10 Kennametal operations leaders
Vice President Of Global Operations, Sr. Director of Manufacturing and Director Manufacturing - Americas are current titles held by these Kennametal operations leaders. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Kennametal from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Carlos Jimenez
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Of Global Operations · Kennametal
Carlos Jimenez has been Vice President Of Global Operations at Kennametal since July 2022, based in Metro Jacksonville. Carlos Jimenez was Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. from 2020 to 2022 and Vice President Of Global Supply Chain and NA Operations there in 2020, and describes a background in logistics, purchasing and operations.
Chris Landis
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering · Kennametal
Chris Landis has been Director of Operations and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering at Kennametal since February 2024, based in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Chris Landis also lists Director of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering there since 2023, was Plant Manager at Kennametal from 2022 to 2023 and Plant Manager at Parker Hannifin from 2013 to 2015.
Cliff Jones
LinkedInExperience: Director Manufacturing - Americas · Kennametal
Cliff Jones has held Director Manufacturing - Americas at Kennametal since August 2023, and the profile headline reads Sr. Director Manufacturing - Americas, based in Loudon, Tennessee. Cliff Jones was Director Manufacturing Portfolio Management at Kennametal from 2019 to 2023 and International Projects Manager at GE Transportation, a Wabtec company, from 2014 to 2019.
Dustin Smith
LinkedInExperience: Director of Manufacturing · Kennametal
Dustin Smith has been Director of Manufacturing at Kennametal since March 2024, overseeing multiple sites that make tungsten carbide powders, based in Huntsville, Alabama. Dustin Smith was Plant Manager at Kennametal from 2023 to 2024, and was Manufacturing Manager at Jabil Healthcare from 2019 to 2021 and at DePuy Synthes Companies from 2016 to 2019.
Itzia F.
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Global Operations - Infrastructure Business Segment · Kennametal
Itzia F. has been Vice President of Global Operations - Infrastructure Business Segment at Kennametal since April 2026, based in Rochester, New York. Itzia F. was Vice President of Manufacturing - Americas / Seasonal and Specialty Distribution at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. from 2024 to 2026 and LATAM Manufacturing Sr. Director there from 2021 to 2024.
Jim Edwards
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director of Manufacturing · Kennametal
Jim Edwards has been Sr. Director of Manufacturing at Kennametal since October 2025, and the profile headline places the role over Engineer Wear Components and Earth Cutting Tools North American finishing plants, based in San Antonio, Texas. Jim Edwards was Director of Manufacturing Operations at Kennametal from 2024 to 2025 and Site Business Director there from 2020 to 2024.
Joe Butler
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director of Manufacturing · Kennametal
Joe Butler has been Sr. Director of Manufacturing at Kennametal since April 2023, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Joe Butler was Assistant Director of Operations at Kennametal from 2022 to 2023 and Plant Manager there from 2021 to 2022, and was Large Aerospace Plant Manager at Arconic from 2017 to 2019.
Juan C Molina, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Of Global Operations · Kennametal
Juan C Molina, MBA was Vice President Of Global Operations at Kennametal from November 2020 to November 2024, based in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. Juan C Molina has been Vice President Operations, NA Motors and Drives Division, PES at Regal Rexnord since October 2024, and was Global Director of Operations, Automotive Industrial Solutions at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. from 2019 to 2020.
Pramod Sahu
LinkedInExperience: Head - Plant Operations · Kennametal
Pramod Sahu has been Head - Plant Operations at Kennametal since June 2025, leading plant operations of a machine tool manufacturing facility for special purpose CNC machines in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Pramod Sahu was Head of Plant Operations at Cummins India from 2018 to 2025 and Operations Manager - Engine Manufacturing Plant at BEML LTD. from 2015 to 2018.
Ric Stolzenberg
LinkedInExperience: Director, Global Operations · Kennametal, Inc.
Ric Stolzenberg was Director, Global Operations at Kennametal, Inc. from January 2016 to January 2018, leading global manufacturing operations across seven US, Germany and China based facilities for metal cutting products, based in Cornelius, North Carolina. Ric Stolzenberg was Vice President, Global Operations, Industrial Solutions at Ingersoll Rand from 2003 to 2005.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's segment and scope, a single plant, a region or the global network, to the decision you face. Check the dates on each Kennametal role to judge how recent their view of the work is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01Which operating metrics did you review most often while leading Kennametal plants?
- 02Which operating decisions at your plant or region were hardest to get right, and why?
- 03What made an operations change across your sites go smoothly or stall in your experience?
Reaching Kennametal operations leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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