Katia Branca
Strategic Demand Lead @Guala Closures
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WORK HISTORY
Strategic Demand Lead @Guala Closures
Glasgow, GB
Created and led a newly established strategic role to build and embed long-term Demand Planning and S & OP capability across the organisation.S & OP & Demand Planning TransformationDesigned and implemented the company’s first end-to-end S & OP process, defining governance, cadence, roles and decision rightsEvolved forecasting from insight-based approaches to statistical, data-driven and market-trend-led methodologiesBuilt a structured demand planning framework aligned with Commercial, Operations and Finance objectivesChaired monthly S & OP meetings, ensuring effective cross-functional alignment and executive visibilityPerformance Management & AnalyticsIntroduced Forecast Accuracy KPIs across customer, product, plant and production line levelsImplemented structured bias and root-cause analysis, embedding continuous improvementImproved overall forecast accuracy to ±5% within 12 months, strengthening service levels and reducing supply riskWorking Capital & Inventory OptimisationDesigned and led a Working Capital Review process, delivering:30% reduction in working capital volume20% reduction in working capital value within 7 monthsDelivered full clearance of aged stock (>2 years), later adopted by other facilities through a KPMG-led rolloutLed monthly Safety Stock Target Reviews, delivering a £2M reduction with a key strategic customerStrategic Planning & LeadershipBuilt and maintained an 18-month master plan, identifying capacity gaps, risks and mitigation actionsLed cross-functional teams spanning Supply Chain, Commercial, Customer Service, Finance, Operations and InnovationActed as the primary interface between customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders, balancing service, cost and risk
EDUCATION
Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
Business Economics, Marketing/Marketing Management
SDA Bocconi
Postgraduate Degree, Reserch, organization and data analysis
ABOUT KATIA BRANCA
Senior Supply & Demand Planning Leader with 15+ years’ experience driving inventory optimisation, supply risk management, and end-to-end planning across FMCG and B2B manufacturing. Proven leader of Demand Planning, S & OP, and IBP transformation across EMEA, enabling successful NPD, product transitions, service improvement, and risk mitigation.Delivered measurable results through robust S & OP/IBP frameworks, including improving forecast accuracy from ±20% to ±5% in 12 months, reducing working capital by 30%(volume) and 20%(value) in seven months, and achieving a £2M safety-stock reduction through analytical recalibration.A trusted partner to senior leadership, recognised for standardising best-practice planning across multiple sites and aligning Commercial, Operations, Finance, and supply chain partners in complex, international environments. PRINCE2 certified; advanced user of o9, SAP APO/IBP, Power BI, and Excel, with a strong commitment to team development and continuous improvement.
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