Christopher Wiegandt
Indianapolis,IN
Summary
Versatile business leader bringing 35 years of experience as an accomplished senior executive. Strategic problem-solver, change manager and visionary executive with success in implementing plans to meet current and future needs. Key expertise in manufacturing.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
President and General Manager, Americas
Visual Components of North America, Inc.
03.2019 - 02.2022
- Responsible for leading team through transformation from startup to profitability by deploying organizational development changes and implementing customer care mindset
- Created market-appropriate and competitive revenue strategy, and developed region-wide reseller network
- Developed strategic business plans and set vision aligning management teams with corporate objectives to capitalize on select sales opportunities
- Fully P&L responsible and autonomous regarding JV and other partnership developments
- Delivered three consecutive years of record sales yielding 20%, 15%, and 19% YoY sales growth in 2019, 2020, and 2021 respectively
- Partnered with external marketing source to develop 'why buy' sales and marketing strategy positioning the region to double sales by 2025 versus 2020
- 2020 marked the first year of profitability with long-term sales and a profit plan yielding 25% EBIT by 2025.
Vice President, Strategy and Market Intelligence
Forvia (Faurecia Clean Mobility)
01.2016 - 12.2018
- Responsible for developing and advancing new additional business goals and objectives by collaborating with executive peers, managers, and other stakeholders to explore and implement key strategies and actions
- Partnered with external consultants to craft relationship development strategies with government and regulatory agencies, positioning division to capitalize on product innovation sales
- Managed merger and acquisition (M&A) initiatives for the North American Division (NAO), ensuring the achievement of the division's 2023 strategic revenue objective of yielding a 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in a flat-to-declining market.
Vice President of Engineering
Forvia (Faurecia Clean Mobility)
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Responsibilities included overseeing contributing engineering managers in the development and implementation of engineering strategies that allowed translation of vision to engineering excellence
- Through the implementation of a significant transformation of the engineering organization in the post-merger environment, the company was able to become reapproved as a supplier at GM and Ford
- Spearheaded prototype operations for a $15M annual revenue plant with a highly complex product mix, achieving 90%+ on-time delivery rating and nearly perfect quality record for three years in a row.
Corporate Vice President of Technology and Innovation (CTO)
Tenneco (Federal-Mogul Corporation)
04.2009 - 01.2011
Vice President of Technology and Innovation, Automotive Products
Tenneco (Federal-Mogul Corporation)
04.2008 - 04.2009
Vice President of Technology and Innovation (Engineering), Sealing and Bearings
Tenneco (Federal-Mogul Corporation)
01.2006 - 04.2008
Education
Skills
- Strategic Planning & Partnerships
- Sales & Commercialization
- Product Development
- P&L Management
- Mergers & Acquisitions Integration
- Process Improvement LEAN
- Global Operations Leadership
- R&D Product Innovation
- Program Management
- Business Development
- Manufacturing Distribution
- Business Planning & Financials
- Project Management
- Leadership Development
- Sales Planning
Notable Career Accomplishments
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS: “Worst in Class” to “Best in Class” | Assumed leadership of engineering team post-merger and through a disciplined, pragmatic, and methodical approach transformed the team over a three-year period.
- INNOVATION RECOGNITION: Five Automotive News PACE Awards | Coached and mentored teams at two different companies in the development, launch, and commercial success of innovations leading to winning coveted honor.
- NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: $20M in sales and 50% market penetration | Leveraged prior off-highway engine and agricultural manufacturing customer relationship to develop and grow account over a three-year period.
- MARKET SHARE GROWTH: 12% price increase yields 90% market share | Developed, executed, and achieved profit improvement plan across product line and increased global market share for a specific engine family.
- DISPLACED COMPETITOR: 60% market share ending a competitor’s 30-year reign at global vehicle OEM | Led team in identifying the problem at consumer level | Provided solution | Solution resulted in securing a $300M lifetime contract.
Additional Past Roles
- Vice President Engineering
- Global Sales Manager
- Global Account Manager
- Account Manager
- Karl Schmidt UNISIA
- Senior Applications Engineer
- Applications Engineer
- Tenneco (Federal-Mogul Corporation)
- Project Applications Engineer
- Isuzu Diesel of North America, Inc.
Education Institution
Lawrence Technological University
Professional Development
- Sandler FOUNDATIONS – Sales Mastery
- Harvard University – Executive Studies
- Kepner-Tregoe – Problem-Solving Methodology
- Faurecia University – Various Leadership Courses
- Korn-Ferry and Lee Hecht Harrison – Personalized Executive Leadership Development Program
- The University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School - Executive Studies
- Federal-Mogul Corporation (Tenneco) – LEAN Certified
Timeline
President and General Manager, Americas
Visual Components of North America, Inc.
03.2019 - 02.2022
Vice President, Strategy and Market Intelligence
Forvia (Faurecia Clean Mobility)
01.2016 - 12.2018
Vice President of Engineering
Forvia (Faurecia Clean Mobility)
01.2011 - 01.2016
Corporate Vice President of Technology and Innovation (CTO)
Tenneco (Federal-Mogul Corporation)
04.2009 - 01.2011
Vice President of Technology and Innovation, Automotive Products
Tenneco (Federal-Mogul Corporation)
04.2008 - 04.2009
Vice President of Technology and Innovation (Engineering), Sealing and Bearings
Tenneco (Federal-Mogul Corporation)
01.2006 - 04.2008
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