Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Results-oriented global executive with a strong track record of cultivating winning teams and driving transformative growth across organizations. With extensive experience as a Managing Director, General Manager, and global functional Vice President in both mid-sized enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, I specialize in strategic global business leadership and effectively managing large, commercially-driven teams spanning four continents. Throughout my career, I've been instrumental in delivering tangible results, from driving significant sales growth to spearheading transformative initiatives and fostering product innovation. My expertise extends to navigating complex M&A landscapes, with a successful track record of over 10 transactions under my belt. I bring substantial experience in commercial strategy development, seamless integration, and strategic restructuring to the table. What sets me apart is my ability to build and lead high-performing teams while fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. I thrive on crafting unique business models that enhance competitiveness and deliver added value to customers. I am a strategic leader who can drive meaningful change and deliver exceptional results.
In this job role, I report to the Senior VP of AGCO's global Grain & Protein Business, overseeing product development and strategic marketing managing a global team of 430 employees across 12 countries in four regions with global budget responsibility of $52M. I merged product management and engineering functions into a global development organization, implemented agile as the new product development methodology and launched company's first innovative smart product portfolio of 4 new digital products in North America in 2023. I also facilitated venture capital investment in a UK AgTech startup, established a customer-centric approach using NPS, and improved customer experiences through tailored journey programs. ● Successfully developed and introduced four innovative SMART digital grain & protein products in 2022 and 2023. ● Established dedicated product cost optimization organization, resulting in annual savings of $5M by enhancing product margins.
In this time, I assumed global leadership role overseeing product management and strategic marketing functions for Grain & Protein worldwide. Designed and implemented novel product management processes and tools to address previously unmet needs and streamlining operations. Established and structured global product management organizations across all four regions. Instituted customer-centric "Working Backward" process within product management to align product development with customer needs. Developed and deployed comprehensive global product roadmaps for key product segments to ensure alignment with business objectives. Formulated and executed forward-looking SMART digital product strategy and roadmap to drive innovation and competitiveness. Pioneered establishment of new strategic marketing organization, encompassing customer experience NPS, marketing intelligence, branding, and communication. Developed global customer segmentation strategy to better understand and serve diverse customer personas and to develop customer targeted sales strategies with the regional commercial organizations. Created new corporate identity for the five core brands to enhance market recognition and brand consistency. Successfully executed acquisition of an AgTech startup based in Spain to bolster technological portfolio and market presence. ● Steered and led team of 40 professionals spanning 12 countries across four regions and held responsibility for global budget of $12M. ● Played pivotal role in revamping and optimizing product management and strategic marketing functions within AGCO's global Grain & Protein Business, fostering growth, innovation, and customer-centricity on global scale.
During this tenure, I oversaw a $140MM global business unit, which included GSI's Commercial Egg Business and the GSI Protein Business in EME and Africa. My responsibilities covered sales & marketing, engineering, operations, finance, and HR, leading to enhanced overall performance. I increased operational efficiency through vertical manufacturing integration and streamlined sourcing activities. Consolidating European operations in Italy improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Restructuring the engineering group into a Global Center of Excellence drove innovation and project management. I integrated regional Commercial Egg and Protein Groups, offering comprehensive solutions globally. Localising products in China and Malaysia reduced costs and met profit margin targets. My efforts led to significant sales growth, operational efficiency gains, and a culture of innovation within AGCO's Grain & Protein Business. ● Implemented new direct and indirect sales strategy and organisational structure in EME, APAC, and Africa, with keen focus on expanding sales in priority emerging growth markets. ● Successfully launched five new products within 12 months to facilitate market entry along customer's value chain.
Transformed US-based exhibit house subsidiary into a $20 million North American exhibit and event agency within six years, with full P&L leadership for Expotechnik International's North American subsidiaries. Expanded the workforce from 52 Atlanta employees to 100 across Atlanta, Chicago, and Mexico City, establishing the US and Mexican subsidiaries as the largest components of the $70 million global exhibit and event agency headquartered near Frankfurt, Germany. Implemented Salesforce.com as a solution for CRM and project management, amplifying client service and permitting real-time reporting on project progression and profitability. Planned creative brainstorming tank in Chicago to mitigate artistic expenditures while elevating creative output. ● Drove recovery from financial crisis in 2010, propelling profitability by boosting revenues by 72%. Attracted major Fortune 500 clienteles such as AstraZeneca and Kimberly-Clark Professional. ● Enhanced sales closure rate from 38% to over 80% via escalating artistic output and fitting into clients' financial outlines. ● Trimmed sales, general, and administrative overhead by 35% through departmental restructuring to counter a 55% revenue decline in 2009. ● Augmented production profit margin growth by over 5% during corresponding quarters through introduction of LEAN Manufacturing. Heightened service quality while cutting quality costs by 40% in H2/2010.
Managed complete Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility for all administrative functions within the company by overseeing workforce of 35 employees across various departments, including Sales, Design, Account Management, Finance, Purchasing, HR, and IT. Established organisational development team to optimise company's structure, fortify middle management, and instill a "Topgrading" philosophy for recruiting, nurturing, and retaining high-performance employees. Played pivotal role in supporting sales team to secure and retain major client accounts by devising unique marketing strategies and executing innovative financial models in collaboration with clients such as CheckFree, IBM, McKesson, Phonak, and Volvo CE. ● Successfully attracted key global and domestic clients, including Ford Motors, TELMEX, and TYCO. ● Successfully formulated and executed comprehensive 5-year business plan, resulting in outstanding 52% overall revenue growth since 2004. ● Achieved a remarkable 400% increase in new sales within three years, with net profits reaching record level exceeding 11% in 2006. ● Pioneered establishment of Expotechnik in Mexico City in 2006, spearheading formation and development of an 8-member team responsible for Sales, Account Management, Design, and Production.
Directed and steered entire sales operations, including new ventures, with a team of five. Designed and implemented new sales commission structure within organisation to enable recruitment of two top-tier sales talents from industry. Strengthened sales team and contributed to the company's overall growth and success. ● Formulated and executed highly effective US sales strategy, resulting in substantial 40% increase in overall revenues within just three years. ● Drove a remarkable 150% boost in new sales within mere two-year period. ● Established and cultivated partnerships with key Fortune 500 clients, including Fiserv, Johnson Controls, GE, McKesson, and TYCO.
Closed 5 successful major European M&A transactions in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry in 4 years with a total deal value of $1,3BN. Accomplishments • Youngest team member to be promoted to Manager within 3 ½ years (as Authorized Officer). • Managed 3 staff members while preparing and executing M&A transactions for our team Partner. • Closed bridge financing for Affimed, an antibody biotech startup based in Heidelberg, Germany. • Instrumental in process to raise VC capital for biotech startup, Axaron, to fund clinical trials for new stroke compound
Accomplishments • Youngest team member to be promoted to Associate in 1 ½ years. • Contributed to the largest merger of two European Biotech Venture Capitalist Funds – HBM BioVentures and New Medical Technologies - deal value approximately $850MM. • Headed up the German valuation team in Switzerland to evaluate the entire portfolio of HBM and NMT, which became the basis for merger negotiations. • Directed Rhein Biotech’s (RB) acquisition of leading Korean vaccine business to become a leading profitable biotech vaccine company. Deal was funded through largest second public offering on the Neuer Markt (German Stock Exchange for small to medium sized fast growing companies) to fund vaccine acquisition; Market capitalization grew by 350%. • Assisted with the sale of Aventis’ non-core insecticide business to Sumitomo (Japan) for $220MM.