Küssnacht am Rigi, Schwyz, Switzerland
I lead industrial manufacturing businesses — and I have done so across various countries, industries and organizations ranging from €80M family-owned companies to $200 M global operations. My career has been built on one consistent approach: understand what a business is truly good at, build the right team around it, and then execute with discipline until the results are undeniable. I have led turnarounds, organic growth phases, carve-outs, and one full company transformation from niche supplier to global player — followed by a successful exit to a Fortune 500 acquirer. What I find most meaningful is working in companies where craft and engineering quality still matter — where the product has to be right because the customer depends on it. That combination of technical integrity and business performance is what I have spent 25 years learning to create. Current focus: precision-engineered fluid power and sealing components, operational excellence, and building high-performing international teams in technically demanding manufacturing environments. Industries: hydraulic power | automotive systems | industrial coatings | sealing solutions Austrian citizen based in Switzerland. Languages: German (native) · Spanish (native) · English (fluent) Outside of work: long-distance triathlon, which has taught me more about perseverance and pacing than any management book.
Leading SFC KOENIG (Leader in Sealing and flow control technology, Zurich CH, US, China and India) and Dynamic Sealing Group -Roplan and FTL (engineered mechanical seals, Sweden, UK, China and US) as part of IDEX corporation. Responsibility spans strategic direction, operational excellence, P&L ownership, and international team leadership. Key accomplishments: - Delivered sustained growth and industry leading results through growth initiatives, operational excellence and 80/20 focus, -Acchieved carbon-neutral site operations; 2024 IDEX Environmental Impact Award
Appointed by IDEX to stabilize business of BAND-IT one of the kost recognized brands in industrial fastening and lamping solutions operating globally with decades of heritage.
Appointed as founding CEO of XANDOR Automotive following the carve-out of EATON's connector division. Built the company from the ground up: established independent governance, installed a new leadership team, completed a major acquisition (former ROSTI Automotive Group), and navigated the group through the COVID-10 shutdown while protecting liquidity and key customers relationships. Initiated the transformation of the group into a customer focused, agile and value based organization. Lead the sales and marketing activities to book new business representing a 40% increase for the coming five years business plan.
As Global CEO at Hemmelrath Coating Group, I devised strategies, headed the market and sales activities, conducted negations that supported in successful sale of the global operations during 2019 to PPG a Fortune 500 companies. I changed the company from technology driven niche supplier into a global business player and innovator by delivering exceptional services. I developed and presented an agile organization and diverse and dynamic management teams. Below are some of my key accomplishment that I have attained during this tenure: ~ Utilized Kanban and Scrum methodology to execute agile project management organization based on self-managed cross-functional project teams. ~ Increased total turnover by more than 40% and overall profitability during the business plan period that positioned group on a growth path. ~ Founded new company to design new digital platform business model by starting artificial intelligence-based digitalization of current business. Working alongside the founding family over five years - from early transformation through eventual sale- gave me am understanding of founder-built companies that I carry into every leadership role: what they project, how decisions are made, and why continuity for employees and customers maters as much as the transaction itself.
As Global Sales Director Infotainment and Driver Interface at Delphi Automotive, I developed global customer strategies for business growth. I led global sales and marketing team with sale of $ 1,9B, while reporting directly to the vice-president of the group as well as played a key role as member of the division’s senior leadership team. I managed global revenue, sales, general administration costs, business development, and customer strategy formulation to ensure seamless working operations. Below are some of my key accomplishment that I have attained during this tenure: ~ Enabled growth and met revenue target by presenting global customer business unit organisation. ~ Improved and enlarged global customer portfolio by rebuilding relationships with distressed customer.