Peter Wahsner

In 2014, it was decided to carve out the business division Films Global from the Huhtamaki Group. I led the management buyout process from initiation to completion. A new corporate brand identity was created and implemented within 100 days after spinoff. As a global market leader, Infiana develops and produces engineered and innovative films for the consumer and the industrial market, employing 800+ employees in Germany, Thailand, and the US. I achieved significant growth by divesting underperforming units.

When I rejoined, many changes took place at Huhtamaki. A new CEO was appointed, introducing a new focus, which resulted in new business structures and opportunities. I was nominated to join the executive team and assumed P&L responsibility for the Films business. I led the €200M business with 4 locations in Europe, Asia, Brazil, and North America with more than 1,000 employees. During the years 2012–2013, I operated the division from the US to achieve constant global exposure.

Throughout my entire career, I have been driven by the hunger to benefit from interesting opportunities and be the decision maker that makes an impact. What sounded like the next significant opportunity in enhancing my experience, sooner or later revealed that it was simply a mistake. Even though times were difficult, I managed a $400M business with 18 locations across Europe and 2,300 employees, as well as a startup operation in Shanghai, China.

As the business unit in my prior position had been sold to a competitor, I decided to look for another management challenge and took on a €135M business division with 9 locations and 600 employees across Europe at the Finnish packaging conglomerate Huhtamaki. The business was highly interesting and offered several opportunities to do even better. Shifting assets into low-cost countries and implementing robotization in high-labor-cost units resulted in a substantial improvement in supply and cost positions.

My time at GE and the Marketing experience was fabulous, but I wanted to assume full P&L responsibility. For this reason, I decided to go back to the UK and join Rexam, the world’s leading manufacturer of beverage cans. I was part of the Healthcare Division and became the Managing Director for the £46M business unit Healthcare Flexibles Europe & Asia. The challenge had always been to change the company from a production-oriented to a market-oriented business—in other words from inside-out to outside-in.

>> Global Marketing Director, (2000–2001) > European Business Leader Aesthetics, (1998–1999) > European Marketing Manager Extrusion Industries, (1995–1997) << I was proud to be promoted—at General Electric Plastics—to lead the Global Aesthetics Marketing Program—defining, developing, and implementing growth strategies, launching new product portfolios, and setting up 3 innovation centers were key opportunities. What started as a European business initiative, evolved into a worldwide marketing program.

After successfully completing the Training Program, I was asked whether I would be interested in leading a subsidiary in the UK. And of course, I was! I took on my first management role at Ultra Polymers with 15 employees—the official distributor for BASF Thermoplastics in the UK. I held full P&L responsibility for a £6M company. I designed and developed a distribution concept that set a good example for BASF and was implemented as a leading standard in other countries.

I began my career as a trainee at BASF and received comprehensive corporate training in sales, marketing, logistics, and finance. I had a great opportunity to gain knowledge in all business activities, familiarizing myself with the key processes and tasks involved. I was based at the headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany but also spent 3 stints of 12 weeks each at BASF locations in the UK and Germany.

At the BASF AG Germany Training Program, I was trained as an Industrial Business Management Assistant with further education to become a Commercial Assistant. Completed studies with a Degree in Business Management.

Completed 80% of BA in Sport Science.