Thomas Ihle
Senior Executive · Switzerland

Strategy, Operations
& Leadership.

Building resilient organizations, world-class supply chains and high-performing teams across luxury, FMCG and regulated industries — from strategy to measurable execution.

View ResumeContact MeLinkedIn
15+
Years leadership
80+
Markets served
>98%
Service level achieved
Portrait of Thomas Ihle
01About

A senior operator who turns strategy into measurable, lasting outcomes.

With more than fifteen years of international experience in multinational FMCG, luxury and regulated manufacturing environments, I lead complex, multi-country organizations at Director level — partnering closely with executive leadership on strategy, performance and value creation.

I focus on what genuinely moves the needle: service performance, cost-to-serve, operational resilience, working capital and sustainability. My approach combines structured strategic thinking with the discipline to execute, and the empathy to build teams that thrive under it.

Thomas Ihle

Leadership

Building senior teams across Europe and Asia in matrix organizations.

Product & Operations Strategy

End-to-end planning, S&OP and IBP at global scale.

AI & Technology

Digital enablement, data analytics and AI-driven supply chain.

Business Transformation

Large-scale change programs with measurable P&L impact.

Communication

Trusted sparring partner to C-level on strategy and governance.

Operational Excellence

Lean Six Sigma, PMP and process modelling at executive level.

02Experience

Two decades of building and leading global operations.

  1. 2021 — 2025
    • Developed and implemented a global logistics strategy aligned with industry best practices.
    • Increased service levels to >98% across global operations.
    • Reduced transport costs by 15% through network redesign.
    • Lowered emissions by ~6,000 tCO₂e via transport mode shift.
    • Built and led international teams across Europe and Asia.
    • Defined global inventory strategies, reducing working capital exposure.
    Download La Prairie reference letter
  2. 2018 — 2021
  3. 2008 — 2018
  4. 1998 — 2008
03Expertise

A deliberate breadth — from boardroom strategy to operational depth.

Strategy

04
  • Supply Chain & Operations Strategy
  • S&OP / IBP
  • Network Design
  • Strategic Advisory

AI & Data

04
  • AI in Supply Chain
  • PowerBI · Tableau
  • Celonis Process Mining
  • Digital Enablement

Operations

04
  • Global Logistics
  • Customer Service / OTC
  • Inventory Strategy
  • Compliance & Audit

Transformation

04
  • Lean Six Sigma
  • PMP Project Management
  • Process Modelling
  • Cost-to-Serve Programs

Leadership

04
  • C-level Sparring
  • Multi-country Teams
  • Talent Development
  • Executive Communication

Systems

04
  • SAP MM · PP · SD
  • MS Office Suite
  • Governance Frameworks
  • Risk Mitigation

Languages

GermanNative
EnglishFluent
FrenchWorking Proficiency

Education

  • Executive MBAHEC Lausanne · Download diploma
  • European Senior Logistician (ESLog)ECBL · ELA · 2009 · Download diploma
  • Eidg. Dipl. Logistik-IT-LeiterGS1 Switzerland · Functional Diploma
  • Diplom-Betriebswirt (FH)Fachhochschule Nürtingen · 2003
04Licenses & Certifications

A continuous practice — staying sharp on strategy, AI and systems.

Selected credentials from the past years, clustered by domain — across AI, supply chain, enterprise systems and operational leadership.

    • The AI-Driven Supply Chain Manager

      Mar 2026

      LinkedIn

      AI for BusinessSupply Chain Management

    • Strategic AI Prompting for Managers: Leading Smarter with Generative AI

      Mar 2026

      LinkedIn

      Prompt EngineeringTeam Management
04Selected Case Studies

Where strategy meets operational reality.

01Luxury Skincare · Global

Re-architecting global logistics for an ultra-premium skincare brand

S&OP / IBPNetwork DesignESG Operating ModelCost-to-Serve

Challenge

A global luxury house faced rising service volatility across 80+ markets, escalating air-freight costs and growing CO₂ scrutiny from group governance.

Approach

Reviewed the network end-to-end and gained full transparency. Implemented a Control Tower, moved shipments from air to sea freight where viable, and rebuilt KPIs to align performance and accountability.

Outcome

  • Service level lifted to >98% sustained over 12 months
  • Transport cost reduced by 15% in two waves
  • ~6,000 tCO₂e annual reduction baked into operating model
02FMCG · Switzerland

Digitalizing the Swiss logistics backbone of a global FMCG leader

Customer ClusteringCost-to-ServeMinimum Order ValueStakeholder Alignment

Challenge

A one-size-fits-all distribution model across a highly diverse customer structure — from small to large customers — with no visibility into true cost to serve.

Approach

Defined customer clusters, implemented cost-to-serve analytics, and introduced minimum order values to right-size delivery frequency and volumes per segment.

