Experience

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  Make Profit Growth Happen

  • Zürich Area, Switzerland

  • President

    • Jul 2018 - Present
    • Zürich Area, Switzerland
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  Grünenthal Corporation

  • Germany
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Executive Vice President Global Product Supply

    • May 2009 - Jun 2018

    Leading all global Product Supply activities of Grunenthal worldwide (sourcing, product supply, production, quality control, direct procurement, engineering and EHS) and the Contract Manufacturing and API Sales Business of Grunenthal for third parties with global P&L responsibility. ~1400 People on three continents with manufacturing sites in 6 countries.Created and grew the Custom Manufacturing Business of Grünenthal to one of its key revenue and profit contributors.Increased Sustainable Profit of Company by ~50M€ and delivered additional cash of ~200M€ during this time.

  • General Manager & Member of the Board

    • Jan 2002 - Jun 2018

    General Manager & Member of the Board of Grünenthal Corporation's Swiss manufacturing and supply subsidiaries (Proto Chemicals AG, Protopharm AG), since October 2011.Proto Chemicals AG is a member of the Grunenthal Group and part of its Global Product Supply organization providing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. Through its daughter company Protopharm AG it provides procurement, supply, distribution and contract manufacturing services to Grunenthal and third parties.From Januar 2002 to October 2011 CEO & Managing Director of all Grünenthal Corp. Swiss subsidiaries incl. local Marketing & Sales activities. Grew the Swiss Grünenthal business with four strategic products and top class product launches.Responsible for the Grünenthal Group Switzerland with five Companies (Grünenthal Pharma AG, Proto Chemicals AG, Protopharm AG, Protochemie AG and Glaropharm AG - divested in September 2013). Worlwide manufacturing & business center for pain API, European manufacturing center for semi solid pharmaceuticals, marketing & sales of Grünenthal pharmaceuticals in Switzerland, manufacturing and distribution services for third parties.

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  Celanese AG (formerly Hoechst Celanese)

  • United States
  • Chemical Manufacturing
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Site Director

    • 1998 - 2002

    Site director of the Bay City, TX and the Clear Lake (Houston, TX) chemical plant. Six Sigma Champion and Global "On Stream Reliability" Champion for Celanese. Reduced costs by ~12Mio$ in one year. Implemented Global Maintenance Green Belt training and increased profit by ~10M$ while improving reliability and safety.

  • Site Services & Manufacturing Manager

    • 1996 - 1998

    Led the Service departments at the Bay City, TX Chemical plant (Technical Services: Utilities, Quality Management, Engineering, Maintenance; Administrative Services: Finance &Controlling, Purchasing). Accomplished a TOP (Total Optimization of Performance) project with McKinsey at benchmark level becoming the roll model for the manufacturing sites of Celanese and best in class project. Restructured and turned around site performance reducing costs by ~20M$ and increasing business volume.Implemented in North American plants "Conduct Standards of Maintenance & Operations" and increased process safety ensuring confidence of customers. Introduced ISO 14001 to North American plants and improved further regulatory compliance.

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  Hoechst AG

  • R&D and Quality Manager BU Organic Chemicals Europe

    • 1992 - 1996

    Led the European Business Unit Organic Chemicals R&D and Technical Customer Support. Developed with the R&D Leader for North America the Global R&D Strategy for the business. Focused R&D on break through projects delivering additional business, improved yield and catalyst peformance while reducing costs by ~4M DM (~2M€). Accomplished a role model ISO 9002 certification of the manufacturing sites as Quality Manager of the Business Unit (first ISO 9002 certification of the Division). Member of the BU Leadership Team.Turned around Business Line Catalysts and established new leadership team.

  • Project Manager Chlorine Business

    • 1992 - 1992

    Reorganization of the Chlorine Manufacturing production network of Hoechst AG. Reducing costs by ~40M DM (~20M€) and reducing Chlorine transportation through Europe.

  • Business Analyst

    • 1990 - 1992

    Member of the ZDA (Zentrale Direktionsabteilung) supporting the Executive Board Member for the Chemical Division and its leadership team as business analyst.

  • Manufacturing Leader Phosphoric Acid/Salt

    • 1989 - 1990

    Manufacturing leader of a production unit of Phosphor Containing Products for the detergent Industry at Hoechst Holland NV. Stabilized and rationalized manufacturing and maintenance processes reducing costs and avoiding reinvestments of up to 10M DM (~5M€).

  • R&D Chemist for the Chemical Division

    • 1986 - 1989

    Led a laboratory for the development of Non-Oxid Ceramics and the X-Ray Analytical laboratory