Serge Resume.html

Serge Baumgartner
Arbenzstrasse 14
CH-8008 Z�rich
Switzerland
Tel: +41 1 383 0413
Fax: +41 1 383 0413

Lebenslauf
Short Resume

OBJECTIVE

Seeking to join a progressive company in a new and challenging environment where in the past gained skills can be used succesfully to the advantage of the newly joined company.

My biggest asset to any company is my ability as a self-starter and/or as a teamplayer with thorough experience in opening and building up new markets and/or expanding existing markets. Be it, as was often the case, in war-torn or conflict territories, with the ending of the crisis in sight and therefore in dire need of new economic development, in need of new products, new investments, new infrastructure or be it opening a new market for new consumer- or investment-goods.

My strength is being Multi-lingual, having a multi-disciplinary succesful and diversified career, being innovative self-starter with among other Fortune 500 companies. Good at leadership and transaction execution skills. Operating in developed and emerging markets, aiming at geographic expansion, acquisitions and joint-ventures. Superb skills in vision and creativity combined with real commercial awareness, cross-functional involvement, analytical ability, appetite for innovative thinking, vision and challenge, outstanding communication, motivation, presentation and interpersonal skills, team player, high level of integrity. High degree of drive and profit motivation together with the ability to negotiate and close sales, deals or investment projects at senior levels within a sometimes very competitive market.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Didier Defond

Lyon, France DD 1 DD 2 DD 3 DD 4
Sales Manager
1996 - 1997

Organization

Precious Stones Jewelry Manufactacturer with plants in France and Asia. Outlets, distributors on five continents.

Task

As self starter was responsible to build business from the ground in all of Scandinavia, Russia and South East Asia. Develop strategies to meet quantified business objectives and generate, qualify and convert leads into business. Develop and implement a corporate sales and marketing plan. Screen and appoint agents, dealers, assess sales performance, set corporate goals and objectives. Travel world markets to source new products, and together with geomologists source raw materials, study trends and locate suppliers of finished products. Member of the Executive Design Council.

Achievements

appointed agents in each purported country.
contracted key-accounts, distributors, chain-store jewelers and regular accounts.
held seminars and sales trainings.

Leye

Kowloon, Hong Kong
Business Development Manager
1993 - 1996

Organization

Group of companies. Operating in both developed and emerging markets, Leye Group's exceptional growth was fueled by product development, geographic expansion, acquisitions and joint ventures.

Task

Develop and implement relevant business strategies, policies and procedures, provide management information to corporate management, generate and communicate new ideas. The time was when the communist era such as in Czechoslovakia came to an end, nearing the fall of communism in November 1989 and the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Work consisted of a multi-functional, multi-disciplinary task, developing existing and new markets, developing new ventures and sourcing markets for suppliers and buyers.

Projects included

Apparel Manufacturing Division

Source export markets for textile/garment and costume jewelry in Central Europe, Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.
Ostrich Farm Project

Assist in developing an ostrich farm in Slovakia, importing the ostrich eggs from South Africa, USA, Netherlands and other territories, hides subsequently processed by tanneries in France. Traveled to afore-mentioned countries extensively.
Bicycle Assembly Plant Project

Source suppliers of finished bicycles in Asia for export to Central Europe and Russia. As import duties increased it was decided to set up a manufacturing assembly plant in Slovakia. After returning from an intensive in-house training, work included sourcing suppliers, contracting the technical know-how and material in China and Japan. Setting up and assist local management in QC and analytical procedures. Establish policies, internal procedures and set quality standards according to GMP. Ensure compliance of technical transfers for new products and that all raw material, in-process and final products are analyzed in line with company/customer requirements and internal quality systems. Participate to global policies procedures and activities to support the company's business plan. Assist local management in maintaining continuous personal development, training and contribute to the development of the team. Contribute to all business health and safety initiatives including safety/accident/incident audits as practiced in the country of original production and in line with current local Legislative Standards and Codes of Practices.
Food and Non-Food Consumer Goods-, Investment Goods Division

Source world markets for consumer and industrial goods such as custom-made canned food, apparel, synthetic and leather upper sports shoes, household items, tools, electronics, bicycles, mountain- and BMX bikes, from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South East Asia in large shipments of 40' containers by rail via Siberia or by sea, destined to Ex-Comecon countries, Russia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, USA.
Privatization of state-ownership Division

State-ownership was slowly privatized at auctions and by tendering. Duty included to source foreign investors interested in purchasing such acquisitions or develop joint-ventures. In one such move K-Mart USA acquired a large department store chain.
Tatra Mountain Resort Hotel Project

Develop strategies to attract foreign tour operators to a former state-owned now privatized and newly renovated major hotel in a resort area in the Tatra mountains.

