Joachim (Jo) Wekenmann Email & Phone Number

Detroit, MI, US

Berlin, DE

• Direct North American Entity with sales of $40 MM functions include Customer Interface (sales, marketing, application engineering, and quality) and Operations (Warehouse, Distribution, Controlling, and.
• Vetted 9 investment banks for buy-side advisory from target generation until due diligence.
• Created contact to competitors to discuss potential carve-out and delivered potential for due diligence.

Reutlingen, DE

Project management consulting to establish new Gigafactory for EV bus battery modules.

Auburn Hills, MI, US

Developed transformation strategy to achieve global project management excellence with new organizational structure, headcount and budget. Managed customers on site at a new production plant that was delayed approximately 6 months.

Velbert, North Rhine-Westphalia, DE

• Globally responsible for all development projects. Oversee all project managers and launch managers (in the production plants) through regional leaders.
• Managed project portfolio of $600MM annually and achieved project profitability increase of 28%.
• Composed and led team for the acquisition of the biggest order award of the Huf Group with total lifetime volume of $700 MM for car access systems.
• Determined initiatives leading to project management excellence including RASIC, software and documentation requirements, processes, mindset change, training, and continuous improvement.
• Had Portfolio of 120 projects with lifetime sales of $1.7B Improved profitability from average 8% to 11% from award to launch of project

Velbert, North Rhine-Westphalia, DE

• A member of the Executive Team reporting directly to the CEO. Responsible for Full Cycle Implementation of all Projects/Programs for Huf NA including MX. Work closely with Product Development, Sales, Manufacturing.
• Established KPIs for PM department
• Established Project Budget Tracking
• Facilitated Move of the injection molding operations from WI to TN
• Facilitated Launch of a new paint plant including all required customer approvals
• Established US subsidiary to lead Global Customer Projects through Huf (China, Brazil and India).

Eislingen, Baden-Württemberg, DE

• Successfully led and managed all aspects of the U.S. Operations of a German cosmetics manufacturing organization with 70+ employees and $13 Million in sales. Direct reports included Finance/Accounting, Sales, Supply.
• Led the restructuring and streamlining of the U.S. organization which led to a 20% lower break-even point while improving customer satisfaction.
• Grew the U.S. subsidiary from $13 to $20 Million in Sales and expanding from 70 to 100+ employees, while establishing a company culture that encouraged openness and communication.
• Led the move/expansion of operations from a 15,000 sq. ft. facility to a 40,000 sq. ft. facility on time and on budget enabling increased capacity to meet customer need and enable growth.
• Spearheaded efforts to obtaining customer and FDA approvals for processes and facility leading to turn the operation to “Supplier of the Year – 2011” for Mary Kay Cosmetics.
• Streamlined operations with lean principles and implemented a company-wide ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics).

• Held several key contributor roles in both the German Corporate HQ’s, in addition to being one of the first members of the North American Sales office. Responsibilities included acquisition of programs with both new.
• U.S. growth to $100 Million sales annually through the acquisition of programs with new and existing customers.
• Successfully managed global program teams for Chrysler EGRs on 3.7l and 4.7l engines, Secondary Air for JR and JS platforms, and various GM programs including Saturn Z, GMT360, GMX 272, and GMX 211.
• Final project garnered $210 Million in sales with an operational budget of $10 Million.
• Launched all programs on time and on/under budget.

• Responsible for establishing a U.S. Sales Office. New business development in conjunction with developing existing accounts. Developed outstanding relationships with Chrysler and GM technical teams. Coordinated quotes.
• Grew the North American Sales and Engineering office from 2 to 30+ employees.
• Grew Secondary Air Pump Business at GM to 100% market share.
• Key contributor in establishing new business with Chrysler, and eventually growing the account to $22 Million.
• Identified the need to improve the existing air pump design with regard to noise and size to better meet customer specifications.
• Driving force to develop an electric secondary air valve.

Strategically involved in joint venture and license contract negotiations with several key Korean and Japanese suppliers. Responsible for all Asian and Italian customer accounts, including supervision of the sales representatives. Additional responsibility included market forecasting, establishing customer contacts, preparation of sales quotes, and.

Düsseldorf, Nordrhein Westfalen, DE

Student thesis project which resulted in the following company proprietary publication entitled, “Conception and Introduction of a Cost Accounting System for a U.S. Subsidiary of a German company.” (System introduced January 1996)

Laupheim, Baden Wuerttemberg, DE

A pre-college apprenticeship that enabled exposure to all areas of a production facility, including cross-functional departmental interaction, production, purchasing, accounting, sales& marketing, human resources, data processing, controlling and logistics. Accepted a full-time role as a Specialist in the sales deparment where I converted technical.

4 Years, Mbe, Industrial And Production Engineering

Masters Degree, Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen