Marco Di Lello

Plant Director | Driving safety, Performance & Operational Excellence | Leading People & Trasforming Manufacturing | Multisite Leadership | Chemical Manufacturing & Process Industry

Greater Parma Metropolitan Area

About

Industrial executive with over 18 years of experience managing chemical and manufacturing plants. I have successfully led three Arkema sites in Italy, driving EBITDA growth, implementing lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and fostering a culture of safety, quality, and innovation. My strategic vision is backed by strong technical and managerial education, including a Master’s in Chemical Engineering, an Executive MBA, and international leadership training (HEC Paris, Fundação Dom Cabral). I am fluent in English, French, Portuguese, and Italian, and have worked in multicultural environments across Europe and South America. I am open to exploring strategic opportunities where I can leverage my experience to drive industrial transformation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth within complex organizations.

Experience

  • Arkema (Full-time · 10 yrs 4 mos)
    • Senior Plant Director
      Nov 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

      • Defined strategic roadmap and implemented quality rituals • Standardized production processes to ensure product consistency • Led generational change in key departments (HES, CI, Technical Service) • Drove continuous improvement in efficiency, quality, and cost control

    • Plant Director
      Sep 2017 - Oct 2023 · 6 yrs 2 mos

      • Reduced operational costs and increased productivity by enhancing staff flexibility and versatility • Adopted new energy-efficient technologies, leading to annual reductions in energy costs • Improved the site's EBITDA • Collaborated with R&D to accelerate the transfer of new products to production

    • HSE &Technical Services Manager
      Mar 2016 - Aug 2017 · 1 yr 6 mos

      • Managed production changes to support the transfer of new products from development to manufacturing • Established the Engineering and Maintenance department from scratch • Promoted a strong culture of safety and continuous improvement across the site • Ensured full compliance with Arkema’s corporate policies and operational standards • Oversaw the HSE management system and led the Technical Service department

  • Senior Consultant at SMART Consulting Group - Brazil
    Sep 2014 - Feb 2016 · 1 yr 6 mos

    • Program Manager for a Merger & Acquisition (M&A) project in the paper and cellulose industry • Provided consulting in Quality Assurance (QA) and Organizational Change Management (OCM) • Led initiatives in Business Process Management (BPM) and supported the Project Management Office (PMO) • Delivered strategic insights to improve operational integration and process efficiency

  • Arkema Srl, Gissi Plant, Italy (Gissi, Italy)
    • Technical Services Manager
      Nov 2013 - Aug 2014 · 10 mos

      • Managed resources across Engineering, Maintenance, and external contractors/suppliers • Met maintenance and investment (Capex) budget targets • Reduced variable costs through Six Sigma and DMAIC methodologies • Designed and implemented the plant’s Energy Management System • Coordinated Hazop team in compliance with Arkema’s process hazard standards

    • Engineering Manager
      Jul 2011 - Oct 2013 · 2 yrs 4 mos

      • Managed the Engineering department and coordinated site-wide improvement projects • Supervised technical design activities across civil, electrical, instrumentation, and mechanical engineering • Authored technical data sheets and engineering specifications • Oversaw contractor activities with zero lost time injuries throughout the period

  • Project Engineer at Cray Valley, Gissi Plant, Italy
    Jun 2007 - Jun 2011 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    • Led improvement projects and coordinated related technical works • Designed technical activities across civil, electrical, instrumentation, and mechanical engineering • Authored technical data sheets and engineering specifications to support project execution

  • Consultant at Pilkington, San Salvo Plant, Italy
    Sep 2006 - May 2007 · 9 mos

    • Conducted an industrial R&D project on adhesion prediction systems for glass surfaces using contact angle measurement • Evaluated instruments for surface tension analysis through repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) studies • Monitored contact angle trends throughout the production process to ensure consistency • Performed adhesion tests to support product development and quality assurance