Operations Executive Steve Keches Joins Exceptional Leaders International as a Partner in Its Operations Practice

BOSTON, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturing and Supply Chain veteran Steve Keches joins Exceptional Leaders International (E.L.I.) as a Partner and will lead the firms Operations practice.  Steve is an accomplished executive recognized as a high impact leader with the ability to rapidly identify opportunities and drive operational changes that deliver world-class results. He brings over 30 years of global expertise in Manufacturing & Supply Chain Operations, Strategic Sourcing, Mergers & Acquisitions, Organizational Restructuring, Contract Negotiations, New Product Delivery and Business Process Improvement.  Steve has held executive leadership positions in a number of industries, including Aviation & Aerospace, Consumer Products, Chemicals & Coatings, Electronics and Engineering Services. 

Prior to joining E.L.I., Steve served as President and CEO for Berkshire Manufacturing Products, a mid-market, privately held contract manufacturer supplying components to the aerospace industry, where he secured long term agreements on next generation engine platforms, expanded capacity, and facilitated a sale process resulting in an acquisition by a strategic buyer.  Under Steve's leadership the backlog grew by 113% and new product introductions exceeded 90% for on-time delivery.

As Vice President of Operations at Alene Candles, a privately held consumer products company, Steve was responsible for manufacturing, quality, purchasing, logistics and new product introduction.  At Radia International, a global workforce solutions company, Steve was hired as a Business Process Improvement Consultant, where he developed and launched an Engineering and Manufacturing Services business.

Steve held a number of operational leadership positions at Polaroid Corporation.  As Vice President of Manufacturing he was responsible for supply chain operations in the US, Mexico, Scotland, the Netherlands, and China.  He led global restructuring efforts to consolidate operations, resulting in $45MM in annual cost savings.  As Vice President of Procurement he delivered $15MM in price reductions through competitive bidding, supplier consolidations and aggregation of demand. 

"We are pleased to welcome Steve to our team and add another strong leader to our operations practice. His comprehensive supply chain expertise and cross-functional project management skills will enhance our ability to help clients rapidly improve their operational effectiveness." said E.L.I. CEO Janice DiPietro. Steve commented, "I'm excited to join an impressive group of industry experts who share a passion for continuous improvement and provide cross-functional solutions to challenging business problems. I am pleased to be part of an organization with such a distinguished and collaborative group of leaders, and look forward to contributing my experience and expertise to the E.L.I. team."

Steve holds an MBA from Babson College and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University.

Exceptional Leaders International is a team of C-level executives dedicated to guiding our clients successfully through periods of growth and transition. We work with small and medium sized businesses, many of which are family owned. Whether our clients are seeking to expand, improve performance or effect a change in ownership, E.L.I. Partners deliver solutions that solve their most challenging problems.

For more information, visit: www.eliadvisors.com

Contact: Janice DiPietro (617-535-7568)

SOURCE Exceptional Leaders International