Sanjeev Sonny Tara
*** ****** ** ********@*****.*** Home: 830-***-****
Del Rio, Tx-78840 Mobile: 507-316-
1190
Hi-Tech Leadership Visionary International General Management
Executive Management Summary
Highly accomplished, respected executive with a proven ability to lead and
transform business through periods of growth and downturn. Adept at
developing and executing business strategy that enhances competitive
advantage and enterprise value. Core strengths include strategy, business
alignment, organization design, process improvement, and change management.
Strong presenter, negotiator, and business person with high integrity and
a keen focus on forging lasting partnerships.
Di9rect Reports CEO CIO CPO C-Level SOX Public Private Travel Global
Professional Experience
Business Consulting
Present
Berkshire Hathaway (Marmon Highway Technologies)
2011 - 2012 President - Drive Train Products Group
> Recruited to expand the drive train business and improve the
profitability of existing businesses.
> Established an Advisory Board of Directors with key leaders to provide
governance and guidance.
> Restructured the US Operations for target profitability from a single
digit to double digits and developed a 5 years strategic growth plan
approved by the Board of Advisors.
> Completed the acquisition of a specialty axles company in Finland.
> Launched Operation Improvement Initiatives based on LEAN, Six Sigma and a
strong Quality System in collaboration with University of Wisconsin,
School of Engineering.
Oshkosh Corporation - Commercial Segment
2006 - 2011
COO - VP of Operations (2007 - 2011)
> Responsible for business strategy, business development, operations,
information technology, supply chain management, engineering and
facilities for this $1.2 billion segment. Served as an officer of the
company as well as coach, partner, and mentor to fellow C-level team
members.
> Provided transformational leadership for the Commercial Segment during
the worst recession our industry has ever seen. Navigate the business back
to profitability in 28 months.
> Executed cost reduction initiatives to reduce the operational footprint
by 35% and cut operational costs by $150 million to deliver a breakeven
performance in 21 months.
> Implemented initiatives to reduced lead-time by 40%, improved on delivery
by 30% and instituted major improvements in quality through implementation
of a strong Quality Management System.
> Established a comprehensive Operations Training Program in partnership
with Minnesota State Colleges System and an on campus 2-year degree with
Riverland College.
> Prepared our $200 million European company for a strategic divesture to a
private equity firm to further strengthen the financial performance of the
business.
> Led the development and implementation of "Oshkosh Operating System"
based on Lean and Six Sigma to attain a higher level of operational
efficiency and effectiveness.
> Enhanced the operating footprint by establishing joint ventures and
manufacturing operations in Brazil, China and India. These markets
remained strong during the US slow down.
Oshkosh Corporation - Commercial Segment
CFO & VP of HR, IT and Supply Chain Management (2006-2007)
> Brought focus to the strategy process across all the businesses.
Articulated and executed the Commercial Group Strategy, resulting in an
improvement of the operating income from 1.7% to 7.5% - with a longer term
goal of delivering a 12% operating income
> Led the implementation of the Strategic Deployment Process of Oshkosh
Financial System to support the financial & strategic goals of the
Business Unit as well as Corporate Strategy
> Led an acquisition and a successful integration of a $125 million dollar,
multi-site company into the Commercial Business
> Led the JDE-ERP platform implementation - this $20 million project was
completed on time, on budget - successfully implemented across over 10
locations.
> Developed an effective offshore model with Larsen & Tubro, India for both
non-strategic IT and Engineering Services. This initiative improved our
quality, delivery, and capacity, as well as reduced our Information
Technology costs by over 30%.
> Implemented a strong and sensible Sarbanes-Oxley control environment
across the Segment.
Steelcase, Inc - PolyVision Corporation (Atlanta, GA) 1998
- 2006
CFO and EVP of Administration, IT & Supply Chain (2004 - 2006)
> Led the post merger integration and turnaround of PolyVision after
acquisition by Steelcase.
> Implemented financial reporting, metrics system, and strong focus on
GAAP.
> Restructure the US and European Operations to improve the operating
margins by 4% and at the same time improved the quality, responsiveness
and delivery to our customers.
> Developed and implemented an outsource initiative to offshore non-
strategic IT activities reducing the IT and ERP costs by 25%.
> Negotiated and arbitrated union contracts (United Steel Workers).
Steelcase, Inc - Brayton International (High Point, NC)
CFO & VP of Finance, IT and Supply Chain (1999 - 2004)
> Partnered with the CEO to develop and execute the business strategy that
substantially improved the performance of our business. In 4 years, we
grew the revenues by 300% and improved the operating income from 3.5% to
16%.
> Developed and managed the business relationships with our design partners
in Europe. These were the premier brand and high margin products from
Europe with gross margins in excess of 60%.
> Consolidated three factories into one and improved the overall operating
costs by 15%.
> Implemented Supply Chain initiatives that improved our cost of goods by
6%, inventory turns by 400% and inventory accuracy from 60% to 98%.
> Executed strategic pricing initiative to improve the gross margins by 4%.
> Implemented an ERP system, Cognos business intelligence, and the Voice
over IP solution to improve the quality and efficiencies of business
information.
Steelcase, Inc - Corporate (Grand Rapids, MI)
Controller - Global Supply Chain Group (1998 - 1999)
> Core member of the team that executed the Strategic Supply Chain
initiative for Steelcase with McKinsey & Co. The objective of this key
initiative was to reduce the material costs by 15% on a $1 billion
material spend.
> Developed and implemented a Supplier Risk Assessment Model that led to a
30% reduction in our supply base and contributed over $10 million in cost
reductions.
> Implemented a strong commodity management process to reduce and manage
the volatilty of various commodities. Through this process, we were able
to effectively manage and reduce the price volatility of the key
commodities.
Koch Industries (London, UK)
1997 -1998
Manager Financial Planning and Risk Management
> Managed and integrated over $400 million of European assets which
resulted in a 30% growth in revenues and with a 56% Return On Investment.
> Improved the financial reporting process and controls to be compliant
with reporting standards and taxation laws of United Kingdom and
European Union and improved the financial close process by a week.
Rockwell, Inc (Milwaukee, WI)
1994-1997
Senior Business Analyst
> Responsible for the planning, budgeting and financial analysis for the
Industrial Controls Group.
> Finance lead on the post acquisition integration process of a $450
million Swiss acquisition into Rockwell Automation Group.
QuadGraphics, Inc (Sussex, WI)
1992 -1994
Financial Analyst
> Responsible for financial analysis and planning for the cash and credit
management function.
> Implemented various improvements to the cash management process by
working closely with treasury, accounting and partner banks as, JP Morgan
and Bank of America.
Education
Advance Management (AMP)
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
MBA
The Wake Forest Schools of Business, Winston Salem, NC
BBA & Masters in Accounting - Cum Laude
Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas
Executive Education
Certification in Operations Management (in process)
University of Wisconsin- School of Engineering, Madison, WI
Developing and Implementing Strategy
The Wharton School- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Certification in Supply Chain Management (16 month program)
The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management- Michigan State, Lansing, MI
Corporate & Non-Profit Boards
Board of Visitors of Wake Forest Schools of Business - 2010 - present
Board of Director, CIPSA/Mezcladores (Mexico) - 2006 - 2011
Board of Director, Geensink Norba (The Netherlands) - 2006 - 2009
Board of Director, PolyVision Europe (Belgium) - 2004 - 2006