Stefan (Johann) L.

Director Procurement Europe

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Ottobrunn, Germany

Experience

Sep 2019 - Mar 2022
2 years 7 months
Weilheim in Oberbayern, Germany

Director Procurement Europe

Zarges Holding GmbH (part of Werner Co.)

  • Developed and implemented a procurement organization in Europe.
  • Managed a spend budget of more than $200M across 10 production plants and regional distribution centers in Europe.
  • Directed cost savings budgeting and rolling forecasts by category.
  • Led development and rollout of category strategies.
  • Introduced the Lead Buyer role and created the NPD Buyer role for the region.
  • Met program cost targets before SOP.
  • Drove cost savings initiatives including negotiation, standardization, VEVA/Design to Cost, BCCS, SCM, benchmarking, MoB, buy & resale, market analysis, relocation, outsourcing, insourcing, and consolidation.
  • Implemented e-procurement and procurement tools.
  • Built a shared service center in Hungary covering NPD, commodity and supplier quality functions.
  • Started global sourcing.
  • Managed a high-performance team of over 60 professionals, including Purchasing Managers, Regional Lead Buyers, Supplier Quality Supervisors, Supplier Quality Engineers, Commodity Buyers, NPD Buyers and Planner Buyers.
Jan 2019 - Present
7 years

Owner & Interim Executive

SJL Management & Consulting

  • Set up and rolled out purchasing organizations locally, regionally and globally for SMEs and MNEs.
  • Guided purchasing teams to performance KPIs linked to critical success factors.
  • Created and implemented cost-saving programs.
  • Built and grew purchasing teams through training, coaching and mentorship.
  • Advised and trained organizations on purchasing best practices and theory.
  • Developed and executed strategic purchasing.
  • Launched and supported supply task forces.
Dec 2015 - Jun 2019
3 years 7 months
Munich, Germany

Global Category Manager & Purchasing Manager Imaging

Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH

  • Established and managed an Imaging Business Division purchasing organization in Europe and Asia.
  • Oversaw a spend budget of over €350M across five production plants in Europe and Asia.
  • Handled PPV budgeting and rolling forecasts by category.
  • Created and deployed category strategies.
  • Designed and implemented a Lead Buyer concept.
  • Achieved program cost targets before and after SOP through to EOSL.
  • Rolled out e-procurement tools.
  • Led global sourcing initiatives.
  • Drove product cost optimization through negotiation, standardization, VEVA, BCCS, SCM, benchmarking, MoB, buy & resale, market analysis, relocation, outsourcing, insourcing and consolidation.
  • Managed a team of over 43 professionals including Purchasing Managers, Supplier Development Supervisors, Supplier Development Engineers, Buyers and Planner Buyers.
Jul 2010 - Nov 2015
5 years 5 months
Berlin, Germany

Purchasing Manager BU

Visteon Deutschland GmbH

  • Created and launched a Business Unit purchasing organization in Europe.
  • Managed a spend budget over $500M across more than 10 production plants and focused factories in Europe.
  • Handled Econ budgeting and rolling forecasts by plant.
  • Led the development and rollout of commodity strategies.
  • Met program cost targets.
  • Drove product cost optimization actions including negotiation, standardization, substitution, sourcing, VEVA, BCCS, SCM, benchmarking, MoB and buy & resale.
  • Supervised a team of 37 professionals including Commodity, Program, VGSS Buddy and Operations Buyers, and Supplier Quality Engineers.
Oct 2008 - Jun 2010
1 year 9 months
Schwaikheim, Germany

Corporate Quality Manager

Schefenacker Group Services GmbH (then Visiocorp Group Services GmbH)

  • Coordinated and optimized the group quality management system to ISO/TS 16949:2002.
  • Planned, conducted and managed internal and external audits.
  • Rolled out process management software globally.
  • Led a team of 18 Quality Management Representatives.
Apr 2007 - Jun 2010
3 years 3 months
Schwaikheim, Germany

Global Commodity Manager

Schefenacker Group Services GmbH (then Visiocorp Group Services GmbH)

  • Developed and executed strategies and budgets by commodity and region.
  • Negotiated and signed local, regional and global contracts.
  • Led product cost optimization measures including standardization, VEVA, LCCS, BCCS, SCM, benchmarking and make-or-buy decisions.
  • Identified, developed and evaluated strategic suppliers.
  • Built and launched a regional lead buyer organization by commodity with processes and systems.
  • Managed a team of 15 Lead Buyers.
  • Oversaw a spend budget over €200M.
May 2004 - Mar 2007
2 years 11 months
Dachau, Germany

