10 Kohler operations leaders
Tom Paulus, Senior Vice President Global Manufacturing, leads this set of Kohler operations leaders, which also includes vice presidents for quality and operational excellence and senior directors running operations across EMEA, China and the Americas. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Kohler from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Andrew Paese
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Operations · Kohler Co.
Andrew Paese has been Director Of Operations at Kohler Co. since January 2014, based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and the profile describes managing large-scale manufacturing operations in the consumer products and metals processing industries. Andrew Paese was Plant Manager at Kohler Co. from 2004 to 2014.
Brian Keeley
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director Operations - EMEA and Luxury Brands · Kohler Co.
Brian Keeley has been Senior Director Operations - EMEA and Luxury Brands at Kohler Co. since June 2025, based in Brighouse, England. Brian Keeley was Director Operations - Vitreous and Plastics - India and Europe at Kohler Co. from 2024 to 2025, Director - Vitreous Operations, K&B India and Europe from 2020 to 2024 and Director - Vitreous Operations, K&B India from 2017 to 2020.
Carl Davies
LinkedInExperience: VP Quality & OPEX Kohler K&B · Kohler Co.
Carl Davies has been VP Quality & OPEX Kohler K&B at Kohler Co. since October 2020, based in Chon Buri, Thailand, and also lists VP Operations Asia Pacific & Europe at Kohler Company since March 2015. Carl Davies was Operations Director at Kohler from 2009 to 2015 and Plant Manager & Asean Manager at TRW Automotive from 2001 to 2009, with posts in China and Malaysia.
Dan Schmidt
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, KOS & Global Lean Manufacturing · Kohler Co.
Dan Schmidt has been Senior Director, KOS & Global Lean Manufacturing at Kohler Co. since September 2025, based in Newburgh, Indiana, and the profile headline adds process excellence to that scope. Dan Schmidt was Executive Director at Stac in 2025, Director Supply Chain Engineering at Rivian from 2023 to 2025 and Director - Advanced Engineering, PM, Plant Launch at Foxconn EV Systems LLC from 2022 to 2023.
Jesus Finol
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Quality and OPS Exellence · Kohler Co.
Jesus Finol has been Vice President of Quality and OPS Exellence at Kohler Co. since August 2024, based in the Nashville Metropolitan Area. Jesus Finol was Sr. Director of Operation Solutions Design at Target in 2024, Sr. Director of Quality and Field Operations at Target from 2022 to 2024 and Director, Manufacturing Support Group at Nissan Motor Corporation from 2015 to 2022.
Junhui Zhang
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director-Operations, Kitchen & Bath China · Kohler Co.
Junhui Zhang has been Sr. Director-Operations, Kitchen & Bath China at Kohler Co. since June 2025 and also lists Sr. Director-Faucet Operations, China, India & ASPAC there since September 2020, based in Beijing, China. Junhui Zhang was VP-Operations & Product Development at Kohler Co. from 2015 to 2020 and Director of Operations there from 2008 to 2015.
Samuel Riitano
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director Operations Americas, Faucets Metals Glass · Kohler Co.
Samuel Riitano has been Sr. Director Operations Americas, Faucets Metals Glass at Kohler Co. since June 2025, based in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area. Samuel Riitano was Sr. Director Operations Vitreous, Plastics, Electronics - EMEA & APAC at Kohler Co. from 2024 to 2025, Sr. Director Global NPI Vitreous Plastics Electronics from 2023 to 2024 and VP Transformation at Ideal Standard from 2020 to 2023.
Saranya Tangvitoontham
LinkedInExperience: Director - Kohler Operating System & Transformation Management Office · Kohler Co.
Saranya Tangvitoontham has been Director - Kohler Operating System & Transformation Management Office at Kohler Co. since January 2023, based in Grafton, Wisconsin. Saranya Tangvitoontham was Associate Director - Transformation Management Office at Kohler Co. in 2022 and 2023, Plant Manager - WI Cast Iron Operations from 2021 to 2022 and Associate Director - Global Vitreous Operations Support from 2019 to 2021.
Scott Bayles
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Operations - Vikrell · Kohler Co.
Scott Bayles has been Director Of Operations - Vikrell at Kohler Co. since July 2022, based in Canton, Mississippi. Scott Bayles was Director of Body and Stamping at Nissan North America from 2018 to 2022, Director - Truck System Trim & Chassis there from 2013 to 2018 and Senior Manager -Trim & Chassis from 2011 to 2012.
Tom Paulus
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Global Manufacturing · Kohler Co.
Tom Paulus has been Senior Vice President Global Manufacturing at Kohler Co. since June 2025, based in Kohler, Wisconsin, and the profile headline places the role in the Kitchen & Bath Group. Tom Paulus was Vice President Global Operations - Faucets, Metals, and Vikrell at Kohler Co. from 2020 to 2025, Vice President of Global Operations and Supply Chain - Faucets from 2018 to 2020 and Vice President of Global Operations - Building Efficiency Division at Johnson Controls International plc from 2014 to 2018.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope, such as global manufacturing, quality and lean programs, a region or a single product line, to the decision you face. Check when each role started to judge how recent the person's view is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you change first when you took on your operations role, and why?
- 02How do you balance plant output, quality and cost when demand shifts across sites?
- 03What has your own work taught you about running a lean operating system across plants in several countries?
Reaching Kohler operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Kohler operations leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Kohler Co., based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Kohler operations leaders?
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Can an AI agent ask one of these Kohler operations leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
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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