Suraj Nambiar

Global Operations Leader with 19+ years of experience driving safety, quality, talent development, operational improvements and sustainability in compliance with global industry standards while ensuring costs optimization across manufacturing and supply chain functions in international settings in India, UAE, and Europe.

Results-Driven Performance & Continuous Improvement, achieving major milestones, operational excellence, cost savings, and safety culture transformation through structured, data-driven methodologies.

Proficient in managing costs and financial P&L, project management, factory commissioning to ensure operational optimization and drive profitability

Sustainability & ESG Expertise, leading CSRD materiality assessments, sustainability ratings (EcoVadis), and compliance on Climate Change to align corporate strategy with environmental and regulatory goals.

Key Highlights

• Stabilization of the Middle East plant in terms of global excellence over a period of 2 years, operational efficiency increased from 50%-80% and scrap reduced by 58% (135K €) 
• Led a major factory expansion in 2020 by successfully coordinating construction, equipment commissioning, and regulatory approvals, doubling the manufacturing capacity and achieving €0.5M in annual savings. Simultaneously navigated COVID-19 and global supply chain disruptions, ensuring business continuity with zero lost production days and uninterrupted operations.
• Implemented a lean program “Mini Business Units” focused on goal alignment, value recognition, team engagement resulting in generation of 100+ improvement ideas till date.
• Successful warehouse integration from external 3 PL into APACMEA DC; handling overall 4.5 M € average inventory per month and a service delivery rate above 90% over 2 years. 
• Rolled out a key Global Safety Initiative “Safety Time-outs” across 3 key regions in APAC, Europe and North America focused on physical, mental health and well-being reducing safety incidents by 50% and 250+ days without any recordable incidents.
• Leading digital transformation initiatives by integrating IoT-based safety monitoring, improving safety leading indicator performance by 130% and improving cost efficiency by 150 K€
• Partnering with the Board and C-suit to shape the company’s 2030 Safety, Quality & ESG roadmap, securing 1.3 M€ investment in sustainability and regulatory compliance measures.
• Implemented renewable energy solar projects into the 2 factories in UAE and Netherlands, contributing to a decrease of 1500 tCO2e in carbon emissions over 2 years.
• Global sustainability rating transition from Bronze to Gold EcoVadis rating in 2022.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Cordstrap, Global Safety, Quality & ESG Leader      Apr 2023 – Till Date

• Ensuring strategic integration across the 3 main manufacturing sites in UAE, Turkey, and the Netherlands. 
• Driving executive-level decision-making through direct collaboration with the CEO, CFO, and VP Operations, providing strategic insights and data-driven recommendations to enhance global operational safety, quality performance and sustainability standards. 
• Mentoring and coaching global cross functional teams and directly leading the 3 regional QESH teams on safety protocols, quality standards, and sustainability practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Leading a global governance framework to ensure robust compliance with CSRD and ESRS regulations, sustainability ratings (EcoVadis), and climate risk mitigation focused on reducing carbon emissions.

Cordstrap, Global ESG Program Leader                   Apr 2019 –Apr 2023                                                                         

• Managed the sustainability program for the group in developing and implementing policies, compliance standards, reporting and actions covering ESG pillars. 
• Spearheaded the Global Safety program across 3 sites, managing a 20+ member team to enhance hazard identification, risk assessments, and incident management.
• Generated a total of 867 Safety improvement ideas across the 3 manufacturing sites over 3 years from 2020-2022 as part of the Global Safety Program, resulting in 1000+ days without any recordable incident in the plant in Dubai.

Cordstrap, Plant Manager                                        Nov 2016 – Mar 2023

• Managed the overall manufacturing and supply chain operations of the plant with a team of 50+ employees using continuous improvement philosophy, lean manufacturing, problem solving techniques ensuring profitability and growth.
• Led operational budgets exceeding €7.5M, driving profitability through strategic efficiency programs, achieving €0.5M in cost savings across materials, freight, and factory operations that contributed to a 12% EBITDA growth over 2 years.
• Recruitment, training, and expansion of the full capabilities of high-performance team in a work culture supporting active employee engagement, communication and diversity.
• Established a structured complaint handling framework, reinforcing a culture of customer excellence and continuous improvement that reduced customer complaints by 80%.

Aldes Middle East FZE, Production Manager          June 2013- Oct 2016

Aldes Middle East FZE, Production Engineer         June 2010- May 2013

• Managed multi-shift manufacturing operations for sheet metal and aluminum fabrication, overseeing production, quality, maintenance, for 50+ employees, implementing lean, cost control, and process optimization strategies to improve efficiency, cycle time reduction, and enhance compliance with industry standards (UL, AHRI & AMCA).

Mech Marine Engineers Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, India    June 2009 – June 2010

Extraco Industries, RAK, UAE                                      Dec 2008 – Feb 2009

Keane India Ltd, Bengaluru, India                            Apr 2008 – July 2008

Synergie Mfg. Systems, Bengaluru, India                 Apr 2007 – Feb 2008 

Horizon Metallic Products, Kannur, India                  Aug 2005 – Mar 2007

Gained diverse experience across manufacturing, procurement, production planning, and quality control in various industries like ship building, sheet metal fabrication and automation systems.

Master of Business Administration Operations Management

Manipal University

Dubai, 2013

Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical

Visveswaraiah University

India, 2005