Global Operations & Transformation Executive

Serkan
Atlas

18 years in Food & FMCG  ·  Head of Operational Excellence EMEA at ofi  ·  Food Engineer  ·  Chair, DE&I Council 🇳🇱  ·  International Keynote Speaker

Elevating People, Performance & Systems
through Operational Excellence.

Serkan Atlas speaking at Verdantix Transform Amsterdam
About

Turning Strategy
into Execution
at Scale.

I'm a Global Operations and Operational Excellence leader with a track record of driving performance, resilience, and value creation across complex, multi-site manufacturing and supply chain networks.

I have led enterprise-level OpEx and transformation agendas across 50+ factories in 30+ countries, spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and North America — consistently turning strategy into daily execution at scale, under volatility, and through change.

I specialize in building end-to-end performance systems that integrate Operational Excellence, digital enablement, and leadership capability. Selected as one of ofi's global AI Champions — and I firmly believe AI accelerates strong systems; it does not replace them.

Culture remains the decisive factor. I lead with a human-centric, inclusive approach — building psychological safety, internal capability, and accountability. As Chair of the DE&I Council in 🇳🇱 the Netherlands, I embed inclusion not as a programme, but as a leadership principle.

50+Factories led globally
30+Countries across 5 continents
EBITDANegative to positive full turnaround
Multi-$MAudited savings across global sites
50+
Factories across 30+ countries
Multi-$M
Audited annual recurring savings
900+
FTEs led as Manufacturing Supervisor
10+
International conferences spoken at
18 yrs
Shopfloor to boardroom
Expertise

Core Capabilities

⚙️
Operational Excellence & Lean / TPM

End-to-end Lean Six Sigma, TPM, IWS, and Reliability Excellence. Toyota Production System trained in 🇯🇵 Japan. Zero-Loss culture architect across 50+ factories on 5 continents.

🌐
Global Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Multi-site manufacturing leadership across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. S&OP, network design, SKU rationalization, E2E supply chain transformation.

📊
EBITDA & Margin Leadership

From full EBITDA turnarounds to multi-million audited annual savings. Proven financial recovery, capital transformation, and structured cost programs across global FMCG networks.

🤖
AI & Digital Enablement

Selected as an ofi global AI Champion. Global Process Owner for S&OP during worldwide SAP S/4HANA rollout. AI accelerates strong systems — it doesn't compensate for the lack of them.

🧠
Psychological Safety & Cultural Transformation

Certified in Psychological Safety. Factories turn around not because strategies look good — but because people own them. Building environments where learning beats firefighting.

🤝
DEI & Inclusive Leadership

Chair of ofi's DE&I Council 🇳🇱 NL. Diverse teams spot blind spots faster and are more operationally resilient. Inclusion is the backbone of sustainable transformation.

Signature Ideas

How I Think About
Operations & Transformation

01
The Execution Gap

Most organizations obsess over building better standards. But the vast majority of operational failures trace back to execution — not missing standards. The gap isn't in the rulebook. It's in the culture and the daily discipline of doing what you said you'd do.

“We're obsessed with standards — it's time to obsess over execution.”
02
Resilience Is a Capability You Design

Resilience isn't a safety net you fall into — it's a capability you design. In an era of unprecedented volatility, leaders must use disruption as a tool rather than just trying to survive it. Integration is the new business as usual.

“Resilience isn't a safety net you fall into; it's a capability you design.”
03
AI Accelerates — It Doesn't Replace

AI can simulate global raw material flows, predict factory scenarios, and automate RCA patterns at scale. But AI only thrives when frontline teams understand the problems, leaders remove friction, and learning is rewarded more than firefighting.

“AI accelerates Operational Excellence. It doesn't compensate for the lack of it.”
04
Psychological Safety at the Frontline

Move from Continuous Improvement to Continuous Learning. Psychological safety is your single greatest sustainable competitive advantage. When people fear speaking up, problems stay hidden — and no system can compensate.

“If your culture only welcomes good news, you won't solve real problems.”
05
Culture as Climate

An organization is like an apple tree. Results are the apples. Systems are the roots. But even perfect roots need the right climate — and that climate is culture. Consultants deliver slides. Internal capability delivers sustainability.

