Luis Castro

Experience

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  Smurfit Kappa Cartón de Colombia

  Jul 2009 - Jan 2010

  Intern

  Responsible of reducing costs, time and workload.• Studied all production processes (preparation, printing, punching and packaging) and determined methods to reduce costs and time by 14% and 4% respectively.• Designed new tools to reduce an average time of 3minutes by job during the punching process.• Created new Politics and Procedures that standardized production processes, ergo eliminating the percentage of errors during the processes.

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  Fadeplast S.A.S.

  Mar 2010 - Sept 2010

  Project Manager

  Responsible of reducing costs resulting by the “Food Line” manufacturing process.• Analyzed and determined the root cause or ineffective processes that resulted in unnecessary costs for the company.• Standardized the manufacturing process for the “Food Line” (fifteen different bottles); eliminating downtimes, excessive spoilage and unnecessary production shifts, therefore reducing the production line costs in 8.3%.

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  Microsoft

  Jan 2011 - Sept 2012

  Project Manager

  Managed projects concerning national and international logistics, call center transition, KPIs, and new IT tools implementation (among others); directed towards Microsoft’s strategic objectives in LATAM and the Caribbean. • Project Blanco: Ensured the appropriate Merchant of Record transition by studying and understanding the business processes that will be handed over to the new vendor as well as training the new vendor properly on said processes. • Project Meridian: Ensured the appropriate Call Center transition by monitoring that all processes were handed over correctly, ensuring the appropriate data processing between new systems in collaboration with Cargraphics’ and Microsoft’s IT team. • Cargraphics GGOK(WGA) – RTCC: Ensured the appropriate implementation of the new RTCC processing system for the different regions in LATAM. • Win Intune Buy-Out: Campaign Launch: Ensured Cargraphics’ system was configured correctly and the team prepared in order to process the new campaign’s SKUs in accordance to the Vendor Integration Test Plan. Show less

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  Hewlett-Packard

  May 2013 - Jul 2015

  PMO Coordinator at P&G Account

  • Provided expert judgment and support to the global Project Delivery team from project initiation to project closure/completion.• Mentored project managers from more than 70 countries, at all levels, on the processes and procedures of the account.• Supported project managers during the development of their Statements of Work and Financial Models. This included projects with single country, multiple country, and global implementations with expenses and invoicing in different currencies.• Lead projects between the PMO and Project Delivery teams seeking improvement of processes, documentation, and tools used in the account. This includes the creation of an English Club for the Latin American team which ensured reaching the levels expected by the company regarding this language. Show less

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  Marly Clinic

  Jul 2015 - Jun 2016

  Project Manager - Business Developer

  I led the strategic and financial structuring of a €27M hospital infrastructure project. My role involved connecting technical teams, financial models, and executive decision-making to secure investment and ensure long-term strategic fit.· Structured and presented the investment case, securing €17M in long-term financing· Obtained 20-year Free Trade Zone status, increasing project feasibility and tax efficiency· Acted as the liaison between legal, technical, and business teams to align priorities and outcomes· Advised the executive board on aligning the project with long-term healthcare trends and strategic growth goals Show less

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  ESENTTIA

  Jan 2018 - Feb 2023

  Strategy & Business Planning Manager

  At Esenttia, I drove corporate strategy execution, capital planning, and new business development initiatives. I worked alongside top-tier consultancies and the executive team to ensure strategic alignment across all business units—enabling both organic and inorganic growth in a highly dynamic industry.· Directed the company’s strategic planning and initiative execution process· Collaborated with McKinsey, EY, and Deloitte on transformation and growth strategy development· Managed a $30M annual CAPEX portfolio, improving execution from 70% to over 95% over 4 consecutive years· Advised on investment decisions exceeding $500M, connecting strategic fit with market trends and business potential· Enabled the launch of Colombia’s first chemical recycling plant by aligning technical and executive teams· Led the company’s rolling 3-Year Business Plan, integrating KPIs, financial models, and scenario planning tools Show less

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  Kimitec

  Feb 2023 - now

  Director of Strategy & Innovation Execution

  I lead Kimitec’s strategy development and execution at the intersection of innovation, R&D, and business planning. My focus is on translating long-term goals into actionable initiatives, aligning cross-functional teams, and enabling sustainable growth through product strategy and innovation governance.· Defined and led the 3-year strategic planning process, aligning financial, R&D, and market objectives· Built and institutionalized a Strategic Execution Office (PMO-equivalent) to oversee initiative governance· Developed an enterprise-wide innovation framework, streamlining intake, prioritization, and execution· Designed a strategic prioritization model that delivered €1.4M in cost reductions across innovation and infrastructure portfolios· Partnered with executive leadership to shape the product development roadmap based on market insights and business goals Show less