Sébastien Koehler
Le Vésinet,,France
Summary
Accomplished professional with global business acumen and expertise in supply chain. Demonstrates proficiency in strategic procurement and sourcing, alongside implementing cost-efficiency strategies and risk mitigation techniques. Committed to sustainability practices and adept in relationship and compliance management. Exhibits leadership and cultural awareness, driving organisational success through effective management and strategic foresight.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
VP Global Purchasing
Forvia Clean Mobility
Nanterre, France
07.2023 - Current
- Head of global Purchasing within the Clean Mobility Business Group. Annual Spend: 2.4 Bn€, 60 industrial sites, 11 R&D centres
- Managing a team consisting in >400 employees globally with 5 direct reports (Commodity, Program, Purchasing Strategy) and 13 Indirect reports (Regional Purchasing, Supplier Quality, Costing)
- Define Purchasing strategy and key levers based upon Business Group environment and needs
- Define annual material productivity budget as well as mid- and long-term planning processes
- Ensure achievements of material productivity objectives by creating and deploying best in class tools and methodologies (Best Landed Costs, Global sourcing, VAVE, MoB, Digital/AI…)
General Manager
Forvia South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
01.2018 - 06.2023
- Country Head for Forvia Group, in charge of activities for Clean Mobility (2 plants, 900 employees) and Interior Systems (2 plants, 1100 employees), Annual Turnover of 250 M€.
- Developing and implementing strategies to achieve business goals and improve overall performance
- Managing day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency, and maintaining compliance with laws and regulations
- Budgeting, forecasting and monitoring financial performance to ensure profitability
- Building high performance teams, delegating roles and fostering a positive work environment
- Building and maintaining relationships with clients, suppliers and other key stakeholders
Purchasing Director Europe Division
Forvia Clean Mobility
Augsburg, Germany
02.2012 - 12.2017
- Focus on strategic and operative purchasing within the Europe Division, Annual spend: 700 M€, 14 Techno-plants and 12 JIT plants
- Disciplinary leadership of a team consisting in 100 employees (Commodity, Program and Series Purchasing, Supplier Quality and Back Office administration)
- Main objective: Build and ensure achievement of material productivity budget of the European plants (external and internal productivity)
European Commodity & Regional Purchasing Manager
Lear Corporation GmbH
Allershausen, Germany
03.2010 - 01.2012
- Disciplinary and operational leadership of a team consisting in 20 employees
- Strategic and operative purchasing within the Trim Commodity and the European Trim plants
- Operative purchasing within the German Car Group Divisions (BMW, Daimler, VW Group) and their respective JIT plants
- Responsible for Purchasing savings targets achievement within the Commodity as well as within the Trim / JIT plants
- Definition and implementation of the European Trim and Foam vertical integration strategy
- Leading Global raw material negotiations as well as initial sourcing activities to ensure project timing and respect of cost targets
European Commodity Manager
Lear Corporation GmbH
Allershausen, Germany
08.2007 - 02.2010
- Disciplinary and operational leadership of a team (8 employees) with focus on strategic and operative purchasing within the Metal & Mechanisms Commodity
- Management of European commodity staff
- Responsible for purchasing savings targets achievement within the commodity
- Definition and implementation of the European commodity and supplier strategy
- Leading European raw material negotiations
- Leading supplier selection in a total cost of ownership
and best cost country approach
EU Manager Advanced Purchasing & Cost Engineering
Lear Corporation GmbH
Allershausen, Germany
11.2006 - 07.2007
European Senior Commodity Buyer
Lear Corporation GmbH
Allershausen, Germany
10.2004 - 10.2006
European Senior Buyer Advanced Purchasing
Lear Corporation GmbH
Allershausen, Germany
01.2003 - 09.2004
Family Buyer, Purchasing Department
Valeo Sicherheitssysteme GmbH
Erdweg, Germany
03.2000 - 11.2002
Civilian Service, Purchasing Department
Valeo GmbH & Co. Schließsysteme KG
Heiligenhaus, Germany
09.1998 - 02.2000
Internship, Purchasing Department
Liebherr France S.A.
Colmar, France
09.1996 - 04.1997
Education
Master of Business Administration - Industrial Purchasing
École Supérieure de Commerce
Bordeaux 06.1998
Bachelor of Business Administration - Management and International Business Studies
Institut Supérieur Européen de Gestion (ISEG)
Strasbourg, France 09/1995 - 07/1997
BTS (Two-year diploma) - Trading, Communication and Marketing
Institut Sainte-Clothilde
Strasbourg, France 09/1993 - 07/1995
Baccalauréat (French A-level) - Economy
Lycée Saint-Etienne
Strasbourg, France 09/1990 - 07/1993
Skills
- Global business acumen
- Supply chain and negotiation mastery
- Strategic procurement/Sourcing
- Cost-Efficiency strategies
- Risk mitigation techniques
- Sustainability practices
- Relationship/compliance management
- Leadership & cultural awareness
Languages
French
Native
English
Fluent
German
Fluent
Affiliations
- Travelling
- Geopolitic
- Culture and History
- Sport (Football, Golfing, Running, Skiing, Hiking)
- Oenology
References
Mr. Christophe Schmitt
EVP Forvia Seating and COO Forvia (retired since 01/25)
Tel. +33 6 70 64 43 13
Mr. Guillaume Clergue
Group Indirect Purchasing VP Forvia
Tel. +33 6 10 85 81 40
Timeline
VP Global Purchasing
Forvia Clean Mobility
07.2023 - Current
General Manager
Forvia South Africa
01.2018 - 06.2023
Purchasing Director Europe Division
Forvia Clean Mobility
02.2012 - 12.2017
European Commodity & Regional Purchasing Manager
Lear Corporation GmbH
03.2010 - 01.2012
European Commodity Manager
Lear Corporation GmbH
08.2007 - 02.2010
EU Manager Advanced Purchasing & Cost Engineering
Lear Corporation GmbH
11.2006 - 07.2007
European Senior Commodity Buyer
Lear Corporation GmbH
10.2004 - 10.2006
European Senior Buyer Advanced Purchasing
Lear Corporation GmbH
01.2003 - 09.2004
Family Buyer, Purchasing Department
Valeo Sicherheitssysteme GmbH
03.2000 - 11.2002
Civilian Service, Purchasing Department
Valeo GmbH & Co. Schließsysteme KG
09.1998 - 02.2000
Internship, Purchasing Department
Liebherr France S.A.
09.1996 - 04.1997
Master of Business Administration - Industrial Purchasing
École Supérieure de Commerce
Bachelor of Business Administration - Management and International Business Studies
Institut Supérieur Européen de Gestion (ISEG)
09/1995 - 07/1997
BTS (Two-year diploma) - Trading, Communication and Marketing
Institut Sainte-Clothilde
09/1993 - 07/1995
Baccalauréat (French A-level) - Economy
Lycée Saint-Etienne
09/1990 - 07/1993
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