Bob Larson Email & Phone Number

Pietermaritzburg Area, South Africa

Chicago

As CEO, I led a fantastic team that ran one of the leading absorbent pad and foam tray companies in the North America. Novipax operates five manufacturing facilities serving food processors, supermarkets, and food packaging distributors around the world.

Greater Chicago Area

COVERIS, the sixth largest global plastic packaging company in the world, is an established leader in the development, manufacture, and sourcing of flexible and rigid plastic and paper packaging, as well as coatings solutions for various consumer and industrial end-use markets. With aggregate revenues of approximately US$3.0B, the company manages 64 plants across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and China.

Greater Chicago Area

Atlas Holdings LLC is a private equity firm with a portfolio of market-leading companies with over 10,000 employees that operate from more than 100 facilities throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia generating over $3 billion annually. I currently advise Atlas on potential acquisitions within the global metals and packaging industries.

Lake Forest, Il

The largest global supplier of filtration products to the automotive, commercial transportation and marine industries. The company was formed in November 2011 by merging two recently acquired Rank entities: Champion Laboratories, a leading manufacturer of private label oil and air filters, and FRAM, producer of the number one retail brand in North America. The combined company has annual revenue of approximately $700 million with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.2012 EBITDA 33% improvement over prior year; 2013 YTD EBITDA 15% increase over 2012.Integrated the best talent from two very different corporate cultures to create a culture of accountability and engagement. Developed and executed a market growth strategy that leverages the combined product offering and brand strength of both companies.Successfully completed a major consolidation of the company’s North American manufacturing, distribution and R&D footprint generating over $50 million in cost savings and system efficiency. Drove $17 million in synergy savings across procurement, GASE, and IT.

After the acquisition of Pactiv by the Rank Group in mid-2010, led the integration of both Reynolds Food Packaging and PWP, a leading producer of plastic disposable packaging, into Pactiv Food Packaging. Beginning January 2011, led Pactiv Food and Specialty Packaging, a newly formed $550 million growth business, offering a wide range of innovative products and material solutions to the consumer packaged goods and tobacco industries. Responsible for 15 manufacturing locations, employing approximately 1,800 people.Selected a highly experienced leadership team from Reynolds, PWP and Pactiv with particular emphasis on marketing, product and material development and lean manufacturing.Developed and implemented an integrated business plan that will grow this business to over $1 billion in revenue within three years, with EBITDA margin in excess of 25%. Exceeded 2011 Revenue and EBITDA goals.

Drove the divestiture of non-core segments within the flexible packaging business, and, in parallel, led a turn-around of the underperforming foodservice packaging group. Successfully created a lean, $575 million business that doubled EBITDA in the first year and delivered year-over-year earnings growth in the subsequent two years.Established Reynolds as the industry benchmark in this area. Drove year-over-year reduction in OSHA Recordable and Lost Work Day injury rates. Rationalized unattractive product lines; closed six manufacturing facilities; sold four businesses; consolidated two plants; and reduced headcount by 20% over a 12 month period resulting in a 300% improvement in EBITDA versus prior year. The restructured business employed approximately 1,500 across eleven manufacturing facilities in five countries.Grew sales by 45% over a three year period into higher-margin bakery, supermarket and food processor segments by investing in custom design solutions and developing a broader range of material offerings. As a result, Reynolds emerged with a leading market position across each of these segments as measured by revenue.Drove OPEX discipline across manufacturing system. Over three year period, manufacturing productivity improved 25%; scrap declined 17%; inventory days on hand decreased by 21%; warehouse productivity climbed 21%; and case fill rate improved to 99%.

Beijing, China

Developed and executed a growth strategy for China that increased the size of Alcoa’s manufacturing position in the region from less than $60 million in sales in 2005 to over $500 million in 2008 as a result of acquisition, new construction, and market repositioning. Provided leadership to over 2,500 people across four manufacturing facilities in China, as well as sales offices in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and India. Transformed a business that lost over $30 million in 2006 to one that achieved operational profitability two years ahead of plan.Instilled a strong commitment to the environment and to employee health and safety in China. Achieved OSHA Recordable Rate below the Alcoa global average despite a young, inexperienced workforce. Executed the turn-around of an unprofitable commodity aluminum foil business by leveraging advanced technology and focusing on niche markets which offer attractive profit pools. Grew manufacturing footprint in China via the construction and successful start-up of a $310 million rolling investment focused on the fast growing beverage container, automotive, and digital printing markets. Successfully managed the planning and implementation of $500 million of capital over a three year period.Negotiated the creation of a highly successful joint-venture company focused on specialty automotive sheet products.Alcoa China Rolled Products won the Alcoa Global Manufacturing Reliability Competition in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Chicago, Il

Led the company’s largest marketing and sales organization at a time when this $2.2 billion business was losing considerable market share and was struggling to secure critical, long-term aerospace and defense contracts. Instituted a rapid change management process that created a high performance commercial team that delivered essential, multi-year supply agreements with Boeing, Airbus and key defense contractors.

Knoxville, Tn

Drove the commercial repositioning of Alcoa’s global beverage can business, built upon aggressive price and market share increases, which generated $30 million in net income improvement in the first year, and close to $50 million in the subsequent two years. Successfully negotiated with Nestle, Mars, and Heinz to convert their canned pet food business from steel to aluminum which resulted in $250 million top-line, organic growth.

Knoxville, Tn & Coral Gables, Fl

Led a $350 million International Selling Company responsible for the purchase and resale of aluminum products to customers located in Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Ba, English Language And Literature/Letters

Ms, Journalism

Ms, Applied Behavioral Psychology