Johannes Heppekausen

Senior Manufacturing Executive | Chemical Production Director | Operations Transformation | CAPEX, Automation & Continuous Improvement

Armilla, Andalusia, Spain

About

Manufacturing executive with 10+ years of leadership experience in chemical production, engineering, process optimization, and operational transformation. Leading a ~150-employee chemical manufacturing organization at Symrise Granada, driving CAPEX investments, asset modernization, automation, operational excellence, and talent development. Passionate about building safe, efficient, and future-ready manufacturing organizations.

Experience

  • Symrise AG ()
    • Director Chemical Production Granada
      Mar 2021 - Present · 5 yrs 7 mos

      Lead the overall performance and strategic development of Symrise's multipurpose chemical manufacturing site in Granada, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost competitiveness. Direct an organization of approximately 150 employees across production, engineering, maintenance, and site support functions, fostering a high-performance and continuous improvement culture. Drive site transformation through major capital investments, asset modernization, automation initiatives, and implementation of new production technologies. Lead operational excellence programs focused on safety, reliability, efficiency, and long-term manufacturing competitiveness. Guide portfolio optimization, product transfers, and industrialization of new processes in close collaboration with global stakeholders. Develop future leaders through succession planning, organizational development, and capability-building initiatives. Ensure compliance with regulatory, quality, food safety, and EHS standards while successfully leading internal and external audits.

    • Director Process Optimization
      Aug 2016 - Mar 2021 · 4 yrs 8 mos

      Leadership of production laboratories, pilot plant operations and process automation teams Transfer of laboratory innovations into commercial scale manufacturing Statistical process improvement using DOE, SPC and root cause methodologies Development of automation concepts for increased process stability and productivity

    • Lab Head Process Optimization
      Aug 2013 - Aug 2016 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Leadership of process troubleshooting and manufacturing support Development of scalable process improvements Root cause investigations for manufacturing deviations Collaboration with production, engineering and R&D organizations

  • Post-Doc at Firmenich
    Dec 2012 - Jul 2013 · 8 mos

    Asymmetric Hydrogenation.

  • PhD Student at Max Planck Institute for Coal Research
    2009 - 2012 · 3 yrs

    Efficient Silyloxy-Based Catalysts for Alkyne Metathesis. User-Friendly Precatalysts for Metathesis.