William Lendeborg
Santiago,Dominican Republic
Summary
Strategic Operations & Procurement Leader with 30+ years of experience driving transformation and profitability for global food and beverage organizations. Recognized for delivering operational excellence through innovative problem-solving, cost optimization, and large-scale process improvements. Successfully managed budgets exceeding US$150M and led procurement of over 1.3 million tons of raw materials, including international import/export operations. Proven expertise in global manufacturing strategies, cross-cultural leadership, labor relations, and union negotiations. Fully bilingual (English/Spanish) with a strong record of implementing lean methodologies and achieving measurable results in efficiency and growth.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Supply Chain & Operations Director Site DR
Antillean Foods Internacional (JP)
, Dominican Republic
04.2024 - Current
- Lead the entire Supply & Operations team in establishing purchasing, manufacturing, engineering, and logistics strategies, with the goal of improving 10 percentage points in % GM, focused on optimizing service to all our clients in CARICOM, establishing the key service indicator in all countries at over 98% (Reliability).
Vice – President Operations
RHYTHM Super Foods
Guadalajara, México
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Establish the strategic business plan, focused on improving EBITDA by 25%.
- Redesign the procurement strategy of raw materials ̈commodities ̈ and the Organic Agricultural program: Shishitos, Broccoli, Jicama, Cauliflower.
- Total Purchasing budget 2023: $USD 10 MM.
- Establish a culture of service and productivity throughout the supply chain and integrated system of innovation of new differentiated products with organic raw materials.
Operations & Manufacturing Director
Grupo Ki Snacks
Toluca, México
01.2017 - 01.2023
- Successfully led the strategic and operational execution of a new snack manufacturing plant, delivering a US$1.8M investment project within an aggressive six-month timeline.
- Established a robust supplier network, designed production, maintenance, and quality systems, and partnered with HR to build a high-performing operational and administrative team.
- Achieved first-year sales of 65M pesos and secured entry into the wholesale channel (ISCAM), positioning the new business unit for sustainable growth and market penetration.
Operations & Manufacturing Director
AYN Alimentos
Toluca, Mexico
01.2015 - 12.2016
- Responsible for the total ¨maquila¨ operation (raw material, quality, production, maintenance, warehouse finish product and logistic).
- Capacity to produce 120,000,000 unit / year with 16 lines, total plant HC 350 employees.
- Objectives to implement lean manufacturing system, increase efficiency by 25% in all production lines and implement a HC reduction by eliminating 30% total headcount.
General Manager
URBANSPOON
Mexico City, Mexico
07.2013 - 12.2015
- Lead business unit operation in food & beverages restaurant’s (10) in Mexico City, total gross sales $ 225 MM ps / year.
- Lead the global strategies plan, focus to optimize a total sales process service, improve the operating profit margin in the P&L by 4pp/ year and developed a clear initiative to accelerate and improve the organization survey goals.
Operations Director
Gramosa Agro – Alimentos
Queretaro, México
01.2012 - 07.2013
- Responsible for leading the manufacturing food plant and storage facilities, total grains capacity 100 M tons, focus to supply all local region and export to South America.
- Designed and implemented a raw material contingency plan by developing alternative suppliers—eliminated the possibility of production downtime due to lack of raw material.
Operations & Plant Manager
AGRIFEED
, Dominican Republic
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Responsible for running the food manufacturing plant, to service the local and export markets.
- Increase at 20 % total productivity by implementing a lean manufacturing program, TPM and Kanban for all plants.
Operations Procurement Agro Director (Sabritas & Gamesa)
Pepsico
Mexico
01.2007 - 12.2010
- Procurement leader for Agro products for Gamesa & Sabritas in Mexico; responsible of supplying 19 production plants in three countries (Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic).
- Implemented the comprehensive needs analysis and purchasing strategy for Mexico.
- US$45 MM saved in raw material cost (potato, corn and wheat) by implementing a quality, safety and AIB programs, logistical improvements, and recruitment of new suppliers.
