Brunn am Gebirge, Lower Austria, Austria
Erich is a multinational executive with a sound track record in B2B trading and merchanting in paper, board and viscom business. Founding, leading and re-engineering operations in Austria, Hungary, Romania and Czech Republic while meeting and exceeding the overall target to improve performance and profitability. Entrepreneurial attitude, hands-on mentality and fair, empathic team leader. Erich was running companies with P&L responsibilty from 1-150 employees and from 1 Mio € to 100 Mio € annual revenue. Erich took over the management of those entities showing at that time various levels of performance, always ready to motivate and implement change for further improvement . A sound set of multinational, multicultural CEE experience builds the base for managing multi-stakeholder interest, keeping helicopter view and moving fast forward to goals set and developed. Erich displays strong leadership competence, target and KPI focus while walking the extra mile with the team.
Reengineering project including working capital reduction and cost reduction- personell and operations. Outsourced transport and warehouse logistics and moved the company office reducing cost by 25%. Achieved the target to display "true profit" after 2 years (incl WACC) having cleared up non moving inventory, bad debts and implemented a comprehensive base for provisions according to company guidelines.
Started up the company from the scratch to almost 10 Mio € revenue after 3 years. The project included the Business Plan (Financing, Operations, Strategy, Marketing, team up locally) and the roll out in Bukarest. Proud having developed a highly result orientated powerful team which took the opportunity to build probably the most successful paper merchant in Romania. "Cash positive" after 10 months and displaying net profits in year 2 after start up. Handed over the organisation to local management who made it even better :-) congrats guys!
Running the company with 60 Mio € of revenue and market leader position with almost 30% of market share. Improving profitability slighty in 2005 while keeping the market position. Reshuffled the sales organization in order to focus better on strategic accounts who will survive the challenging printing industry. Developed and projected "on demand supply chain solutions" with dedicated customers. Shaped the assortment and supplier set up by selecting the most competitive ones at the same time reducing inventory and subsequently working capital.
Increased sales by 20% within 2 years and extended the leading position on the market. Profits raised by 10% at the same time. Office Paper business strategy turned out into doubling the sales and building a sustainable reseller as well as tender business. Graphical printing industry sales were kept on same market share level while improving cost structure (transport, personell).