“It's not enough to plant the tree. You must also tend the orchard.”
06
The Symbiotic Power of Motivation

People are self-driven when they find a connection between their life purpose and their job. Real engagement comes from aligning business targets with personal ones — giving people Purpose, enabling Mastery, and granting Autonomy.

“Find the purpose. Serve the mastery. Allow the autonomy.”
Speaking

On Stage Around the World

I speak at international conferences, leadership summits, and corporate events — bringing operational rigour and human storytelling to audiences across manufacturing, supply chain, food safety, and business transformation.

Etkinliğiniz için iletişime geçin →">From opening keynotes to panel discussions to roundtable facilitation, my sessions focus on what practitioners and senior leaders need: practical frameworks, honest lessons from the field, and the courage to challenge assumptions. Get in touch to discuss your event →

2026
2025
Earlier
Mar
19
Growing Risks Push Firms Towards Integrated Supply Chain Resilience
Verdantix Transform
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Panelist
Mar
26
Beyond Survival: Building Resilient Organizations for Tomorrow's Challenges
11th Global Process Improvement & OpEx Summit · Cparity Event
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Speaker
Apr
17
People Driven Supply Chain Excellence & Building Resilient Supply Chains
Global Supply Chain & Logistics Summit · Conferenzia World
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Keynote + Panelist
May
7
Transforming Global Operations in a Fragmented World
IndustryForum Manufacturing · Aurora Live
🇳🇱 Eindhoven, Netherlands
Speaker
Sep
24
Aligning Smart Manufacturing with Business Reality in Food & Beverage
Smart Manufacturing for Food & Beverage Summit Europe · AMG World
🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom
Panelist & Roundtable Lead
Nov
3–4
The Execution Gap in Modern Manufacturing
22nd European Manufacturing Strategies Summit · EMS-SCMS
🇩🇪 Munich, Germany
Keynote
Nov
12–13
From Stability to Adaptability: Building Resilient Supply Chains for Continuous Disruption
Supply Chain & Logistics Transformation Summit · Key-Notion
🇩🇪 Munich, Germany
Expert Insight + Panel
Nov
25
The New Rules of Operational Excellence
OpEx, Process Improvement & Business Transformation Forum
🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany
Opening Keynote
Jun
24
Operational Excellence: Where Standards Meet Execution to Eliminate Rework and Recall Risk
FSI Conference · University of Lincoln
🇬🇧 Lincoln, United Kingdom
Keynote + Panelist
Sep
10
Operational Excellence: The Catalyst for a Sustainable Food Safety Culture
ENG 20th Anniversary Global Food Safety Summit
🇩🇪 Hamburg, Germany
Keynote + Roundtable Lead
Dec
From S&OP to IBP: Building a Continuous Learning Culture
S&OP to IBP Summit · Cparity Event
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening Keynote
Mar
28
Leading with Courage and Authenticity
10th Annual Global Process Improvement & OpEx Summit · Cparity Event
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Breakout Session Lead
Global
OpEx Workshops & Facilitation — 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇪🇬 Egypt
ofi Global Operational Excellence program
🌍 Multiple countries
Workshop Facilitator
Turkey
Operational & Manufacturing Excellence
Corporate and industry events · Ülker / Yıldız Holding era
🇹🇷 Istanbul, Turkey
Speaker
“What I'm most looking forward to is the dialogue — challenging assumptions, exchanging lessons learned, and grounding transformation in operational reality.”
Enquire About Speaking
Career

