John O'Brien Email & Phone Number

Hong Kong

Fossil (East) Ltd, Hong Kong Sar

- Internal transfer to the Head of the Sourcing and Manufacturing towers of Fossil Group's global supply chain as part of a company-wide restructuring. - Annual sourcing of 20M units / USD 500M covering watches, jewelry and leather goods categories.- Member of Global Supply Chain strategic leadership team. Responsible for Strategic Sourcing (vendor selection & management, product cost negotiation & analysis) and Manufacturing Excellence (engineering, quality, production, order… Show more - Internal transfer to the Head of the Sourcing and Manufacturing towers of Fossil Group's global supply chain as part of a company-wide restructuring. - Annual sourcing of 20M units / USD 500M covering watches, jewelry and leather goods categories.- Member of Global Supply Chain strategic leadership team. Responsible for Strategic Sourcing (vendor selection & management, product cost negotiation & analysis) and Manufacturing Excellence (engineering, quality, production, order management, cost accounting and sustainability/traceability). - Owned watch assembly plants in India & Switzerland and a virtual factory in China. - Strong partnerships with upstream inventory planning, downstream inventory management, logistics, product development and compliance functions.- Site lead for the Global Business Service Center ("GBS") in Bangalore, India until April 2024. Led expansion phase to add new functional areas and move existing functions up the value chain. The multi-functional GBS now hosts Finance, IT, Digital, Inventory Planning & Analytics functions with 530 staff.Career development highlights:- Successfully transitioned to a business leadership role in a complex, high-volume sourcing & manufacturing business during a period of intense change.- Led the business team which successfully completed a significant Transformation of the Hong Kong, China & Swiss supply chain functions including the creation of the Sourcing & Manufacturing towers within a wider realignment of the global supply chain, a 40% headcount cost reduction and a market assessment program which should generate annualized procurement savings of 15% (USD 50-60M). - Further developed my change management skills, which were critical during this time.- Deepened understanding of Sustainability as we upgraded our CDP reporting and successfully completed SBTi certification. Show less

Fossil (East) Ltd, Hong Kong Sar

- Internal transfer to be the CFO of the Global Sourcing & Manufacturing SBU in Hong Kong. - Led Finance workstream to set-up new APAC Commercial regional SBU to replicate EMEA structure.- Added regional CFO responsibility for APAC Commercial and later many Operations functions including Supply Chain (inventory demand planning & deployment [2010-2019], logistics [2007-2023]), IT [2007-2019] and Project Management [2007-2023].- Responsible for 10 subsidiaries plus regional HQ and… Show more - Internal transfer to be the CFO of the Global Sourcing & Manufacturing SBU in Hong Kong. - Led Finance workstream to set-up new APAC Commercial regional SBU to replicate EMEA structure.- Added regional CFO responsibility for APAC Commercial and later many Operations functions including Supply Chain (inventory demand planning & deployment [2010-2019], logistics [2007-2023]), IT [2007-2019] and Project Management [2007-2023].- Responsible for 10 subsidiaries plus regional HQ and distribution center (warehouse) in Hong Kong. Key markets China & India. Sales peaked at USD 550M.- Key member of both SBUs' leadership teams which led the businesses through a rapid growth phase and then a turbulent & volatile decade of declining sales as the business responded to rapidly changing consumer behavior (bricks & mortar to online), changes in brand heat & mix, the market disruption resulting from the launch of Connected Devices (the Apple Watch), COVID etc. - Led the successful set-up of a multi-functional GBS (Global Business Service Center) in Bangalore, India and the "lift & shift" transition of the global Finance function to the GBS during COVID. Took the site lead role for GBS to broaden and deepen the GBS competencies - now 530 staff in Finance, IT, Planning, eCom and Analytics functions. Career development highlights:- Broadened and deepened strategic and leadership skills in a complex, fast-changing environment across many different APAC markets. - Gained extensive transformation experience in building regional infrastructure (legal entity & tax structures, ERP implementations, distribution centers set up and inventory flow optimization) and then of restructuring businesses in both anticipation of and response to declining and changing sales.- Successfully led an APAC data privacy compliance alignment project and a related PIPL project in China. Show less

