Gabriel Goicoechea

Senior Director of Operations South America

Chile

About

Senior Executive with full value-chain accountability, driving large-scale industrial performance, transformation and business impact across lithium, chemicals and energy operations. Proven track record leading complex, multi-site operations and delivering sustained improvements in cost competitiveness, operational efficiency and asset performance in highly demanding industrial environments. Combines deep operational expertise with a strong business mindset, translating strategy into execution and driving transformation initiatives that create measurable value across the organization. Extensive experience across the full lifecycle of industrial assets, including project development, commissioning and ramp-up, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations at scale. Trusted executive leader with exposure to executive committees and senior leadership, influencing strategic decisions and aligning cross-functional teams to deliver results. Recognised for building high-performance organizations and leading large, multidisciplinary teams in complex and unionized environments. Strong focus on operational excellence, leveraging Lean methodologies and continuous improvement to optimize performance and drive sustainable growth. Driven by a clear objective: delivering safe, efficient and sustainable operations while leading business transformation and long-term value creation.

Experience

  • Albemarle Corporation (Chile · On-site)
    • Senior Director of Operations - SA
      Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

    • Director of Operations - Chile
      Oct 2024 - Mar 2026 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Lithium carbonate and concentrate brine production. Chile

    • Operations Manager
      May 2022 - Sep 2024 · 2 yrs 5 mos

      Lithium carbonate production. Site Manager. Site located in La Negra, Antofagasta. Chile

  • COO - Operations Manager at Grupo Cbb
    Jun 2018 - Mar 2022 · 3 yrs 10 mos

    Cement and lime production. Sites located in Antofagasta, Copiapo and Argentina

  • COO - Operations Manager at Hidronor Chile
    Jul 2015 - May 2018 · 2 yrs 11 mos

    Hazardous waste treatment. Sites located in Antofagasta, Santiago and Concepción

  • Linde (On-site)
    • Bulk Supply Chain & HyCO Business unit Manager
      Mar 2012 - Jun 2015 · 3 yrs 4 mos

      Industrial gases production, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, argon. South America south region. Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Peru

    • Plant Manager
      Feb 2005 - Feb 2012 · 7 yrs 1 mo

      Hydrogen, Steam and CO2 production. Sites located in Enap Refinery. Concón Chile

  • Process Engineer at Methanex Corporation
    Sep 1998 - Jan 2005 · 6 yrs 5 mos

    Methanol production. Site located in Punta Arenas. Chile