Alusuisse - Airex

Sins, Switzerland www.alusuisse-airex.com
Regional Sales Manager
1992 - 1993

Organization

Alusuisse Airex AG is a leading manufacturer of closed cell Specialty Foams made out of a variety of polymers. The company is part of the Aluminum Division of the Alusuisse-Lonza Group. Alusuisse Airex AG is divided into several business segments which reflects strictly market oriented business strategy. Was responsible for:
Sandwich core materials, Composite products for primary structures in transport applications, creative sheet materials for display market.

Task

The company has jointly with Alusuisse-Lonza of A_L Group www.alusuisse.com own offices, agents, distributors, wholesalers and associated manufacturers worldwide. My duty was to search for and open untapped markets. Contract manufacturers of major industrial goods, car manufacturers, major oil companies etc.. for Airex and Alusuisse www.alusuisse.com products, such as aluminum composites from the plant in Germany, where I had extensive training.

Achievements

Negotiated and contracted BP Europe and Africa, Texaco Africa, Tamoil.
Contracted several major industrial manufacturers in EU countries.
Negotiated with Renault France for the use of our products in their car production.

Itochu (Schweiz)

Z�rich, Switzerland www.itochu.co.jp
Regional Sales Manager
1990-1991

Organization

Multi-national company, Japan's largest trading company with own oil refineries, manufacturing- and chemical plants, hotel and property developments.

Task

Work included to generate innovative trade ideas and recommendations. Provide directions and guidance to staff involved in trading, joint-ventures in a complex sophisticated trading, while developing a effective interface with the Swiss authorities, business, industrial and financial community. As a key member of the local leadership team I participated in establishing strategies, objectives, systms and controls to benefit operations as well as to raise company-wide performance standards within assigned structure and territory.

Achievements

Made it possible for the company to enter into new territories, branches and fields that were difficult for them to access.

Weitnauer Trading Company

Basel, Switzerland www.weitnauer.ch
Regional Sales Manager
1989 - 1990

Organization

Over 150 shops with a wide assortment of quality consumer products cater to their customer's wishes at airports, seaports, border crossings, railway stations, on ferries, onboard planes and downtown, be it duty- and/or tax free. Every year, new markets and new locations are opened by Weitnauer with innovative shop concepts. Also specialized distributors and wholesalers in many countries for worldwide known consumer brands in various market segments, servicing the travel related retail trade.

Task

Traveled to many world trouble-spots and war-torn countries such as Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe to mention just a few in Africa, as well as most countries in South- and Central America. In countries where we had lost and forgotten agents and/or customers, it was my duty to activate the dormant accounts or look for alternative measures. In virgin territories it was my duty to make a sound marketing survey look for agents, distributors, importers, wholesalers. This included government-owned or private Duty Free Stores "DFS", Duty Free Zones "DFZ"; government-owned or private national and local airlines and government agencies such as Air Force, Army and Navy for their needs in the line of duty free products. Key accounts were among others the Brazilian Navy and Brazilian Air Force, the diplomatic corps at most major embassies.

Achievements

Opened in every assigned country new markets, and/or brought back to life dormant accounts, agents and related appointees.
Contracted successfuly operators of existing DFS's, DFZ's.
Negotiated the opening of own DFS and/or DFZ.
Negotiated operating future DFS, DFZ as a joint-venture with governments and private entrepreneurs.
Negotiated contracts with national and local airlines.
Negotiated succesfully with government agencies, the military for supplying their troops in as far as permissible within the Duty Free Sector.

Telekurs

Z�rich, Switzerland http://www.telekurs.com
Analyst
1988 - 1989

Organization

Consortium of major Swiss Banks.

Task

Work with senior management in identifying future business goals and develop strategies. Assist management in the identification of market trends and formulating service response. Present alternatives, recommend strategies and liaise with Swiss Bank Head office.

