Experienced Automotive & Manufacturing Leader Driving Operational Excellence and Team Empowerment

Francisco is a leader in the automotive and manufacturing sector with an engineering background and over 20 years of experience driving innovation and developing high-performing teams. Throughout his career, he has consistently improved operations by implementing efficient cost-saving measures and advanced automation processes, reducing downtime, and promoting continuous improvements. He is recognized for fostering meritocratic and collaborative company cultures where diverse teams celebrate shared successes and pursue excellence together.

As Head of Manufacturing Technology Engineering at Continental Tires, he oversees maintenance strategies, drives the adoption of AI and emerging technologies, and steers lucrative investments. His team acquires machines and works on projects to install and configure them to the organization’s evolving needs. He is responsible for preventive and predictive maintenance, ensuring equipment availability, energy efficiency, and waste reduction in a rigorous, fast-paced global setting.

In parallel, he is enrolled in Porto Business School’s Executive MBA, where he is exposed to new ways of working and thinking while learning from and alongside peers with multisectoral expertise and diverse problem-solving approaches. This experience expanded Francisco’s horizons and inspired him to aim for his next professional challenge at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and IT, where he can use the lessons gained to achieve a sustainable impact.