Dean Higgins
Cardiff,United Kingdom
Summary
Business leader with extensive experience leading global operations, manufacturing, and business growth across multi-billion-dollar organisations. Track record in P&L management, strategic planning, and scaling multi-site operations.
Adept at running business unit level operations autonomously with corporate and board level accountability and reporting.
Recognized for building high-performing teams, and translating strategy into measurable results, delivering sustainable growth in fast-paced, international environments.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work history
COO ( Advisory )
ShadowVu
Oxford, Oxfordshire
2024.11 - Current
- Served as official representative leading the organisation through PE & VC Angel & Series A funding rounds.
- Set strategic plans to govern deployment of £25M capital investment
- Developed key operational plans to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
- Deployed business systems and processes, establishing operational standards, reporting frameworks, and cross-functional workflows.
- Bolstered company's market presence with strategic partnerships.
- Oversaw financial management operations, ensuring fiscal stability.
Vice President Global Operations
REE Automotive
Coventry, West Midlands
2020.06 - 2025.07
- Preparation and readiness for IPO SPAC in 2021 raising £320 million
- Oversaw financial operations to autonomously deploy £250 million Capital
- Worked with board of directors & share holders to create a reporting cadence for operational KPI's and financial forecasting.
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
- Secured/executed Innovate GOV Grant £11 million, aligning funding with operational strategy and enabling business growth.
- Implemented and re-certified ISO 9001 quality management systems three times, sustaining compliance and operational excellence across global sites.
Executive Director Operations
Tenneco INC. USA
Chicago, US
2016.01 - 2020.06
- Supported $5B Federal Mogul acquisition as a member of the global M&A integration team while reporting to the Board of directors
- Orchestrated global expansions for diversified revenue streams.
- Optimized global operations, reducing working capital by $100 million through process improvements, inventory rationalization, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Maximized output efficiency through adoption of lean management practices achieving a standard of 97% productivity.
- Formulated financial plans to ensure fiscal health of the organisation growing it from $4 billion to $8 billion.
- Worked with board of directors to establish corporate reporting across operations and reporting to the internal audit committee.
Director Global Operations
Tenneco INC USA
Chicago, USA
2008.01 - 2016.01
- Headed global operations across 86 facilities in 20 countries, managing logistics spend of $350M, indirect spend of $200M, and $850M in working capital..
- Reporting to the European Board business unit and US corporate.
- Coordinated large scale projects with successful outcomes across growth sectors with 20 new facilities in India, China & Brazil.
- Developed comprehensive business plans for company growth.
- Managed daily operations by overseeing financials, key performance indicators and employee performance.
Education
Higher National Diploma - Business & Economics
University of South Wales
Pontypridd 1999.01 - 2003.06
Diploma of Higher Education - Lean Manufacturing
University of Michigan
Detroit 2006.03 - 2007.03
Diploma of Higher Education - Six Sigma
Motorola University
UK Remote 2002.01 - 2003.03
Skills
- Financial governance
- Executive communication
- Mergers and acquisitions expertise
- Corporate governance understanding
- Budget planning and forecasting
- Financial reporting
- Strategic planning
Timeline
COO ( Advisory )
ShadowVu
2024.11 - Current
Vice President Global Operations
REE Automotive
2020.06 - 2025.07
Executive Director Operations
Tenneco INC. USA
2016.01 - 2020.06
Director Global Operations
Tenneco INC USA
2008.01 - 2016.01
Diploma of Higher Education - Lean Manufacturing
University of Michigan
2006.03 - 2007.03
Diploma of Higher Education - Six Sigma
Motorola University
2002.01 - 2003.03
Higher National Diploma - Business & Economics
University of South Wales
1999.01 - 2003.06