Ralf (H.) Schérat
Interim Manager, General Manager
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 2025
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 2021 - 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 2020 - 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 2009
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
Languages
German
Native
English
Advanced
Russian
Intermediate
Chinese
Elementary
Italian
Elementary
...and 3 more
Education
Sep 1983 - Nov 1989
Military Leadership Academy Dresden
Diplom · International Trade Sciences, Architecture and Military Construction · Dresden, Germany
Sep 1971 - Jun 1983
Secondary School & Gymnasium Ludwigsfelde
Ludwigsfelde, Germany
Certifications & licenses
Real Estate Developer License for the European Union
European Union
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