Operations Director Vallejo Valley Site
Pepsico
D.F., Mexico
01.2006 - 12.2007
- Led a cross-cultural team for process transformation in the Vallejo site: Vallejo, Mafer, Maquilas, Poniente 128 seasoning plant and Merida plant, total capacity 70 M tons.
- Led 1,700 front line employees and 250 non-front employees.
- Helped change labor union relationship by delaying strike and elimination non–productive clauses.
- Initiated a new labor and production culture in Vallejo plant, supported by a Self-Managed team concept to run a new and larger production line under new work skills and variable payment.
Operations Director Caribbean Plant
Pepsico
Sto, Dgo., Rep. Dom.
01.2004 - 12.2006
- Responsible for running the manufacturing operation in Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico; led the Caribbean Potato and Plantain Export project from DR to PR.
- Reduced direct cost from 45% to 39% of SDV with a savings of US$ 390K.
- Reduced MOH from 9% to 6.0%.
- Decrease film waste from 5.74 % to 3.30 % by introducing a variable compensation program.
Plant Director Vallejo Plant
Pepsico
Mexico
01.2001 - 12.2004
- In charge of plant operations of all Frito Lay system in LAR with 1,000 direct labor employees, 200 indirect labor, 17 lines and capacity to produce 60,000 tons in a full year.
- Successfully negotiated labor contracts for 3 major manufacturing plants with three labor unions.
Operations Director Dominican Republic
Pepsico
01.1999 - 12.2001
- In charge of the production of 400 employee Frito Lay plant; created the bases of a program Variable Compensation for all the plant.
Plant Manager Dominican Republic
Pepsico
01.1995 - 12.1999
- Responsible for the manufacturing operation of Frito Lays product.
- Decrease film waste from 5.74 % to 3.30 % by introducing a variable compensation program.
Education
Post Graduate Studies - Production Management
Instituto Tecnologico Dominicano (INTEC)
Sto, Dgo, Rep. Dom01.1991
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
Instituto Tecnologico Dominicano (INTEC)
Sto, Dgo, Rep. Dom01.1990
Skills
- Operations Strategy
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Lean Manufacturing
- Continuous Improvement
- Procurement
- P&L Management
- KPI Leadership
- Labor Relations
- Quality control systems
- Change management
Training
- Managerial Effectiveness 3Ds, W.J. Reddin and Associates, Mexico.
- Management with Leadership INCAE, Costa Rica.
- Management Program PAG 50 INCAE, Costa Rica.
- American Institute of Baking (AIB), Certification of food quality and safety.
- Managing the Process Enterprise, Principles and Practices, Hammer and Company.
- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Practical Short Course Series Feeds & Pet Food Extrusion Texas A&M.
Locations
- Santiago, DR
- Interlomas, Mx
Personal Information
Willing To Relocate: 1
Languages
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Supply Chain & Operations Director Site DR
Antillean Foods Internacional (JP)
04.2024 - Current
Vice – President Operations
RHYTHM Super Foods
01.2024 - 12.2024
Operations & Manufacturing Director
Grupo Ki Snacks
01.2017 - 01.2023
Operations & Manufacturing Director
AYN Alimentos
01.2015 - 12.2016
General Manager
URBANSPOON
07.2013 - 12.2015
Operations Director
Gramosa Agro – Alimentos
01.2012 - 07.2013
Operations & Plant Manager
AGRIFEED
01.2011 - 01.2012
Operations Procurement Agro Director (Sabritas & Gamesa)
Pepsico
01.2007 - 12.2010
Operations Director Vallejo Valley Site
Pepsico
01.2006 - 12.2007
Operations Director Caribbean Plant
Pepsico
01.2004 - 12.2006
Plant Director Vallejo Plant
Pepsico
01.2001 - 12.2004
Operations Director Dominican Republic
Pepsico
01.1999 - 12.2001
Plant Manager Dominican Republic
Pepsico
01.1995 - 12.1999
Post Graduate Studies - Production Management
Instituto Tecnologico Dominicano (INTEC)
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
Instituto Tecnologico Dominicano (INTEC)