Julio Apaez

Senior Operations Executive with 20+ years directing large-scale, multi-site manufacturing footprints and complex plant launches across the Americas. Proven expertise executing greenfield and brownfield operations, establishing organizational structures, and scaling heavy industrial, electronics, and automotive Tier 1 manufacturing environments. Skilled in full P&L management up to EUR 300M, cross-border (Mexico/U.S.) operations, vertically integrated manufacturing (fabrication, assembly, and testing), and building sustainable Lean cultures focused on talent development and long-term growth.

Vice President, Operations Americas at Grammer Automotive (2024-10 – Present)

Executive leader with full P&L accountability for 5 manufacturing sites across the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil, overseeing a EUR 300M budget and 2,200+ employees.

• Operational Scale & Strategy: Led the regional growth strategy to secure an 8% EBIT margin while expanding advanced manufacturing capabilities.
• Launch Excellence & Supplier Readiness: Directed complex product and technology integration launches across a multi-site network, securing seamless capacity ramp-ups.
• Cultural Legacy & Mentorship: Built a world-class leadership pipeline, developing 25 emerging operations and plant managers with a greater than 90% long-term retention rate.
• Lean Transformation: Instituted unified shop floor management practices across the Americas footprint, eliminating operational waste to deliver EUR 2.5M in annual cost savings.
• Direct Reports: 5 Plant Directors; Regional Directors of Engineering, Quality, Logistics, Continuous Improvement, Program Management, EHS, and Purchasing; Finance/Controlling Manager; HR Director; and Key Account Managers.

Regional General Manager, Mexico at Grammer Automotive (2023-03 – 2024-10)

Directed operations across 3 high-volume manufacturing plants and U.S. distribution hubs ($175M+ P&L; 1,800 employees).

• Turnaround & Quality Infrastructure: Led a regional quality turnaround, reducing Cost of Quality from 12% to 2.5% through disciplined application of Quality Circles and PFMEA.
• Technical Center Setup: Established a new Mexico Technical Center from the ground up, unifying corporate functions, engineering, and localized operational support.
• Cultural Recognition: Cultivated an award-winning workplace culture, earning the Super Empresas Recognition by Grupo Expansion (2024-2025).

Plant Manager | Plant Operations Manager at Grammer Automotive (2018-11 – 2023-02)

Led a $140M footprint with 1,300 employees across 4 manufacturing business units.

• Operational & Financial Turnaround: Reversed an $8M loss into a $6M profit by driving OEE and line efficiency from approximately 60% to a sustained 85% via shop floor KPIs.
• Compliance & Audit Excellence: Achieved IATF 16949 certification during a critical turnaround period. Recognized by the Board of Directors with Global Excellence Awards for Quality, EHS, and CSR (2021-2023).

Program Management (UK) & Regional Logistics (Mexico) at Grammer Automotive (2014 – 2018)

• Program Deployment: Embedded in an international matrix in Europe; led a headrest program deployment for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), achieving 100% market penetration and closing 6 months ahead of schedule.
• Logistics Optimization: Managed North American logistics, improving on-time shipping metrics from 83% to 98% while avoiding $1.3M in freight costs.

Senior Project Manager, Logistics at Kostal Group (2012 – 2014)

Ground-Up Greenfield Launch: Engineered and executed the complete start-up of a greenfield manufacturing operation, integrating precision electronics assembly, injection molding, testing lines, and a specialized distribution center supporting $38M in monthly sales.

• Footprint Development: Built a 3PL distribution center hub strategy, executing the launch with zero disruption to international customer delivery timelines.

Regional Materials Manager, NAFTA at PKC Group (formerly Alcoa Fujikura) (2010 – 2012)

Managed the materials group for 6 manufacturing facilities spanning 8,000+ employees.

• Multi-Site Material Flow: Managed the materials group for 6 manufacturing facilities spanning 8,000+ employees.
• Footprint Consolidation: Led a $12M lean logistics turnaround; mapped material flows via Value Stream Mapping (VSM), overhauled 3PL operations, and eliminated external warehousing by relocating a strategic hub 3 miles from the central plant network.

Divisional Production Control & Logistics Manager at Faurecia Interior Systems (2008 – 2010)

Oversaw a 4-plant operating network ($160M revenue) executing Just-In-Time and Just-In-Sequence programs for premium OEMs.

• JIT/JIS Network Leadership: Oversaw a 4-plant operating network ($160M revenue) executing Just-In-Time and Just-In-Sequence programs for premium OEMs. Captured $2.4M in annual cost reductions by restructuring inbound local supplier footprints.

Logistics & Deputy Assistant Plant Manager at Benteler Automotive (2007 – 2008)

Held shared operational responsibility for a $200M footprint encompassing high-volume metal stamping, hydroforming, and advanced robotic welding assembly lines.

• Heavy Fabrication Turnaround: Held shared operational responsibility for a $200M footprint encompassing high-volume metal stamping, hydroforming, and advanced robotic welding assembly lines. Stabilized operations and lean pull systems to drive order fulfillment from under 60% to a sustained 90%.

Operations and Logistics Manager at Transnav Inc (2004 – 2007)

Held full P&L accountability for technical plastics and assembly operations serving Tier 1 seating clients; managed global tooling fabrication and prototyping across Europe, China, and North America.

Senior Logistics Planner at Siemens Automotive / SY Systems (2000 – 2004)

Led manufacturing planning, brownfield infrastructure development, and structural logistics blueprints for the first Ford Supplier Parks implemented in Chicago, Illinois, and Hermosillo, Mexico.

Greenfield Launch Lead at Continental Safety & Powertrain Electronics (1994 – 2000)

Embedded in Ingolstadt, Germany, to construct a greenfield electronics plant in Cuautla, Mexico. Established logistics frameworks, synchronized international supply lines, and industrialized SMT microcontroller, in-circuit testing, and automated mechatronic assembly lines. Served as cross-functional SAP Project Lead building enterprise architecture across Finance, Quality, and Operations.

Sergeant 1st Class, Military Industry at Mexico Secretary of Defense, Military Factories (1991 – 1994)

Managed industrial safety frameworks, materials planning, and technical metrics for military engineering and manufacturing complexes.

Master of Science in Administration in Vehicle Design & Manufacturing – Central Michigan University

Master of Science in Logistics & Supply Chain Management – UPAEP

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering – Universidad del Valle de Mexico

Executive Leadership Program in Alta Dirección - (D1) – IPADE Business School (2022 – 2023)