Arnaud Lagandré

&L Accountability
In charge of developping Compute platform solutions for global multi-customer applications
Sales 2023: $2.5B+ – Order Intake 2023: $7.5B+
Team: 160 engineers on 3 continents

Key Responsibilities: P&L, Product Management, Strategy, Business Development, Engineering, Transformation

• Built a Compute (ECU) Platform Segment and developed the appropriate Strategy to maximize business potential and profitability
Launched a leading-edge software-native, modular, flexible, scalable and cost-competitive platform product portfolio, targeting global cross-customer reusability, leading innovation and differentiation, pivoting from pure Hardware to Machine with integration of low-layer SW.
• Acquired multi-billion $$ Lifetime Revenue business
Successfully promoted scalable Smart Vehicle Architecture to global OEMs, supporting deployment of state-of-the-art zonal-, central-, and high-performance compute platforms achieving record booking targets (2022, 2023).

Scope: 400+ projects

Key Responsibilities: Project Management, Organizational Set-Up, Transformation, Operational Excellence

• Acted as the “Anti-Surprise Officer” reducing escalations of critical projects by 75%
Transformed Program Management, increasing accountability, improving customer intimacy, ensuring customer satisfaction and business growth through flawless execution, PM governance structure and KPI monitoring;
Designed, implemented and executed processes of Lessons Learned and Best Practice-sharing, resetting quote- and kick-off-processes to ensure proper program setup, risk mitigation plans, and on-time staffing.
• Built a sustainable Execution-focused Program Management culture
Rolled out PM culture around mindset, skillset and toolset, acting as coach to the PM community, developping talents, and leading implementation of proper PM tools.

In charge of Sales, Biz Development, Product Management, Marketing & Communication

Key Responsibilities: Product Management, Organizational Set-Up, Transformation, Business Development

• Drove the transformation of the Company from “PoC Company to Credible Automotive Supplier”.
Identified and evaluated market opportunities, sales potential to ensure relevance of product roadmap;
Developed and executed global strategies to support growth of our customer base towards long-term sustainable business through partnerships around a market-competitive ADAS/AD ecosystem.
• Lead the Marketing and Communication Team
Defined a global Marketing and Communication Strategy to increase Brand awareness, rolling out Business Development, Investor Relation and Human Resources KPIs.

Team: 700+ people, incl. Sales, Business Development, Engineering, Project Management, Purchasing, Quality and Manufacturing

Key Responsibilities: P&L, Strategy, Growth, Engineering, Crisis Management, Greenfield Project (Manufacturing)

• Lead and develop the BU to guarantee sustainable growth, EBIT margin, and ROCE goals
Redesigned post-Covid strategy, to ensure sustainable growth via long-term product- and system-portfolio management, matching customer needs, regulations and market- and technological-trends;
Managed semi-conductor crisis with OEMs to create the conditions for continuity of business;
Launched cross-regional organizational networks to maximize efficiency in the execution of projects, profitability of the business, responsiveness to customer expectations for all ADAS products and Systems.
• Launched a new Manufacturing location
Supervised the construction and launch of a new Manufacturing location in USA (New Braunfels, TX);
Secure smooth transfer and ramp-up of production from previous manufacturing locations to new plant.

Scope: 23 projects (11 Business Units)
Lifetime Sales Impact: 5+ bn Euros

Key Responsibilities: Project Management, Crisis Management, Operational Excellence, Transformation

• Secured launch readiness of critically escalated projects
Ensured proper coordination of projects to meet customer requirements and timeline, establishing task-force platforms in Munich to ensure transparency and quick feedback.
• Redefined a path for successful project managelent of innovative high-software content projects
Implemented sustainable countermeasures to an outside-in lessons learned process across domains, upgrading the Project Management structure and processes to support Software Development and System Integration.
• Coordinated Communication to Top Management
Ensured regular status report to BMW Top Management and Board on project status and launch readiness;
Actively interacted with Continental Board to deploy improvement activities across the organization.

Team: 5000+ engineers (21 sites)
Budget: 500+ Mio Euros

Key Responsibilities: Engineering, Organizational Set-Up, Operational Excellence, Transformation

• Reorganized the Global Engineering Team to support ADAS Business Unit product- / system portfolio development and growth strategy
Installed end-to-end ownership along the V-model development process as a key principle for the Engineering organization, strengthening collaboration with Program Management to secure realization of ambitious product roadmap using Advanced Engineering and Base Engineering teams;
Structured Software Organization to streamline processes from Software architecture to Driving Functions, integrating AI/ML into the detection – perception functions;
Built Engineering Systems organization to design safe- and cost-competitive L3-L5 System architectures.
• Consolidated the Global Engineering footprint to optimize interfaces and competency management
Adjusted global footprint, growing technical competencies, and organizing Pilot- and Application projects in the regions to strengthen customer interfaces;
Grew, integrated and empowered Engineering hubs (India, Romania, Mexico), into global development set-up.
• Prepared the organization to grow its ADAS Ecosystem through partnerships and collaboration
Identified white spot in portfolio, actively scouted the market to detect future technical solutions, and discussed potential collaborations, partnerships, and mergers.

P&L Accountability
Team: from 16 (2015) to 300+ (2019) engineers

Key Responsibilities: P&L, M&A, Product Management, Engineering, Organizational Set-Up, Business Dev.

