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
Six Sigma
Project Management
Supply Chain Management
Inventory Management
Quality Control
Production Planning
Global Sourcing
Supplier Negotiation
Contract Management
RFQ/RFI Processes
Cost Analysis
TCO Analysis
Risk Management
SAP
Charisma
Microsoft Office tools
Click UP
ASANA
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