Outcome

  • Distribution cost reduction
  • Full cost visibility across the customer base
  • Personalized distribution set-up — optimized by frequency and volume for each customer cluster
03Luxury Watchmaking

Lean transformation of a luxury watchmaker's after-sales service

Lean Six SigmaValue Stream MappingLeadership Coaching

Challenge

Premium customers expected faster turnaround on service repairs while throughput remained constrained by legacy workflows.

Approach

Deployed Lean methodology on the entire repair value stream, retrained the operational leadership and rebuilt the planning model around customer promise.

Outcome

  • Service throughput time reduced by 35%
  • Higher first-time-right rates
  • Trained leaders carrying the method forward
05Leadership Philosophy
“The best operations look effortless from the outside — because they were built deliberately on the inside.”
Thomas Ihle
  1. I.

    Curiosity precedes conviction

    Strong opinions, loosely held. Listen widely, read deeply, and let the data sharpen the instinct — not replace it.

  2. II.

    Ownership over optics

    Take the call, take the consequence. Real leaders make the organization safe for honest answers and uncomfortable questions.

  3. III.

    Integrity is the operating system

    Trust compounds quietly and breaks loudly. Do the right thing especially when it costs a quarter.

  4. IV.

    Continuous learning is non-negotiable

    Markets, technology and people evolve. So must the leader. Stay a student — formally and informally — for the entire career.

07Recommendations

What collaborators say.

Verbatim recommendations from former managers, peers and team members across La Prairie, Nestlé, Hayek Engineering and the EMBA at HEC Lausanne.

I had the pleasure of working with Thomas for four years on the Supply Chain leadership team of La Prairie and can highly recommend him. He combines strong focus and structure with real strategic thinking, consistently driving his area forward with clear direction. What sets him apart is his leadership: beyond improving processes and delivering results, he placed genuine emphasis on developing his team members. He invests time in people, supports their growth, and builds strong, capable teams — something that makes a lasting impact. A reliable, thoughtful leader and great colleague.
Mv

Manuela van Ulzen

COO @ Soeder

Worked with Thomas on the same team at La Prairie · May 2026

I had the pleasure of working closely with Thomas during his time at Nestlé Suisse, where he played a key role in driving logistics and distribution transformations. Thomas stood out for his ability to combine deep operational understanding with a strong transformation mindset. He led several complex, change-driven initiatives with clarity, resilience, and a strong sense of ownership, while navigating demanding stakeholders and external service providers with credibility and maturity. What I particularly valued was his calm leadership, strategic thinking, and his ability to turn complexity into concrete progress. A transformation leader I wholeheartedly recommend.
BQ

Bernard Quenis

Head of Customers' Supply Chain & Logistics, Nestlé

Managed Thomas directly · May 2026

Ich hatte das Glück, über mehr als zwei Jahre mit Thomas zusammenarbeiten zu dürfen. Als Führungskraft hat er mich mit seinem modernen Führungsstil beeindruckt: Er versteht es, seinen Mitarbeitenden den nötigen Raum zu geben und gleichzeitig durch klare Orientierung, Vertrauen und gezieltes Feedback zu führen. Besonders hervorzuheben ist seine Fähigkeit, Verantwortung zu übertragen, ohne den Überblick zu verlieren — und dabei ein Umfeld zu schaffen, in dem Eigeninitiative und Weiterentwicklung aktiv gefördert werden. Er hat stets die perfekte Balance zwischen strategischer Ausrichtung und Detailtiefe gehalten.
MM

Martin Menzler

Luxury Supply Chain

Reported to Thomas directly · May 2026

Thomas is wonderful to work with and has exceptional expertise in strategy and in the watchmaking industry. I sponsored his Strategic Consultancy Project, written for his EMBA at HEC Lausanne, to provide a roadmap for the future growth of my company. He performed a fantastic analysis of the watch market and the trends in the industry — but what really impressed me was the innovative, creative blue-ocean business model he developed for my start-up. Thomas earns my highest recommendation.
DG

David Gagnebin

Director, Gagnebin Horlogerie SA

EMBA strategic consultancy sponsor · Jan 2019

I worked with Thomas at Hayek Engineering AG in Switzerland. Thomas is a highly professional, detail- and target-oriented person. He thinks strategically and at the same time has the ability to go to the bottom of important matters. Thomas has a good sense of humour and is a team player, which makes him a great project colleague and excellent business partner.
CN

Carlos Nicoletti, CAIA

Investment & Portfolio Management — Alternative Investments

Worked with Thomas on the same team at Hayek Engineering · Jul 2016

07Contact

Let's start
a conversation.

Open to executive mandates, board advisory and selective consulting engagements at the intersection of strategy, operations and technology.

Email

ihle.thomas@icloud.com

LinkedIn

/in/thomas-ihle

Curriculum Vitae

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