

Singapore, Singapore

Interim Manager, Senior Project Director / Plant Manager

DP Food Technology Ltd.

Dairy
Partial commissioning of production operations
Assembly leadership
Procurement negotiations with suppliers
Developed local management team

Nov 2015 - Feb 2016

4 months

Guangzhou, China

Interim Manager, Plant Manager / General Manager

CFD Ltd.

POS displays
Completed production line for frozen display cases (e.g. chill counters, cold rooms, blast freezers) for retail
Managed procurement projects
Responsible for all manufacturing aspects
Improved effectiveness of ceramic materials production processes

Apr 2015 - Sep 2015

6 months

Shanghai, China

Interim Manager, COO

Jintai Industry Ltd.

Industrial print systems, digital printing
Production management & planning
Technical development & collaboration with R&D and sales on graphic systems
Procurement projects

Sep 2014 - Mar 2015

7 months

Xiamen, China

Interim Manager, COO

Quanzhou Communications Ltd.

MedTech
Head of production (handled production planning, production and delivery responsibility, process analyses)
Procurement projects

Apr 2014 - Jun 2014

3 months

Dongguan, China

Interim Manager, COO

TA Electronics Ltd.

MedTech
Responsible for plant/production, accounting and purchasing departments
Technical project leadership
Developed and implemented controlling tools
Oversaw all ongoing projects

Nov 2013 - Feb 2014

4 months

Hong Kong

Interim Manager, Head of Procurement & Operations

Sum Foods Ltd.

Food plant engineering
Technical & personnel leadership of operational and strategic management
Contract negotiations for packaging and filling lines

Apr 2013 - Aug 2013

5 months

Hong Kong

Interim Manager, Head of Operations

Ainol Technology Ltd.

FMCG, MedTech
Responsible for organization/support of all commercial tasks
Procurement of production equipment (metal/plastic/electronic)
Guided budget planning
Plant management

Oct 2012 - Feb 2013

5 months

Shenzhen, China

Interim Manager, COO, Senior Project Director

Umeox Co. Ltd.

FMCG, MedTech
Plant relocation of plastic processing/injection molding (new build)
Demolition of old equipment
Led new production after ramp-up
Managed site managers
Budget responsibility for the production site

Apr 2012 - Sep 2012

6 months

Shenzhen, China

Interim Manager, Head of Purchasing

Shenzhen Biyang Tongda Technology Co. Ltd.

MedTech
Built and managed long-term strategic relationships with key suppliers (plastic/metal/electronic)
Managed top suppliers

Dec 2011 - Mar 2012

4 months

Hong Kong

Interim Manager, Overall Project Leader

Xingyi Food Technology

Food, pharma
Executed plant relocation for packaging

Sep 2011 - Nov 2011

3 months

Hong Kong

Interim Manager, Management Consultant

Hongda Foods (HongKong) Ltd.

Food plant engineering
Contract negotiations with potential clients
Procurement of components (metal/plastic/electronic)

May 2011 - Sep 2011

5 months

Hong Kong

Interim Manager, Director Purchasing Asia

Dannemann Cigars AG

FMCG
Oversaw internal packaging manufacturing processes
Paper plant engineering

Feb 2011 - Apr 2011

3 months

Shenzhen, China

Interim Manager, General Manager

Easytech Mobile Systems SZ/HongKong Ltd.

FMCG
Company restructuring
Expanded sales organization

Apr 2010 - Sep 2010

6 months

China

Interim Manager, Director Operations, Site Manager

Zhong Jing Corp.

Solar technology
Production management for thin-film systems
Assembly leadership for international solar projects

Mar 2010 - Apr 2010

2 months

Shenzhen, China

Interim Manager, Director Sales & Procurement

Cinda Communication Shenzhen

FMCG
Strategic alignment of metal/plastic procurement
Process & production optimization
Implemented global sourcing strategies

Nov 2009 - Dec 2009

2 months

Beijing, China

Interim Manager, Director Sales

Beijing Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

Bio-pharma / biotech
Supported management in strategic realignment of processes (raw materials, packaging, technical equipment)

Jan 2009 - Oct 2009

10 months

Kyiv, Ukraine

Interim Manager, Director Operations

MediaGroup AG

Media / publishing
Reported to CFO of holding, responsible for finance, HR, IT and procurement
Restructuring and turnaround

Oct 2008 - Dec 2008

3 months

Zürich, Switzerland

Interim Manager, Lead Buyer Electronics / IT

CableCom GmbH

Media
Strategic direction of electronics & contracts purchasing in cooperation with other Liberty Global units (leveraging synergies between Cablecom, UPC Austria and UPC NL)
Developed, defined & reviewed KPIs and SLAs
Procurement
Negotiated offers

May 2008 - Aug 2008

4 months

Poland

Interim Manager, Strategic Sourcing Consultant

Sina Polska S.r.l.

Nature cosmetics
Supported management in strategic realignment of packaging procurement (plastic/cardboard)
Consolidated sourcing process

Feb 2008 - Apr 2008

3 months

Ulm, Germany

Interim Manager, Head of Purchasing

TM Tech GmbH

Automotive / plastics
Reorganized strategic purchasing management
Contract negotiations
Led regional sourcing initiatives
Controlling & reporting

Sep 2007 - Nov 2007

3 months

Ningbo, China

Interim Manager, Strategic Buyer

YingLi Trading GmbH

Recycling goods
Established strategic purchasing management
Procured equipment

Sep 2005 - Aug 2007

2 years

Vienna, Austria

Interim Manager, Head of Operations

Coldwater Trading Ltd.

Plant engineering
Wholesale of paper/plastic packaging equipment
Company liquidation

Sep 2000 - Dec 2004

4 years 4 months

Singapore

Director Sales & Purchasing

TaiTung Trading Ltd.

Plant engineering
Import & wholesale of European packaging equipment into Asian market
Concluded framework, terms & ancillary agreements

Oct 1994 - Aug 2000

5 years 11 months

New York, United States

Head of Sales & Marketing

P.I.A. GmbH

Marketing agency
Market launch campaigns for retail and industrial clients (consumer goods industry, food) to place products in CEE
Managed retail chains on an exclusive basis (REWE Group)
Optimized sales and product presentations
Analyzed customer and sales trends
Managed private label program
Procured merchandising systems

Dec 1990 - Aug 1994

3 years 9 months

Bonn, Germany

Commercial Managing Director, Plant Manager

KGS GmbH

Consumer goods industry
Overall project leader to establish production operations
Designed & produced POS displays for European food brands
Purchasing
Production planning

Dec 1989 - Oct 1990

11 months

Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany

Councilor for Culture

Stadtverwaltung Hohenstein-Ernstthal

Owner’s representation for building the new “Sachsenring” race track
Prepared international tenders
Awarded contracts under HOAI / VOB
Central procurement of construction and auxiliary materials
Oversaw project execution
Budget responsibility
Staff training

Summary

Plant engineering for process industries - manufacturing, packaging & filling systems for food / dairy / beverages & breweries / organic & herbal pharma / electronics / medtech
International project management for industrial construction
Company management
Site setup / development / restructuring / decommissioning / closure of companies
Overall project leadership for brownfield / greenfield projects to build and operate turnkey production plants / factories / local infrastructures

Personnel responsibility: approx. 50 - 1100