Wolfgang Farkas-Interim CEO

Developed plan for German factories, introduced standard work and process optimization

Improved on-time in-full (OTIF) performance from 60% to 98%

Increased EBIT by 4%

Analyzed status quo and developed future strategy with group management and PE investor

Prepared French social plan, budget and timing

Negotiated with unions and managed local & national politicians to obtain plan approval three months after announcement

Ensured no strike actions and executed priority customer production orders during shutdown in record time with perfect quality

Communicated successfully with customers, suppliers, stakeholders and government officials

Executed production transfers to other sites and/or profitable sale to third parties

Established new sales & service organization in France

Sold existing French site within three months at 20% above market price and moved remaining business to a new location

Increased profitability through cost-down and productivity improvement initiatives, realizing €36 m annual savings

Established standard work for new program introduction, improving customer response times by 40% and reducing costs by €16 m

Increased savings for non-product purchases by 30% through new policies

Secured €26 m funding from EU governments and commission for long-term investments

Drove due diligence and global integration of the €500 m Microtecnica acquisition (three Italy sites & one UK, €250 m sales, 700 employees), finalizing due diligence in 30 days and exceeding budgeted annual EBIT targets by over 30% within seven months

Increased customer satisfaction and OTIF from 63% to 96%

Reduced overheads by 3% through divisional organization streamlining

Improved operating income within four years from a €54 m loss (on €350 m sales) to a 6% profit

Reduced receivables overdue by over 30% while business grew 10% year-on-year

Eliminated audit findings from 17 to 0

Reduced finance headcount by 35% while improving on-time delivery from 26% to 96%