18 Years. Shopfloor to Boardroom.

Head of Operational Excellence — EMEA
ofi (Olam Food Ingredients) · 🇳🇱 Amsterdam
Jul 2022 – Present
  • Directing OpEx strategy for a 30+ site manufacturing network across EMEA, delivering significant audited annual recurring savings through structured cost and capital transformation.
  • Architected and deployed E2E Lean Six Sigma, TPM, and Reliability Excellence frameworks across diverse multinational environments.
  • Established global performance governance and KPI alignment bridging site execution and global leadership.
  • Global Process Owner for S&OP during worldwide SAP S/4HANA rollout. Selected as one of ofi's global AI Champions.
  • Appointed Chair of DE&I Council 🇳🇱 NL (May 2025) — embedding inclusion into core business strategy.
30+ EMEA sitesSAP S/4HANA GPOAI ChampionDE&I Chair 🇳🇱
Supply Chain Director — Eastern Europe
pladis Global · 🇷🇴 Bucharest
Dec 2021 – Jul 2022
  • Restructured E2E supply chain: +40% OTIF, +20% Fill Rate, −7% logistics costs.
  • Portfolio shift to high-margin SKUs delivering +4.5 ppts Gross Profit Margin.
+40% OTIF+4.5 ppts GPM
Factory Director — Romania
pladis Global · 🇷🇴 Bucharest
Jun 2019 – Jul 2022
  • Full financial recovery: EBITDA from negative to positive within three years via automation and structured CI.
  • +82% production volume and +67% productivity; Zero LTAs for 3 consecutive years.
  • Reduced staff turnover by 60% and absenteeism by 18% through servant leadership and cultural transformation.
  • Zero food safety complaints and zero major findings in all international audits.
EBITDA negative → positive+82% volume−60% turnover3 yrs zero LTAs
Operational Excellence Lead — MEA, Türkiye & UK
pladis Global · 🇹🇷 Istanbul
Aug 2016 – Jun 2019
  • Core architect of the "pladis excellence" Global Framework — standards, maturity models and KPIs used enterprise-wide.
  • Led OpEx rollout across 18 factories in 6 countries (🌍 MEA & 🇹🇷 Türkiye) plus strategic consultancy for 🇬🇧 UK.
  • Sponsored portfolio at pladis and Godiva (🇺🇸 USA) delivering multi-million in audited savings.
18 factories / 6 countries🌍 MEA + 🇹🇷 + 🇬🇧Godiva 🇺🇸
Operational Excellence Manager
Yıldız Holding · 🇹🇷 Istanbul
Mar 2015 – Aug 2016
  • Led OpEx rollout across 17 manufacturing sites (Confectionery, Dairy, Fats & Oils).
  • Co-authored the Maintenance Function Handbook, standardizing reliability protocols enterprise-wide.
17 sitesPublished handbook
Operational Excellence Manager — Food Group
Ülker · 🇹🇷 Istanbul
Jun 2013 – Mar 2015
  • Led transformation securing the National Industrial Excellence Award and Top-3 🇪🇺 European ranking.
  • Built training ecosystem certifying 500+ operators. "Pilot Excellence Model" scaled enterprise-wide.
National Excellence AwardTop-3 🇪🇺 Europe500+ certified
Manufacturing Supervisor — Chocolate Plant
Ülker · 🇹🇷 Istanbul
Jun 2010 – Jun 2013
  • Commanded 26 production lines and 900+ FTEs in one of the region's largest manufacturing footprints.
  • +25% OEE improvement through Lean methodologies. Lead Internal Auditor — 100% compliance record.
26 lines900+ FTEs+25% OEE
Recognition

Awards & Certifications

Awards & Honours
🏆
Cost & Capital Transformation Award
ofi · 2024
🥇
National Industrial Excellence Award
Ülker / Yıldız Holding · Top-3 🇪🇺 European ranking
🏅
Industrial Excellence Award
Second individual recognition
Stars of the Year Award
Individual performance recognition
📚
CEO Award for Learning Organization
Enterprise-wide capability building recognition
Certifications
🎓
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Certified practitioner
🇯🇵
Toyota Production System (TPS)
Trained in Japan — source methodology
🔄
ICAgile Certified Professional — Agile Coaching
ICP-ACC · ICAgile
EFQM Excellence Assessor
European Foundation for Quality Management
🧠
Psychological Safety Certification
Clear Blocks to Innovation, Collaboration & Risk-Taking
Connect

Get in Touch

I welcome conversations with fellow executives, industry practitioners, event organizers, and anyone engaged with the intersection of operations, leadership, and transformation. Feel free to reach out directly.

“The next era of Operational Excellence belongs to leaders who can turn strategy into daily behavior across regions, cultures, and maturity levels.”

— Serkan Atlas