Kayvan Mirza
CEO / Président, Optinvent
American citizen and living in France for more than 10 years. Bilingual with 15 years of industry experience in various fields such as R&D, Supply Chain, and general management. Extensive knowledge of the following high-tech secteurs : Components, Appliance, IT, consumer electronics, optics. Worked for several multinatinal companies such as Motorola, Eaton, Invensys, HP, and Thomson. In depth knowledge of the US, European, and Asian markets and mentalities. Currently head of a high-tech start-up company.
42 contactsObjective: Create and run a technology start-up.
Main activity: Design and delivery of optical components for projection applications through a licensing or direct sales business model.
Responsibilities: Responsible for all aspects of creating and running the start-up such as building and executing the business plan and budget, raising capital, building the team, creating worldwide customer and supplier relationships, all aspects of contract negotiation, legal, financial, and administrative duties.
2004 - 2006Objective: Build a new technology activity from scratch
Responsibilities: Responsible for putting in place and running the business (strategy, organization, and financial objectives). Operational management of resources, budget (?4M/year), and P&L. Organization consists of R&D, Industrialization, Sourcing, Supply chain, and Sales (15 people). Business and supply chain responsibility for customers and suppliers in Asia, Europe, and US.
2000 - 2004Objective: Manage a ?60M/20Mpcs/yr component business
Responsibilities: Top and bottom line P&L responsibility for running business. Definition of business development strategy and roadmap. Management of two remote R&D centers in Germany and Singapore (20 people). Management of Sales and Operations in a matrix organization (10 people). Responsible for defining a product diversification strategy in new segments not covered by the division. Business development and supply chain responsibility for Customers and Suppliers in Asia, Europe, and US.
2000 - 2000Objective: Define the B to C product strategy for the high-end PC segment ($500Mio B to C business)
Responsibilities: Defining the technology roadmap and product strategy. Implementation of the strategy with the Marketing, Communications, and R&D teams. Coordination with the world wide sales force to set objectives. Maintaining up to date knowledge on market size, segmentation, competition, and technology trends. Worldwide context.
1998 - 2000Objective: Assure the performance of several product lines worth $30M (After Sales support business).
Responsibilities: Managing a team comprised of Buyers, Engineers, and Planners (6 people) dealing with product repair supply chain. Establishing and tracking of business and financial performance metrics/KPI?s. Responsible for defining and managing cost reduction initiatives. Responsible for production efficiency at subcontractors and complex supply chain projects to improve delivery. Project management of new product introductions. European context.
1998 - 1998Objective: Create a marketing strategy in order to grow the business for the European Division ($450Mio Appliance Controls)
Responsibilities: Formulation of the division strategy and the strategic sales plan including customer approach, market trends, technology trends, product strategy, and acquisition candidates. Organizing product promotion campaigns and trade shows. Coaching sales team on products. European Context.
1995 - 1998Objective: Grow a strategic product sector from $0 to $10Mio in two years (Appliance Controls) as an expat from the US to France
Responsibilities: Responsible for designing, and marketing products to grow the activity. Managing a team of product and software engineers and coordinating sales and marketing personnel. Meeting cost and quality objectives. Customer interfacing to create customized products, innovative system solutions, and standard products. Responsible for the globalization of two major US product lines for the European markets. European context.
1991 - 1995Responsibilities: Hardware design and Project management for major appliance O.E.M. customers. Responsibilities included managing all activities and resources (including an multidisciplinary project team) during the project. Being the focal point of communication for the project team and keeping the project schedule on track. Taking the project from the initial design concept, to product costing, to prototyping, to full scale manufacturing.
Accomplishments and Special Projects: Played a leadership role in converting both the manufacturing plant and engineering department into a JIT (Just In Time) operation. Managed a project which was later deemed as a “model project” and was used in order to generate formalized R&D procedures. Initiated redesign to cost effort which translated into $2.6M/yr. in productivity and quality improvements.