Pierre Comptdaer studied at the KUG Koninklijke University in Ghent/Belgium and graduated with a master's degree in mechanical engineering. He also holds an MBA from the Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo/Brazil.

After completing his studies, he began his professional career as a production engineer and planning manager at ABB in São Paulo/Brazil, in the field of power transformer and component manufacturing. During this time, he reduced working capital and lead times by optimising processes in material supply, inventory and manufacturing, while maintaining an exceptionally high level of performance in the on-time delivery of end products to customers.

Pierre Comptdaer then moved to the company's headquarters in Sweden. In the position of Business Controller, he was instrumental in implementing a new ERP system and, as Process Improvement Manager for the global transformer division, he worked intensively on technology transfers, best practices and global acquisitions.

Back in Brazil, he then headed ABB's transformer division in South America as General Manager in São Paulo and later, based in Montreal, the North American units. Under his leadership, business growth was increased, particularly through improvements in quality and customer satisfaction and the establishment of cross-company cooperation.

In the next step, Pierre Comptdaer became General Manager for the switchgear business with four ABB production sites in China. In this role, he implemented go-to-market differentiation strategies and established two new joint ventures to maintain market share and profitability in the high-end market despite fierce competition from low-cost competitors. The business grew by over 30% with profit margins of over 25%.

He went on to become President and General Manager of the ABB SAC Automation joint venture in Nanjing, which ABB established with SAC (a state-owned enterprise) to drive its growth in the substation automation market in China. A company with sales of 250 million US dollars and 900 employees was created by implementing the best business processes from several units and establishing a joint research and development organisation.

He then became CEO of VA Tech Transformers, based in Vienna, where he was successfully responsible for the global transformer business with sales of 500 million US dollars and six production sites.

His next career move took him to Mexico as Country Managing Director for ABB, where he was responsible for all ABB businesses in the country with five operating divisions, 600 million US dollars in sales and 700 employees. He boosted business growth through quality improvements and shorter response times to customers, and internal efficiency and productivity were increased through the introduction of SAP.

Pierre Comptdaer now lives in Belgium and works as a consultant and interim manager.

He has over 30 years of professional experience in strategy development, integration management, restructuring and change management, lean manufacturing and business process optimisation. His projects include business strategy, divestment, footprint optimisation, operations and turnaround management.

He also has extensive international experience in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia, which enables him to adapt quickly to new cultural and business environments.

He is fluent in Dutch, English, Portuguese and Spanish and has a good knowledge of German, Swedish and French.

Pierre Comptdaer is a top international consultant and leader in the field of discrete manufacturing.