Ghent, Flemish Region, Belgium
Senior Operations Leader and Business Manager with extensive international experience focused on driving growth in industrial businesses. I have a proven track record in plant turnarounds, fostering EHS and quality culture, achieving operational excellence through cost savings, optimizing supply chain networks, and developing strategic plans. My background encompasses significant experience in the silica and silicates sector, with expertise in both industrial operations and business development. I have successfully managed 35 plants across 15 countries. Recent Key Achievements: - Operational Excellence at PQ Corporation: Led a Lean Six Sigma program with plant teams, resulting in $2 million in annual cost savings. - Operational Excellence at JM Huber: Implemented Six Sigma and Value Stream Mapping, achieving an 8% reduction in raw material and energy consumption over three years, translating to $16 million in savings. - Disaster Recovery at PQ Corporation: Successfully restarted a furnace plant within three months following a major fire incident. - Network Optimization: Integrated two acquisitions and successfully closed two plants. - Strategy Development: Developed and executed a strategic roadmap for the Consumer & Industrial Silica Business at Solvay, leading to a 15% business growth over 18 months through sustainable, innovation-driven initiatives. - China Market Entry: Spearheaded JM Huber's entry into China by establishing a greenfield plant and building teams for plant operations, sales, and R&D. Key Expertise: - Global Operations Management - Operational Excellence and Productivity - Network Optimization - Business Development and Innovation - Strategy Development - Culture Transformation - Project Management - Silicates and Silicas Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Operational Excellence, Key Account Management, Cost Reduction, Footprint Optimization, Greenfield Projects, Start-Up Initiatives, Negotiation, Contracts, Mergers & Acquisitions, Product Development, Innovation Management, Customer Focus, Private Equity, Union Negotiation, Oral Care, Precipitated Silica, Hydrothermal Silicate, Potassium Silicate, Minerals, Battery Separators, Paper & Pulp, Nutrition, Personal Care, SME, Global Operations, American Markets, Rubber, Tire Industry, MRG, Agroindustry, China, USA, Brazil, India, EMEA
Management consultant to the chemical industry. Areas of expertise: - Precipitated Silica and Silicates - Operational Excellence - Operations & Supply Chain Management - Restructuring - Engineering
Managing all PQ sites in EMEA and Asia (15 sites - 500 people) : Furnaces, Dissolvers, Silica, Zeolite, Spray Dry & MgSil plants Daily production, SOIP, Operational Excellence, Leadership Development, Manufacturing Footprint Strategy, M&A integration
Managing the 12 plants in the EMEAA silicates business (furnaces, dissolvers, zeolites, spray dry & MgSil) Daily production, Operational Excellence, Leadership Development Manufacturing Footprint Strategy
Management consultant to the chemical industry, serving publicly traded, family owned, and private equity organizations in the areas of Manufacturing Footprint Optimization. Engineering, Marketing and Operational Excellence
Led consumer and industrial silica business worldwide, covering Oral Care, Battery, Food, Feed, MRG, and Speciality Markets. Served as member of the Silica BU Leadership Team • Realized 15% growth over 18 months by growing primarily in the USA and Asia. • Implemented strategic roadmap for CIG silica business (€ 100MM across 4 continents). • Revamped R&D pipeline and commercialized 3 new products (€ 20MM)
Created the global Consumer & Industrial Goods (CIG) market segment within Solvay Silica. • Developed strategic roadmap for the CIG silica business covering 5 markets. • Defined market size, growth, and innovation potential for each market and assessed in-house potential for success.