Greater Sydney Area
Thomas has grown sustainable double-digit turnovers annually and escalated operating profit percentages to world-class high-teens during all of his long-term appointments in shrinking, matured, and/or growing markets within 6 months to 3-year periods. Consolidated and spearheaded several large companies/ divisions (USD300m+ to USD1.7bn) over 20+ years to world-class performers on four continents (Australia, South East and East Asia, Africa and South America). Led as CEO and Executive Director in listed, JV and whole owned operations. Invested much of his time on positive culture development, talent management, succession planning and appropriate remuneration and incentive schemes. Demonstrated outstanding investor returns, investor relationships and board member approvals, while maintaining a 1-4% top performer status on the Stock Markets, year after year. Mastered lean operation and supply-chain sourcing in quality high-cost and low-cost labour regions. Turned around loss-making organisations and those where competing replacing technology marginalised markets. Pioneered and grew a highly profitable (1,050 employees) Mainland China Joint Venture (JV) in a very dynamic constant changing environment. Addressed the fore-market (new build) with wider range of products. Introduced adjacent products and services (bolt-on) in matured and contracting markets. Realised and significantly enlarged and extended long-term service agreements while managing up to 2,000 site contractors at 15-30 sites at any given time. Established customer-site operated spare holding and distribution systems of 30,000 custom-made parts. Solved the flexibility of highly skilled core employees while facing work fluctuating headwinds by working in a multi-skilled matrix. Strongly advocates and practises ‘Voice of Customer’ as the foundation for any sustainable growth. [email protected] UGL: www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-barwald-aba65013 +61 418 115 289 Sydney, Australia
Profile Summary I obtained my mechanical and industrial engineering education that included product development, production efficiency and factory management between mid to late 1980s. Over the past 27 years my commercial education and working life have mainly been in Australia, South East and East Asia, with extended periods in Mainland China, South Africa and Brazil. Well experienced with private and listed corporations. I have led numerous multiple executive directorships for several Howden companies in Australia, SE Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, South Africa, South America and the Holding Company in UK, over the past 20 years. I was CEO of a 70/30 Chinese Joint Venture and CEO of a South African PLC as well as Executive Director for A-PAC and Australia for extended periods. Career Objective I am committed to being a leader who grows and shapes an organisation to a sustainable world class commercial, corporately responsible and socially compliant performer, while striving to surpass stakeholders’ expectations. Engaging employees with all aspects of top-grading recruitment, talent development, succession planning and remuneration incentives. Areas of Expertise • Constant focusing on and realigning to customers’ requirements • Reaching and maintaining highest standard of Environmental, Health and Safety • Contracts management of capital equipment projects and infrastructures • Leading business management and corporate governance, regulation compliances, stakeholder relationships for multinationals, private and listed corporations • Global sourcing, sub-contracting, lean quality fabrication, business operation and site installations/ services • Executive coaching and mentoring • Ensuring sustainable organisation with change, continuous improvement and lean and growth management tools • Forming organisational structures; partnering with financial and operational heads to meet strategic and targeted objectives
Developed an operational structure – achieved 30% growth in turnover and grew operating profit to world-class percentage by launching the operational skills enhancement in marketing, design engineering, sales, contracts management, manufacturing, site services & installations to improve product & industry expansion of the 6 regional companies, including Australia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand (180 direct employees). Implemented an operational matrix system together with the other 20 global Howden companies. Other Responsibilities & Titles Overlapping and in Parallel: Executive Director of Howden Taiwan, Howden Korea and Howden Japan Jun 2016 - Aug 2017 Executive Director Howden Australia Ltd (Pty) [Australia] Oct 1999 - Aug 2017 Executive Director Howden Holdings Limited (6,000 employees) Mar 2011 - Aug 2017 Chief Executive Officer Howden Africa Holdings Limited (PLC) Jan 2009 - May 2016 Office Location: Sydney Achievements: • Re-defined customer approach in Australia – Improved sales by 50%, and operating profit to a world-class percentage (double to quadruple of peers). • Strongly advocated quality manufacturing/ fabrication in low-cost regions - 25% purchase costs reduction and in parallel, rebuilt the quality reputation focusing on root causes and counter measures. • Founded the Japanese company in Tokyo - Secured the first large export contract, while having a solid opportunity pipeline to reach the high set target. • Aligned the Korean operation – Fore-market grew by 50%. Observed a drastic decline in domestic and to a lesser extent export decline of new power plant projects since mid-2016. • Poised to grow the lucrative high margin after-market in all A-PAC countries - Top-grading recruitment and training increased sales by 50% over the past 1.5 years. The platform was set to grow by 20% annually to capture the high single-digit growth.