PTL Holding

Toronto, Canada
Sales Manager
1978 - 1988

Organization

Operating in the Caribbean, China, Ex-Comecon countries, Russia, South East Asia, Turkey and USA in apparel manufacturing, marketing, trading, real estate development, and services area.

Task

Work included to head projects in various countries with different objectives.

Projects included

Marshall's Department Store Marigot, St. Martin, F.W.I.
1988

Acted as consultant and advisor to Mr. Alfred Marshall of Marshall's Department Stores USA. With several operations in the Caribbean, the French Antilles remained him elusive despite numerous efforts with various employees, consultants and advisors. Was chosen due to my connections in the business community and government from the days at Bruynzeel Suriname.
S. Moorea Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles
1987 - 1988

Transferred to St. Maarten, set three retail outlets in St. Maarten and additional ones in neighboring upcoming islands.
Da Costa & Musson Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies www.investtnt.com www.microstate.net
1986 - 1987

Transferred to Port of Spain to head the establishment of a steel re-rolling mill in joint-venture with Indian investors from Nigeria to manufacture bicycle parts. As investors approached our Head Office, was selected because of my connections in government and the business community from the days working at Bruynzeel Suriname and because of the experience in setting up operations from ground with local management.
Young-4 Development Kowloon, Hong Kong
1983 - 1986

Transferred to Hong Kong and Guandong, China, duties included contracting manufacturers of garments and fashion jewelry, liaise from design, manufacturing, quality control to logistics for export to the western hemisphere.
Toktas Istanbul, Turkey
1980 - 1983

Transferred to Istanbul, was responsible for heading the establishment from ground with local management of a garment manufacturing plant. Sourcing suppliers of materials and technical equipment, assisting in hiring of personnel, resolve legal aspects and government administrative hurdles. Sourcing suppliers of fabrics in Turkey, Asia and other countries. Responsible for exports to Caribbean, South America and USA.
La Banane Oranjestad, Aruba
1979 - 1980

Transferred to Aruba, in order to set up from ground a 3000 square feet retail outlet with designer apparel i.e. Mila Sch�n, Laura Biagiotti, Armani, Valentino etc. and in a separate department casual wear for men and ladies i.e. Naf Naf, Fiorucci etc. mostly from Italy and France. Open branches/affiliates, supply distributors and agents throughout the Caribbean and South America. Work with local authorities re permits, effect hiring of staff and resolve all legal aspects. Travel world markets to assist in buying, study trends and effect competition analysis.
Italcan Toronto, Canada
1978 - 1979

Build up from ground a casual and sportswear chain store operation in Canada, by importing garments from Italy. Due to quota restrictions had to import textile from Europe for manufacturing locally in Canada. Due to changes in policy and strategy it was then decided that Ihead a new project to develop a retail chain operation for clothing in upcoming Caribbean Resorts, Duty Free territories and Duty Free Zones.Travelled world markets to source same goods, visiting exhibitions such as IGEDO - D�sseldorf, Milanovendemoda - Milano, New York- and Las Vegas Jewellery Show, Pitty Donna - Florence, Salon du Pret-a-Porter - Paris, Watches and Jewelry Exhibition - Basel.

Faberge of Canada

Toronto, Canada
Regional Sales Manager
1976 - 1978

Organization

Leading perfume and beauty product manufacturer known for its multi-million Dollar advertising and product promotion contracts with top of the line Hollywood movie stars. Among others Farrah Fawcett http://mrshowbiz.go.com/people/farrahfawcett/

Task

After returning from an intensive in-house training, based consecutively in Toronto, Montreal, Saskatoon and Vancouver. It was my duty to develop and expand these territories, in parts from zero market place. Work included building up a team in assigned regions, establishing sales territories, assessing sales performance, setting corporate goals and objectives. Conduct sales meetings, workshops, seminars, contract negotiations with key accounts, work with dealers and sales force to achieve ambitious goals.

Achievements

Established sales territories, selected/hired sales staff.
Developed dealer/sales personnel training program with improved retail turn.
Contracted key accounts.
Developed, implemented dealer/salespersonnel incentive trips to increase sales.
Developed corporate look and identity.
Nominated best regional Sales Manager.
Nominated best motivator of the year.

Lotto Canada

Toronto, Canada www.lottocan
Project Manager
1976

Organization

The Canadian National Lottery.

