Johannes Kircher

About

Experienced Account Manager with Planning and industrial marketing background. Global Top 20 MBA with top 2% GPA. Fluent Japanese (JLPT 1), English (TOEIC 990), German (native). Skilled in Business Planning, Analytical Skills, Product Launches, International Business, and Product Management.

Experience

• Commercial Manager JV, Lithium at Rio Tinto
  Sep 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 2 mos

  * Sales management for Lithium Carbonates and Lithium Hydroxide from Joint Venture assets * Account management with Battery/Cathode and industrial customers * Cross functional coordination with quality, production and supply teams

• BASF (10 yrs 5 mos)
  • Strategic Accounts Manager
    May 2022 - Sep 2023 · 1 yr 5 mos

    * Strategic Account Manager for Refinish Coatings Solutions in Japan * Global Key Account Management for Japanese OEMs * Local Account Management for Global OEMs in Japan * Cross–functional management of Key Account relevant strategic initiatives with product management, marketing locally, regionally and globally

  • Marketing Manager, Refinish Coatings Japan
    Sep 2018 - Apr 2022 · 3 yrs 8 mos

    * Led the Marketing and Communications team for Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions in Japan * Marketing and Product Management of paint solutions for automotive aftermarket * Cross–functional management of product launches, demand and supply management with regional and global functions like supply chain, product management, marketing and communications

  • Regional Segment Manager, Refinish Coatings Asia-Pacific
    Jul 2015 - Aug 2018 · 3 yrs 2 mos

    Product launches, Sales training, Commercial vehicles. Regional Digitization Lead * 2017: Launch non-paint line in China/Japan * 2016: Launch waterborne paint line in China * 2015: Brand and portfolio repositioning strategy for baslac value-for-money brand

  • Product Manager Polyamide Asia-Pacific
    May 2013 - Jun 2015 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    Regional product management for $35mn portfolio in Japan/India/Taiwan/ANZ * 2014/2015: Pre-marketing for new polyamide 100KT China plant * 2014: Achieved over 20% sales growth with increased margin in 2014 through portfolio revamp

• Regional Wind Industry Strategy at BASF
  Jul 2012 - Sep 2012 · 3 mos

  • Wind turbine industry analysis & strategy • Industry strategy framework • Value chain analyses

• Manager, Corporate Planning & Accounts at Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
  Feb 2009 - Nov 2010 · 1 yr 10 mos

  $250m+ European food operations of $60bn+ leading Japanese trading company. • Department lead • Annual account closing, financial & commercial analysis • Restructuring of 6 subsidiaries in 4 countries • Reduced working capital by ∼$20m through customer portfolio review

• Business Analyst / Corporate Planner at Sanden of Europe
  Jul 2006 - Jan 2009 · 2 yrs 7 mos