• Integrated acquired Start-up company into Corporate Financial reporting, HR and Development structure.
Ensure retention of key engineers and documentation of know-how to secure Continental assets;
Balance the needs and benefits of Continental corporate structure with the start-up culture.
• Defined and implemented mid- and long-term strategies for LiDAR technology into first generation of L3-L5 autonomous vehicles and alternative industries
Implemented Value Prop and Go-to-Market strategies to install the technology on Automotive customer portfolio;
Built up relationships with alternative industries to capture the business potential in non-auto markets;
Transformed strategies into product & production roadmaps, for "Automotive" and "Industry" customers.
• Launched an automotive-graded 3D-Flash LiDAR camera – 1st business with Toyota for 2020 Olympics
Built up the LIDAR segment with a global Engineering Team, rolling out Automotive standards;
Leveraged Toyota Quality-First mindset to ensure Manufacturability, Quality, and Cost efficiency and to secure smooth launch in time for the showcase during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

President of the Board ContiTrade Italy
P&L Accountability Belgium, France, Italy, Spain

Key Responsibilities: P&L, M&A, Integration, Organizational Set-Up, Sustainable Growth, Operational Excellence

• Set-up, developed, and lead the distribution network in all 4 countries
Shaped and implemented an adhoc strategy for each of the markets based on business relevance and growth potential (franchise or equities, organic growth or acquisition);
Ensured development of the SouthWest region in terms of customer satisfaction and market competitiveness.
• Ran M&A activities to support growth strategy
Ran M&A process from Due Diligence to Closing, ensuring smooth integration of 6 family-owned companies to set up a one-stop shop natiowide retail network.
• CEO ContiTrade France
Sales 2014 : 350 Mio Euros
Team: 2.200 people
Built and Launched nationwide the 230-equity BestDrive retail network in France, with consistent service and pricing to serve private customers and fleet, leveraging the “Affiliates” network in geographical white spots;
Merged 16 legal entities into a manageable structure (target : 2), implementing a Tier-1 compliance guideline.

P&L accountability. Responsibility on Product Development, Quality, Logistics and Sales.
Sales 2011: 500 Mio Euros - Sales 2013 : 1B Euros
Team: 55 people

Key Responsibilities: P&L, Strategy, Sustainable Growth, Engineering, Operational Excellence

• Lead the Region “The Americas" to sustainable growth and positive double-digit EBIT margin
Developed a strategic customer portfolio for the OE BU in all three regions NAFTA, MERCOSUR and ANDEAN
Leveraged market situation to course-correct EBIT performance of the region, back into profitability (year 1), then in double-digit EBIT margins (year 2), through product- and customer-portfolio management, strategic pursuits, Manufacturing efficiency;
Designed / implemented long-term strategies for and with customers to secure sustainable strategic partnership.


• Lead and developped regional OE organisation in NAFTA-, LATEMA-, and ANDEAN regions.
Improved efficiency of product development in all markets, leveraging Platform Development, Brand Development, and Product Industrialization, growing customer satisfaction through Quality (product & service).

P&L accountability.
Responsibility on Product Development, Quality, Logistics and Sales.
Customers: Renault/Nissan Group, PSA Group
Sales 2009: 242 Mio Euros – Sales 2011: 400 Mio Euros

Key Responsibilities: P&L, Strategy, Sustainable Growth, Engineering, Operational Excellence

• Lead the “French Account” to significant Sales improvement by pivoting the organization to a global setup
Built up a global organization to adress efficiently international market demand (Asia, NA, South America) and build a path to sustainable growth (65% growth in 2 year, double-digit EBIT);
Define and implement mid- and long-term strategies for and with our customers to ensure a sustainable profitable strategic partnership.

P&L accountability.
Responsibility on Product Development, Quality, Logistics and Sales.
Customers: Toyota Group, Honda Group, Mitsubishi, Hyundai Group Proton (Malaysia), Chinese OEMs (e.g. JAC, SAIC, Brilliance)
Sales 2004: 0,3 Mio Euros - Sales 2008: 114 Mio Euros

Key Responsibilities: P&L, Strategy, Joint Ventures, Business Development, Engineering, Organizational Set-Up

• Set-up the proper organization and processes to attack Asian markets
Set-up local Account Management teams in key countries (Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia), integrated in a "one-voice to the customer"-approach to support proper implementation of the global business development strategy;
Established a centrally coordinated Development Team, with local Automotive Engineers.
Team 2004: 2 local Accounts Managers, 2 global Program Managers, 2 development teams (3 eng.)
Team 2009: 11 Regional Accounts Managers, 9 global Program Managers, 3 development teams (12 eng.)
• Established business relationships with Asian OEMs worldwide
Defined and implemented go-to-market strategies for each customer, building long term partnership;
Reduced global development cycle (from 24 to 8 months), to meet specific OEMs expectations.
• Organized Joint-Ventures as a foundation for the business development with Asian OEMs
Set-up working processes with our Joint Venture partner, Yokohama Rubber in Japan;
Integrate our local Malaysian partner Sime Tyres within our OE BU as a platform for supplies in ASEAN.

Customers: Renault-Nissan & PSA

Key Responsibilities: Project Management, Engineering

• Ensure Customer Relationship for all Technical items (“one voice to the customer”)
From pre-development phases to end of production
• Manage Projects for new development (Target Approvals) and quality issues