Tomas Kostenec

About Tomas Kostenec

I am a global Operations Executive with 20+ years of leadership experience across industrial and automotive manufacturing, leading complex, multi-plant organizations across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.I currently serve as Vice President of Operations for Industrial Solutions Americas at ContiTech, with full responsibility for a 16-site manufacturing network spanning union and non-union facilities. My scope includes manufacturing, industrial engineering, ESH, footprint strategy, sustainability, and operations controlling, with a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people development.Throughout my career, I have led large-scale operational transformations including greenfield plant launches, footprint optimization (site closures and capacity transfers), lean and digital transformation, and global manufacturing standardization. I have held senior leadership roles across Operations, Quality, Manufacturing Planning, and New Product Launch, giving me an end-to-end operational perspective from strategy to execution.I am known for building high-performing leadership teams, strengthening performance management systems, and developing internal talents into plant and operations leadership roles. I thrive in complex, matrix environments where disciplined execution, strong governance, and engaged teams drive sustainable results.Core areas of expertise:• Multi-plant & global operations leadership• P&L ownership and cost transformation• Lean manufacturing & operational excellence• Supply chain & footprint optimization• Quality, safety (ESH) & compliance leadership• Talent development & succession planning

Experience

1. Vice President Operations, Industrial Solutions Americas, Contitech

   Continental

   Jan 2024 — Present · Fairlawn, OH, US

Education

• University of New York in Prague

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Administration and Management

  2010 — 2012

• Czech Technical University in Prague

  Master of Science - MS, Electrical engineering - Technological systems

  1999 — 2006

Skills

• Team Leadership
• Supply Management
• Kanban
• English
• Negotiation
• Process Improvement
• 5s
• Manufacturing
• Operations Management
• Quality Management
• Lean Manufacturing
• Strategy
• Tqm
• Continuous Improvement
• Sap
• Kaizen
• Project Management
• Couching
• Process Engineering
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Project Coordination
• Six Sigma
• Fluent English
• Project Planning
• Supply Chain