Core Purchasing Airbag Systems, Technical Buyer

Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG

  • Acted as global Lead Buyer for local suppliers.
  • Worked with and selected suppliers within a strategic supplier portfolio.
  • Assessed and developed suppliers.
  • Supported global coordination and optimization of purchasing activities and processes.
  • Led a team of 10 Buyers locally, regionally and globally.
Dec 2002 - Apr 2004
1 year 5 months
Dachau, Germany

Serial Purchasing Airbag Systems, Technical Buyer

Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG

  • Negotiated contracts for budgets, NDAs, development frameworks and tool leasing.
  • Managed cost development of serial parts through VEVA projects.
  • Prepared forecasts and budgets across plants.
  • Handled supplier quality engineering tasks including audits and PPAP approval.
Sep 1999 - Dec 2002
3 years 4 months
Garching, Germany

Assistant to the General Manager

C.F. GOMMA Deutschland GmbH

  • Managed purchasing tasks like RFQs, market analysis and benchmarking for direct and indirect materials.
  • Oversaw CAPEX for equipment and tools with a spend over €50M.
  • Handled global sales and marketing for the business unit.
  • Implemented and trained teams in project management.
  • Conducted internal audits per ISO/TS 16949.
  • Represented the Managing Director on projects and reported to headquarters.
  • Led a team of 120 employees.
May 1997 - Aug 1999
2 years 4 months
Haar, Germany

Operations Manager

IMSI GmbH

  • Procured components and commodities in Europe and the USA with a spend over $20M.
  • Managed materials planning, order processing and inbound/outbound forecasting.
  • Handled import and export processing.
  • Oversaw order processing across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for retail and wholesale.
  • Planned and controlled product assembly and warehouse throughput.
  • Led a team of 15 employees.
Oct 1996 - Apr 1997
7 months
Haar, Germany

Assistant to the General Manager

IMSI GmbH

  • Assisted in establishing the materials management department.
Feb 1995 - Sep 1996
1 year 8 months
Munich, Germany

Assistant to the Managing Director

F.W. Woolworth Co. GmbH

  • Managed warehouse logistics including receiving, inspection, storage and distribution.
  • Oversaw store logistics including material planning and product presentation.
  • Handled office management, ERP systems, sales analysis, store analysis and POS systems.
  • Planned materials through central purchasing offices.
  • Supervised and controlled stores.
  • Led a team of 100 employees.
Mar 1993 - Dec 1994
1 year 10 months
Oberschleißheim, Germany

Production Model Maker

Bohus & Ranftl Gruppe

  • Executed project-related tasks including 3D measurement, evaluation and prototype production.
  • Produced UR models, cubing, tools, moulds, mock-up models, body models, foundry models and prototypes.

Summary

Passion for procurement excellence, strategic sourcing and supplier relations

Dedicated and dynamic executive with a proven track record in senior management and people leadership, strong commercial insight and expertise in global procurement management, sourcing and purchasing. An effective and clear communicator, engaging with C-level stakeholders and leading multinational, cross-functional teams through coaching, training and mentorship. Proven ability to develop and implement procurement strategies for product portfolios and build close relationships with suppliers and key industry contacts. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with extensive experience in negotiating price and delivery terms to ensure continuity while reducing costs and improving quality. Fluent in English, German and French.

Languages

German
Native
English
Advanced
French
Elementary

Education

Oct 2009 - Sep 2020

Henley Business School, University of Reading

Master of Business Administration, Executive MBA · General Management · United Kingdom · B

Oct 1999 - Mar 2006

University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg

Master of Industrial Engineering, Diplom-Wirtschaftsingenieur (FH) · Industrial Engineering, Business Management, Industrial Management and Engineering · Germany · A

Jul 1997 - Jun 1999

BME e.V.

Bachelor of Purchasing and Materials Management, Fachkaufmann für Einkauf/Materialwirtschaft (IHK) · Purchasing and Materials Management · Frankfurt am Main, Germany

...and 2 more

Certifications & licenses

Kevin Mitnick Security Awareness Training

Quality Management Representative – Internal Audit Course

RKW Sachsen

CAD Engineer Course

Verband Deutscher Eisenbahnfachschulen

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