Basel, Switzerland

- Newly created EMEA regional headquarters entity.- Recruited as CFO for EMEA Commercial SBU then expanded responsibilities to cover Operations including Logistics, Aftersales and IT. - Responsible for the 10 Commercial subsidiaries & regional infrastructure - headquarters (Switzerland), finance shared service center & distribution center (Germany) and aftersales repair center (France)- German and French language skills helped significantly.- Interim Head of EMEA Commercial SBU… Show more - Newly created EMEA regional headquarters entity.- Recruited as CFO for EMEA Commercial SBU then expanded responsibilities to cover Operations including Logistics, Aftersales and IT. - Responsible for the 10 Commercial subsidiaries & regional infrastructure - headquarters (Switzerland), finance shared service center & distribution center (Germany) and aftersales repair center (France)- German and French language skills helped significantly.- Interim Head of EMEA Commercial SBU for 10 months.Career development highlights:- Successfully made the transition to a larger scale business (EMEA sales were USD 450M and eventually passed USD 1Bn)- Stabilized the operations of the new regional entities after a difficult SAP implementation and improved business processes. - Project managed the fit-out and opening of the new flagship regional headquarters building.- Gained first business leadership experience (regional CEO). Show less

Zenith International Sa, Le Locle, Switzerland

- Internal promotion within LVMH.- High-end Swiss watch brand/manufacturer primarily distributed through LVMH Watches & Jewelry subsidiary network. - Divisional CFO role, also responsible for local finance, admin and IT at the headquarters and factory.- Finance lead of the turnaround team who successfully completed the Refoundation of the ZENITH watch brand. (Successful relaunch of the brand at a much higher positioning, complete reworking of product portfolio and channels. A master… Show more - Internal promotion within LVMH.- High-end Swiss watch brand/manufacturer primarily distributed through LVMH Watches & Jewelry subsidiary network. - Divisional CFO role, also responsible for local finance, admin and IT at the headquarters and factory.- Finance lead of the turnaround team who successfully completed the Refoundation of the ZENITH watch brand. (Successful relaunch of the brand at a much higher positioning, complete reworking of product portfolio and channels. A master class in luxury goods the LVMH way!), - Successfully implemented a financial management information system. - Developed and implemented the first stages of a new cost accounting system.- Working language was French.Career development highlights: First divisional HQ level role and exposure to French multinational business culture. Gained invaluable experience of LVMH luxury goods brand management and brand turnaround playbooks. Show less

Lvmh Watch & Jewelry Asia Pacific Ltd, Hong Kong Sar

- LVMH acquired TAG Heuer & four other brands to create the LVMH Watches & Jewelry Division.- Successfully managed the acquired brands' transition from their previous distributors and integration into the TAG Heuer subsidiaries to create multi-brand distribution platforms.- Transitioned to full-time regional finance & operations role.Career development highlights: Broadened and deepened regional CFO / COO skills and experience. First experience with multi-brand businesses.

Tag Heuer Hong Kong Ltd, Hong Kong Sar

- Finance lead of a team which set up commercial subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Taiwan & Mainland China.- Responsible for all local finance, operations, IT and administration functions. - Later added regional finance supervision of Australia, Singapore & Malaysia entities (total 6 subsidiaries).Career development highlights: First subsidiary and regional leadership roles. Gained experience of the luxury goods sector, the APAC business environment and setting-up business units/taking… Show more - Finance lead of a team which set up commercial subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Taiwan & Mainland China.- Responsible for all local finance, operations, IT and administration functions. - Later added regional finance supervision of Australia, Singapore & Malaysia entities (total 6 subsidiaries).Career development highlights: First subsidiary and regional leadership roles. Gained experience of the luxury goods sector, the APAC business environment and setting-up business units/taking over from distributors. Show less

Texas Instruments Deutschland Gmbh, Freising, Germany

- Internal rotation to a newly created global accounting role following business expansion.- Working language was German.Career development highlights: Sharpened financial reporting and cost accounting skills in a best-in-class environment.

Texas Instruments Deutschland Gmbh, Germany

- Promoted into a line Finance role with an RFID transponder start-up business headquartered in Germany with manufacturing in Malaysia, Germany and the USA.- Working language was German.Career development highlights: Developed FP&A skills in a best-in-class US multinational. Gained experience of electronics manufacturing / cost accounting and B2B business.

Texas Instruments Ltd, Bedford, Uk

- EMEA region Internal Audit team (50-60% travel)Career Development Highlights: Developed understanding of business & financial processes, business risk evaluation and internal control frameworks in a best-in-class US multinational.

London, Uk

Audit trainee. Achieved professional qualification with ICAEW - UK Chartered Accountant.

Ba (Hons), Law & Land Economy

Kellogg / Hkust Emba