Damien Godard-Interim CRO | Industrial Transformation | P&L €100M+
Check rate
Experience
Founder & Director — AI Transformation for Industry
TARANIS AI
- Founded TARANIS AI to automate industrial compliance processes — built a modular multi-agent platform covering CSRD, PPWR and ESG reporting.
- Delivered 4 client engagements in 18 months, including 2 recurring annual SaaS subscriptions across FMCG, packaging and automotive sectors.
- Deployed the platform across 12 client industrial sites, cutting CSRD/ESG reporting cycles by an average of 60%.
- Established executive governance frameworks integrating AI roadmaps into existing CSR and compliance cycles, adopted as reference architecture through a consulting partnership.
Senior Key Account Director
DS Smith
- Restructured the commercial governance of a €100M/year European account — redesigning processes, pricing protocols and logistics models across about 20 countries.
- Aligned two organizations into shared governance — harmonized procurement, common KPIs (OTIF, quality) and executive committees with client procurement, operations and logistics teams.
- Lifted OTIF from 94% to 99% across 70 client plants while renewing the framework agreement ahead of deadline with improved margins.
- Deployed a multi-site TCO approach demonstrating €4M in annual logistics savings — quantifying and removing operational inefficiencies.
- Led PPWR compliance alignment across the multi-country perimeter, bringing processes and materials into regulatory compliance.
Key Account Director
Smurfit Kappa
- Built structured partnership relationships with luxury and FMCG accounts — aligning specifications, quality requirements and logistics flows through dedicated account governance.
- Co-created innovative packaging solutions with client R&D and creative teams, securing 100% market share at Louis Vuitton (Europe & North America) and Hermès.
- Achieved near-zero attrition across all managed accounts (Sodiaal, General Mills, Labeyrie, Ajinomoto) through integrated logistics partnership frameworks.
Business Development Manager
Bolloré Group / CIRTEM
- Led business development for a power electronics division diversifying into energy transition — launched Smart Grid activities with significant market penetration within 18 months.
- Secured defense contracts including DCNS (€5M) and grew automotive sales by 30% in two years through direct account conquest (FIAT, GRUAU).
Business Development Manager
Continental Automotive
- Secured Nissan, Mazda and FAW platform nominations generating €60M/year in new revenue through direct C-level negotiation and cross-cultural procurement cycles.
- Created the PSA Brazil account from scratch for an innovative flexfuel injection system, winning €10M/year in new market revenue.
- Leveraged 4-year Japan expatriation and executive relationships to unlock an estimated €8M/year in additional Chinese market opportunities.
Project Manager
Siemens VDO
- Led the development of embedded engine control units for Mini (BMW), Ford (Fiesta) and Brilliance — primary technical interface between French R&D teams and international clients.
- Delivered 3 platform programs with 100% of milestones met on schedule across European and Chinese regulatory requirements.
Industry Experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Automotive, Food and Beverage, Fashion, Manufacturing, Transportation, and Aerospace and Defense.
Business Area Experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Sales, Strategy, Product Development, Logistics, Customer Service, and Project Management.
Summary
An industrial executive with 25 years of multi-country operational and commercial leadership, he has led organizational transformations and teams of 30 people across about 20 countries. At DS Smith, he restructured the commercial governance of a €100M/year European account — redesigning processes, pricing and logistics across 70 client plants, lifting OTIF from 94% to 99% and renewing the framework agreement with improved margins. His approach pairs shared governance and common KPIs with quantified efficiency gains — €4M in annual logistics savings through TCO modeling, and AI automation cutting compliance reporting cycles by 60%. The interim CRO mandate is of particular interest: it demands the register where he has delivered most — stakeholder alignment, milestone-driven execution and operational efficiency in a manufacturing setting where results are expected quickly.
Skills
- Restructuring & Transformation
- Leadership & Governance
- Performance Optimization
- Organizational Restructuring
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership (Multi-Country)
- Process Optimization & Redesign
- Change Management
- Executive Stakeholder Alignment
- Multi-Site Tco Deployment
- Shared Governance & Performance Kpis
- Matrix & Cross-Cultural Management
- Operational Performance Management
- Ai-Driven Process Automation
- C-Level Communication & Buy-In
- P&L Ownership
Languages
Education
Bordeaux University
Master Engineer · Electronics & Industrial Computing · Bordeaux, France
Statistics
Experience
Global Experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
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