Executive Director Howden Holdings Limited (USD1.7bn) Mar 2011- Aug 2017 Active Board & Executive Member – Contributed and participated successfully in all holding company decisions, directions and activities. Continually shaped the organisation and its 6,000 employees in 26 countries to meet firstly the Charter PLC (LSE) and then Colfax Corporation (NYSE) stakeholders’ expectations for a sustainable organically and inorganically growing organisation in all aspects of operational and regulatory compliances (Financial Control, Brand, Marketing, Sales, Engineering, Project Management, Manufacturing, Product servicing). www.howden.com Howden is a Colfax Corporation Platform Company: See the NYSE listed Colfax Corporation Reports: http://ir.colfaxcorp.com/ Howden Holdings Limited (HHL) (27 Years) May 1990 - Aug 2017 Supply of Custom Made Fans, Rotary Heat Exchangers, Piston Compressors, Screw Compressors, Diaphragm Compressors, Centrifugal Compressors in the Mining, Mineral Refineries, Power Generation, Petrochemical, Oil and Gas Tunnel, Steel, Cement and Heavy Industries. Turnover USD1.7bn with 6,000 employees.
Spearheaded the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed Company -- Increased annual turnover to USD160m at world class returns between 18-27% operating profit percentage, year after year. Merged three companies in 2010 into two product streams of Fans & Heaters and Environmental Control Equipment. The 550 direct employees and 2,000 indirect contractors collaborated in carrying out all aspects of marketing, design, sales, manufacturing, project management, site-installations and services on the African continent. www.howden.co.za find Annual Integrated Reports Johannesburg Stock Exchange code HWN:SJ www.bloomberg.com/quote Other Responsibilities & Titles Overlapping and in Parallel: Executive Director Howden Australia Ltd (Pty) [Australia] Oct 1999 - Aug 2017 Executive Director Howden Holdings Limited (6,000 employees) Mar 2011 - Aug 2017 Executive Director Howden Southern Hemisphere Jan 2009 - Dec 2012 Office Location: 60% Johannesburg – Secondment & 30% Sydney & 10% Itatiba & Sao Paulo Achievements: • Demonstrated outstanding investor returns - Top 1%- 4% performer on the JSE over the 7 years with a minimum annual return of 30%, some years 120%. • Instituted new Corporate Governance– a qualifier to maintain listed company status. Complied with strict new regulations (King III & IV) including sustainability (Global Reporting Initiatives [GRI 3.1 & later GRI G 4]) & risk management. • Formulated strategic export expansion - Quadrupled within 3 years, the turnover of mining equipment packages to remote regions and sites in Africa since 2010. • Facilitated a meaningful total reward system, engineering career-ladder, talent management and succession planning - Tripled the training facilities and headcount of the in-house trade and trade-assistance school to 40 apprentices and 150 trade assistants.
Succeeded in managing the fabrication and pre-fabrication workshops for large custom-made Ventilation Fans, Air Preheaters and Electro Precipitators. Project planning and monitoring, lean manufacturing, on time deliveries, managing of 60 trades people, ensured health and safety, quality control, interfacing of buy-ins and other sub-suppliers and design and project management departments. Apparatebau Rothemuhle (Balcke Dürr) Supply of Custom Made Fans, Rotary Heat Exchangers, Electro Precipitators for the Power Generation, Mining, Mineral Refineries, Petrochemical, Oil and Gas Tunnel, Steel and Cement Industry. Turnover USD120m – 1990. Rotary Airheater Licensor to Howden