Task

Was hired by Manpower Canada who was mandated by Lotto Canada who in turn was in the process of building up their new Lotto venture on a nationwide scale. Assignment was to develop from ground various strategies, set up a distribution network and customer service. Evaluate and appoint distributors nationwide. Following completion of this assignment, member of the Board of Lotto Canada, Mr. Baz Weedon, asked me to join Faberge company of which he was President.

Achievements

Developed, implemented as member of work group conceptual strategies.
Contracted/appointed retailers, distributors.
Developed in a work group national dealer training program.
Implemented first corporate dealer incentive trip.

Bruynzeel Suriname Houtmaatschappij

Paramaribo, Suriname Suriname - Information Suriname - Investment
Regional Sales Manager
1971 - 1976

Organization

With Head Office in the Netherlands, 10'000 employees, door manufacturing plant in Germany, designer kitchen manufacturing plant in France and other plants worldwide, such as in Belem, Brazil 3000 employees, Paramaribo, Suriname 1500 employees, Bruynzeel is a developer of housing projects, manufacturer/processor of pre-fabricated houses, tropical hardwood, plywood, chipboard, flooring railroad trusses and related products.

Task

After returning from an intensive in-house training locally and abroad, line of duties included implementation and development of efficient marketing, sales and distribution of all products manufactured by Bruynzeel. Expanding existing markets in Brazil, throughout the Caribbean, Central- and Southern Europe, French Guyana, Gabon, Guyana and USA. Develop from ground Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Nicaragua especially after the devastating earthquake, Panama, San Salvador and Venezuela. Evaluation, appointments of agents, distributors, partners. Effect marketing research, establish strategies and concepts for expansion and growth. Negotiate joint-ventures and bilateral trade agreements for lumber products from Suriname with the governments of Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to export to and or process lumber products in their countries.

Achievements

Negotiated succesfully major housing projects with the Somoza family/government of Nicaragua immediately after the earthquake.
Negotiated succesfully with Prime Minister Eric Gairy, a personal friend, after a hurricane devastated much of Grenada, th construction of a new Bruynzeel pre-fab housing project comprising 2000 houses.
Negotiated the supplies of all lumber products for numerous housing and hotel projects in countries and territories such as the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Gabon/Unilever,Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Kitts/Holiday Inn, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Trinidad, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Responsible for negotiations and development of several Housing Projects in Panama for the Kardonsky family, personal friends of mine.
Negotiated, supplied the Cuban government with railroad trusses for their national railroad.
Closed a major deal for plywood and chipboard materials with a American manufacturer of hi-fi speaker boxes for their Costa Rica plant, end product destined for U.S. export.
Negotiated bilateral trade agreements with the governments of Veneuzela, Guyana and Nicaragua for lumber products of Suriname origin.

Exxon - Chevron Oil

Z�rich, Switzerland www.chevron.com
International marketing / Sales Assistant
1970 - 1971

Organization

Multi-national Petrochemical company.

Task

Reporting to the European Managing Director work included assisting American and Swiss management in the development of a professional team to set up offices and logistical infrastructure for Chevron Oil in Switzerland and neighboring countries. Responsibilities included day to day commercial operations through regular contacts with producing companies of the Group and with its customers. Support in business development activities, provide direction and guidance to the American staff involved in acquisitons, while developing effective interface with the Swiss authorities. Briefing and assisting the sales force. Competition analysis. Assist with ad-hoc project work. Preparation of and participation in contractual negotiations. Ensuring an efficient contract and documentation archiving system. Preparation and provision of decision-making information for the group's Head Office. Market research and evaluation of company-relevant market information.

Achievements

Developed, implemented strategic, conceptual and organizational plan for new Z�rich Office.
Developed in a work group national sales force and dealer program with improved wholesale/retail return.
Member of work group for contractual negotiations concerning acquisition of pump stations. Accomplished same within budget and set goal.
Nominated for award outstanding achievements.

CIB Conseil International du Batiment pour la Recherche l'Etude et la Documentation

Rotterdam, Netherlands www.bcn.ufl.edu/cib.html
Assistant to the Secretary General
1968 - 1970

Organization

CIB is an international organization with 49 member states, its own legal personality and budget. Secretariat was based in the Netherlands, the Presidency was headed by Canada.

