Wolfgang Farkas

CEO & Chief Restructuring Officer | Industrial Turnarounds, International Site Closures & M&A Integration | Multi-Site Transformation & Value Creation | NED | Senior advisor | Mentor | Industry & Aerospace & Defense

Paris, Île-de-France, France

About

CEO and restructuring leader with a proven track record of value creation in PE-backed and listed businesses operating in complex industrial environments. I specialise in rapid stabilisation, cash protection, and operational reset—leading restructurings, social plans, site closures, and production transfers across Europe while improving EBIT, OTIF, inventory, and working capital under intense stakeholder scrutiny. I have led and integrated large-cap acquisitions (€500m–€710m), consistently over-delivering synergy plans (up to +30%) through headcount optimisation, footprint rationalisation, ERP alignment, and governance simplification. My experience spans carve-outs, distressed assets, and growth platforms, with hands-on ownership of operations, finance, M&A, and post-merger execution in time-critical situations. Known for disciplined execution and downside control: zero-strike restructurings, asset disposals above market value, accelerated integrations (<12 months), and sustained growth during transformation. I build accountable leadership teams, impose clear KPIs, and apply lean and quality tools pragmatically—always with a single objective: protect cash, restore profitability fast, and maximise exit optionality. #executiveinterimmanagement #transitionmanagement #interimmanagement #CTO Chief Transformation Officer #CEO Chief Executive Officer #CRO Chief Restructuring Officer

Experience

  • Chief Executive Officer at Wolfgang Farkas - FIM Consulting
    Jan 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 7 mos

    Highly experienced international CEO/Chief Transformation Officer/M&A Integration Director. My background is in general business transformation & management consulting, finance, international sales development, and lean & operational excellence. Due diligence support to Private Equity investors on security, aerospace and defence sectors. ■ Problem solver - I get for my customers things done ■ Right-sizing, mergers and acquisitions ■ Business development in an international environment ■ Mentoring and Coaching of management teams ■ Representation to public bodies ■ Business advisor

  • Interim President France & EVP Operations Germany at KELVION S.A.S.
    Mar 2023 - Mar 2025 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Kelvion is PE-funded. Its a manufacturer of heat exchangers for many industrial applications. Scope: Multi-site manufacturing, operations, restructuring, union negotiations, site closure, production transfer, sales & service reset Key Results ■ Designed and executed an operational recovery plan for German manufacturing sites, introducing standard work, process optimization, and execution discipline ■ Improved OTIF from 60% to 98% and increased EBIT by +4pp within the first year ■ Led full restructuring and production site closure in France, including strategic review with Group leadership and PE sponsor ■ Developed and executed a French social plan (budget, timing, legal framework); secured regulatory and government approval within 3 months ■ Negotiated with unions and national/local authorities, avoiding strikes and maintaining uninterrupted delivery of priority customer orders during shutdown ■ Executed production transfers to other European and Asian sites and third parties with zero quality escapes ■ Established a new French sales & service organization to retain customers post-restructuring ■ Sold French manufacturing site within 3 months at +20% above market value; relocated remaining activities to a new location

  • Interim Chief Executive Officer | Chief Transformation Officer at TAM Groupe
    Apr 2020 - Sep 2022 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    TAM Groupe is PE-funded (€75m annual revenue). It provides products for the concrete industry including post-tensioning and geotechnical applications. Scope: Multi-entity integration, manufacturing, ERP alignment, cost reduction, growth strategy Key Results ■ Merged four legal entities into a single operating model; closed sites and transferred part of production abroad within 6 months ■ Aligned ERP, organization, and operating processes to enable scalable manufacturing and reporting ■ Reduced headcount by 20%, improved treasury by 30%, and reduced inventory by 25% ■ Defined and launched a growth strategy, including a new production investment funded 60% by public subsidies ■ Built export business in French-speaking Africa, establishing strategic partnerships and doubling regional sales ■ Rationalized product portfolio from 8,000+ to 6,000 SKUs; implemented WMS-managed central warehouse ■ Rebuilt leadership capability, coaching the management team and replacing 3 of 5 executives

  • Interim Chief Executive Officer | Chief Transformation Officer at JELD-WEN Schweiz AG
    Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 · 1 yr

    JELD-WEN Switzerland (60 €m annual revenue) is part of the US based JELD-WEN Groupe ($4.2bn). It produces Doors and Door Frames. Scope: Compliance, restructuring, operations, supply chain Key Results ■ Led comprehensive business and compliance review, identifying risks and launching a €6m restructuring program ■ Defined Central Europe strategy and launched a new product line, driving +18% sales growth ■ Reduced inventory by 20% and renegotiated supplier contracts ■ Implemented cost controls delivering €1.5m incremental EBIT

  • Smiths Detection (Permanent · 4 yrs 3 mos)
    • M&A Integration Director, EMEA
      Oct 2017 - Dec 2018 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Smiths Detection is a UK publicly listed company valued at €1.8bn which produces solutions for the Airports, Security and Defence sectors. Scope: Global aerospace manufacturing, M&A, finance, operations strategy Key Results ■ Led €710m Morpho Detection acquisition, overseeing global integration (320m sales, 950 employees ■ Delivered 25% headcount reduction and executed site closures in France, Italy, and Germany

    • Board Of Directors - Smiths Detection Italia S.R.L.
      Jan 2016 - Dec 2018 · 3 yrs

      Sitting on the Board of the Italian subsidiary based in Milan, I was responsible for giving direction, supervising, and ensuring compliance.

    • Board Of Directors - Smiths Detection Russia
      Jan 2015 - Dec 2018 · 4 yrs

      Sitting on the Board of the Russian subsidiary based in St Petersburg, I was responsible for giving direction, supervising, ensuring compliance, and development.