Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Global growth is more than a goal — it’s my operating rhythm. As CEO of Elco Automation Americas and Asia-Pacific, I’m building bridges between continents, turning complex industrial automation solutions into actionable success stories across the USA, Canada, Mexico, China, South Korea, Europe, South America and beyond. With a track record of launching subsidiaries, leading international teams, and driving $M+ growth in Sensors, PLC, Motion Control, Industrial AI, IO-Link and other Fieldbus Systems, and smart connectivity, I focus on: • Strategic expansion — Establishing local presence in high-growth regions • Sales & partnerships — Aligning with top distributors and reps • Product innovation — Bringing 60,000+ automation solutions to new markets • Operational excellence — Leading ERP and tech-driven processes • Vision & leadership — Empowering multicultural teams and investing in people Whether it’s a trade show in Bengaluru, a strategy meeting in Stuttgart, or a new hire in Detroit, I bring energy, clarity, and purpose to everything I build. Let's automate the future — together.
🌍 Experienced Leader in International Business Development and Expansion 💼 Expertise: Establishing and driving exponential growth for companies in international markets. 📊 Business Management: Skilled in Sales, Finance, Operations, HR, and Customer Support. 🤝 Global Collaboration: Extensive experience working with Chinese, German, American, and South American companies. 🚀 Market Expansion: Proven success in building businesses from the ground up and expanding into diverse market segments. 🌟 Cross-Cultural Leadership: Adept at navigating global complexities to deliver sustainable growth and long-term success.
Until now, industrial sensors and connectivity equipment have rarely offered the possibility of customization to meet 100% of our customers' needs. The industrial landscape is progressively shifting towards personalization. Elco excels in delivering customized products with remarkable speed, resulting in the creation of over 60 thousand unique solutions. In other cases, while a standard product may meet the customer's technical needs, services like logistics and packaging require customization to optimize the customer's efficiency in the supply chain and assembly of automation equipment. The immense success of Elco Industrial Automation can be attributed to our commitment to making customization the standard in delivering solutions, encompassing sensors, connectivity systems, controllers, IoT solutions, software, and other electrical components for industrial automation. With over 1500 employees globally, our shared passion is to witness the satisfaction on our customers' faces. Equipment builders worldwide deserve the opportunity to experience Elco. That is my mission: to establish sales, customer support, and business operations all around the world.
Founded a AI startup to incubate ventures focused on the design and development of digital solutions through strategic partnerships with industrial automation manufacturers. Formed a team of 40 software and AI developers distributed in 6 digital technology fields: Data driven AI, Semantic driven AI, Geometry-based AI, 3D technologies, cloud computing and software operations. Ideation and execution of many digital products for customers such as BMW, Mercedes, Electrolux, Whirlpool, mining giant Vale among others.
Manufacturer of sensors and electronics for the measurement of force, displacement, torque, strain, weight as well as fieldbus systems for electrostatics spray guns controllers. Worked in the market segments: elevators, ropeways, injection molding machines, press machines, forming machines, clamps, grippers, special machines, and test benches. The aim was to drive the company's expansion, as the owner had been the main driver of sales until the company encountered a standstill with no signs of growth. Implemented a classical marketing mix (4 P‘s)approach: developed product and price strategy, created digital/analog promotion campaigns and built sales operation, distribution channels and sales team to sell internationally.
Oversaw sales, financial operations, and the development center for power supplies. Collaborated closely with the sales team to enhance overall sales performance. Worked in tandem with engineers to generate innovative product ideas for the power supply market. Conducted benchmark tests with various manufacturers to stay abreast of evolving technologies.
Founded and built the Canadian subsidiary, crafting a remarkable success story by injecting it with Murrelektronik's core identity: "Born boldly to optimize electrical installations of machines." The realization that deeper purpose fuels employee dedication, igniting a fervent commitment to superior customer service, has been the driving force behind this achievement. Success has naturally followed as a direct consequence. We established a double-digitmillion-dollar business from scratch, complete with comprehensive functionalities, encompassing inside sales, outside sales, technical support, training, an in-house warehouse, financial operations, and administrative functions. Our approach involved a hybrid sales strategy, combining both direct sales and sales through distribution channels. Additionally, we collaborated closely with end users to secure product placements on their release lists. One noteworthy accomplishment was our consistent success in selling a diverse range of products to machine builders over the years. We achieved the significant milestone of matching the same percentage of mixed product sales as the domestic market in Germany, making us the first subsidiary to attain such a feat. Advanced systems, like Fieldbus, constituted a substantial 30% of our business, whereas in other countries, it typically represented less than 10%. This strategic focus on advanced systems significantly enhanced the profitability of our business, thanks to the notably better profit margins they offered.
Accountable for elevating 50 new distribution channels (comprising 500 sales professionals) from ground zero to a multimillion-dollar success story, currently responsible for over 20% of total sales. Traveled nearly all states of the USA, building the sales organization, visiting customers, providing training to distributors. It was a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the workings of the North American sales landscape. We had to overcome two significant challenges: our brand's absolute obscurity in the market and the fact that the channels initially opening doors for us were mechanical distributors, rather than electrical. This necessitated the creation of innovative training methods for these mechanical distributors to effectively sell electrical products and the development of marketing strategies to establish our presence in the market. Pioneered a novel sales concept named the "Scanning System," designed to guide salespeople from opportunity development and quoting through to the closing stage. Salespeople, many of whom had limited knowledge of electrical machine wiring, emerged equipped with a comprehensive understanding of installation concepts for machines (wiring concepts).This innovative approach significantly propelled the sales of fieldbus systems. Effectively coordinated collaboration between Murrelektronik and a major north American pneumatic valve manufacturer managing the development of new products in conjunction with our headquarters in Germany.