Liviu Gîrlă
Director Of Operations
Bucharest,Romania
Summary
Motivated and results-oriented Operations and Procurement Leader with 20+ years of experience in automotive and manufacturing sectors. Seeking Senior Operations/Purchasing Manager role to leverage expertise and drive impactful business outcomes. Proven ability to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and build high-performing teams. Contributes strategic leadership, global negotiations, and cross-functional team leadership for success.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
2
2
Languages
Work History
EMEA Operations Director & Romanian Plant Manager
First Brands Group - Trico
05.2024 - Current
- Led, enforce, and developed new management teams in Italy, Belgium and Romania, resulting in a 17% reduction in employee turnover in Romania
- Improved plant productivity by 15% through process optimization and lean manufacturing initiatives
- Successfully launched 9 new production lines, expanding operational capacity and meeting increased demand
- Reduced internal PPM (parts per million) by 40%, in Romanian plant, through enhanced quality control and continuous improvement programs
- Implemented AI-driven solutions in manufacturing, supply chain, and quality for increased efficiency and predictive analytics
- Foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the operations team
- Oversaw all aspects of plant operations, including production, maintenance, logistics, and safety
Global Purchasing Director
First Brands Group - Trico
05.2021 - 05.2024
- Developed and led a global procurement team with a presence in Europe, North America, China, and India
- Achieved an average annual cost savings of 10%, resulting in a significant cash flow improvement of +60M$
- Successfully established 2 new greenfield plants in India, introducing stamping and forging technologies
- Developed and implemented global commodity strategies, including sourcing, negotiation, and supplier relationship management on a spend of 377M$, in repairs and brakes business
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and execute the Annual Operating Plan
- Mitigated supply chain risks and ensured on-time delivery and quality performance
- Successfully mitigated raw material price increases, achieving zero impact on steel costs despite a 50% market increase
- Provided leadership, training, and mentorship to team members to achieve departmental goals
- Studying market trends and identifying any risks on commodities
- Monitoring an optimization supply chain through Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analyses
Senior Purchasing Manager
DRiV Incorporated
02.2020 - 05.2021
- Led procurement activities for the EMEA Brakes Business Unit (Spend: €41M)
- Achieved an average annual cost savings of 4.5%, and a €2.3M cash flow improvement
- Developed and implemented commodity strategies, sourcing plans, and VA/VE projects
- Conducted TCO analyses to optimize the supply chain and identify cost-saving opportunities
- Negotiated and locked metal prices to mitigate market volatility
Senior Purchasing Manager
DONA Pharmacies
09.2018 - 02.2020
- Managed commercial aspects of purchasing for Romanian RX, OTC, and food supplements (Spend: €29M)
- Significantly increased RX availability in the chain from 6% to 15%, as per the Cegedim report
- Improved average annual margin by 2% and generated a €0.7M cash flow increase
- Managed strategic sourcing initiatives, including new product sourcing and supplier quality management
Senior Commodity Buyer
Federal Mogul Friction Services
02.2015 - 09.2018
- Managed purchasing for the braking aftermarket in EMEA and North America (Spend: €25M)
- Managed raw materials commodities (Spend: €35M), developing and implementing sourcing strategies
- Successfully mitigated raw material price increases, delaying price adjustments by 3-6 months
- Achieved a 12% cost savings in 2016, resulting in a €0.2M cash flow improvement
Commodity Buyer
Renault Technologie Roumanie
05.2013 - 02.2015
- Managed purchasing for all drive shafts for the Logan car family worldwide (Spend: €130M)
- Identified and implemented a Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) idea resulting in €15 savings per car
- Achieved a year-over-year cost savings of 4.5%
- Evaluated supplier performance based on KPIs and ensured timely contract negotiations
Project Manager
Renault Technologie Roumanie
11.2008 - 04.2013
- Led the implementation of the Electric Vehicles (EV) infrastructure project at the Romanian Renault site (2011-2013), securing a €0.7M grant and minimizing authorization delays
- Successfully managed the construction of the Titu Technical Centre, the first automobile testing center in Eastern Europe
- Secured €28.125M in state aid and a €44M loan from EBRD, optimizing project costs and financing
- Led a cross-functional team to ensure project financing and centralized information for financial institutions
Engineer Leader
Renault Technologie Roumanie
02.2007 - 11.2008
- Led the commercial vehicle harness design team
- Managed the transfer of Dacia Logan wiring plans to all Renault production centers
- Ensured adherence to QCDP (Quality, Cost, Delivery, Performance) objectives in automotive wiring projects, collaborating closely with suppliers
- Mentored new employees and coordinated the commercial vehicles engineering team
Education
MBA - Management and Business Administration
Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers
University (Graduate) - Economic Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications
Politehnica University of Bucharest
Skills
Lean Manufacturing
Certification
APICS CPIM
Timeline
EMEA Operations Director & Romanian Plant Manager
First Brands Group - Trico
05.2024 - Current
Global Purchasing Director
First Brands Group - Trico
05.2021 - 05.2024
Senior Purchasing Manager
DRiV Incorporated
02.2020 - 05.2021
Senior Purchasing Manager
DONA Pharmacies
09.2018 - 02.2020
Senior Commodity Buyer
Federal Mogul Friction Services
02.2015 - 09.2018
Commodity Buyer
Renault Technologie Roumanie
05.2013 - 02.2015
Project Manager
Renault Technologie Roumanie
11.2008 - 04.2013
Engineer Leader
Renault Technologie Roumanie
02.2007 - 11.2008
MBA - Management and Business Administration
Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers
University (Graduate) - Economic Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications
Politehnica University of Bucharest
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