Task
As Assistant to the Secretary General, was subordinate to the Secretary General of CIB in the exercise of management and advisory functions with international outlook, cosmopolitan approach and mobility with confidence and ability to operate at highest levels of member states. Work was to assist in running the CIB Head Office and be responsible for coordinating its departments and managing its staff. Liaising with other CIB organizational units to coordinate and resolve complex and interdependent tasks and issues in a highly diplomatic, results-orientated and rapidly changing environment which demand a above average performance. Researched and reported on amendments in laws governing building research, trade with related product and issues pertinent to ongoing negotiations between member states. Drafted UN Secretary General U Thant (1961-1971) and UN Secretary Assistant response letters for interagency contacts, government officials and a veriety of global industry leaders. In consultation with the Secretary General of CIB also represented the office on such issues at institutions and bodies inside and outside the CIB organization.

Achievements

Organized round-table conferences with member-nations at dispute with one-another and reluctant at first to such a meeting. Set up work- and steering committees to exchange information and work towards a set/common goal.
Participated actively in various working- and steering committees.
Represented the office at various conferences, institutions, bodies and forums.

Kuehne & Nagel

Paris, France www.kuehne-nagel.com
Agent de transit trilingue
1967 - 1968

Organization

Leading multi-national transport and shipping company.

Task

Together with the German Managing Director his secretary and accountant, turned a five story building under construction into a fully operational Head Office for France with sixty employees. Responsible for the selection and purchase of furniture from Leitz Germany. Liaison man between GENERAL ELECTRIC - USA, OSRAM - BELGIUM, two largest accounts of K & N and Europe's largest fully automated newly inaugurated DEPOT RUNGIS. Responsible for creating and implementing an organization plan for above venture, and other projects such as the logistics of civil and military aviation equipment to Algeria and shipment of the world's largest printing mill from France to India.

Achievements

Developed strategic, conceptual and organizational plan for new office, staff-members and for handling matters with DEPOT RUNGIS, GENERAL ELECTRIC - USA and OSRAM - BELGIUM.
Negotiated purchase for full line of office furniture for the new five story building at LEITZ in Germany.
Established a good working relationship with CUSTOMS & EXCISE after some serious problems with incoming container shipments from G.E. - USA.

H.F. Eimskipafelag Islands

Reykjavik, Iceland www.eimskip.is
Longshoreman Apprentice
1963 - 1964

Organization

Largest shipping company in Iceland.

Task

Employed at various intervals during multiple visits to Iceland. Full line of work and duties of the shipping industry, in theory and in practice, at school in office and on the docks.

Achievements

Excellent organizer.
Excellent communicator, troubleshooter, translator in complex situations.
Excellent motivator

Isbj�rnin Islands

Reykjavik, Iceland www.nas.is/sh/index.html
Supervisor
1962 - 1967

Organization

Leading Icelandic Fish Processing Plant

Task
Employed at various intervals during multiple visits to Iceland. Fish processing plant. Work included full line of duties in the fish processing plant, during low catches working in the administrative export department. At times worked also on construction of the expanding factory.

Achievements

Tireless worker
Being flexible concerning given workload, was of a great asset to management.
Excellent team leader and motivator.

M.S. Trollafoss Islands

Reykavik, Iceland www.grandi.is
Sailor - Fisherman
1962 - 1967

Organization

Trawler and Fishing vessel operation.

Task

Employed on various occasions during my frequent visits to Iceland. Work included all aspects of work on a trawler sea-faring between Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland.

Achievements

Worked tireless day and night, to assure customer satisfaction after catch was partially processed on-board and unloaded at final destination.
Thanks to my capacity as good team leader workload got finished well in time.
Learned to be a good team leader and motivator.

EDUCATION

Economics
Davies's College Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1967

Swiss Federal Matura Typus B
Institut Minerva Z�rich, Switzerland, 1964

Diploma
Rudolf Steiner Schule Z�rich, Switzerland, 1962

LANGUAGES

German/French	mother tongue
English	fluent
Dutch	fluent
Spanish	fluent
Papiamento	fluent
Italian	fluent
Serbo-Croatian	formerly fluent, studied and practiced in Ex-Yugoslavia
Icelandic	formerly fluent, studied and practiced in Icleand
Portuguese	fair, studied and practiced in Latin America
Turkish	fair, studied and practiced in Turkey
Cantonese	vague notion, studied and practiced in Hong Kong

INTERESTS

Horse-back riding
Skiing
Yachting

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Lions Club International


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