Katrin
Gülzau

With over 15 years of international experience in finance and controlling, I am a strategic and results-driven leader committed to delivering sustainable value. As Finance Director South America at Forvia, I partner with executive leadership to drive performance, lead transformation initiatives, and translate complex financial insights into actionable strategies.

I thrive in fast-moving environments where I can influence outcomes through strategic foresight and hands-on involvement, leading with energy and integrity.

• April 2024 - Present

  Finance Director South America at Faurecia

  São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil

  • Reporting to Regional VP, with functional accountability to Global BG Leadership
  • Own end-to-end P&L for South America region, driving alignment between regional objectives and global Business Group (BG) targets
  • Serve as key liaison to central BGs, ensuring seamless integration of regional performance data into global consolidation and reporting
  • Lead controlling teams (operations, program, costing) to optimize P&L, analyze variances, and deliver actionable insights for 8+ manufacturing sites
  • Supporting M&A activities (business planning, synergies, BG interaction) to support regional growth strategy
  • Partner with regional VP & Board of Directors and BG leaders to navigate industry transformation, especially amid automotive sector disruption

• October 2019 - April 2024

  Director BG Operations Controlling Clean Mobility at Faurecia

  Nanterre, France

  • As Finance Director for Clean Mobility BG (€4.5B revenue, 86 plants, 18 countries, 20,000 employees), served as a trusted partner to the BG board and leadership teams
  • Lead global financial processes including month-end closing, forecasting, budgeting, and strategic planning
  • Oversee consolidation and analysis of cash flow, operational performance, and commercial squeeze at the BG level
  • Champion continuous improvement and digital transformation initiatives across finance functions
  • Collaborate closely with regional finance teams to ensure alignment and performance optimization
  • Passionate about enabling data-driven decisions, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and building resilient financial frameworks that support innovation and sustainable growth

• August 2018 - September 2019

  Controlling Director RBU Mexico – Seating NAO at Faurecia

  Puebla, Puebla, Mexico

  Led all financial functions for Mexico within the Seating North America division, encompassing operations, customer business units (CBUs), and program controlling. Reported directly to the Regional VP and functionally to the Division Finance VP. Key responsibilities included overseeing financial planning, performance analysis, and strategic support across manufacturing and commercial activities, ensuring alignment with regional and divisional goals.

• July 2017 - July 2018

  Operations Controller Comfort & Trim at Faurecia

  Puebla, Puebla, Mexico

  Oversaw financial performance and reporting for multiple sites, including month-end close, forecasts, budgeting, and audits. Ensured accuracy and compliance with internal controls, trained plant controlling teams, and supported business planning with financial impact analysis.

• February 2015 - June 2017

  Plant Controller at Faurecia

  Simpsonville, KY

  Manage the financial aspects of a high-profile "just-in-time" seat assembly plant launch in order to guarantee and optimize the plant's financial performance and competitiveness.

• June 2012 - January 2015

  Global Program Controller at Faurecia

  Auburn Hills, MI

  Financial lead of a global GM complete seat program involving several product lines in USA, Mexico, Europe and China.

• July 2008 - May 2012

  Program Controller at Faurecia

  Munich, Germany

  Financial lead for several BMW and VW complete seat programs and acquisitions.

• September 2006 - June 2008

  Project Controller at Rücker AG

  Munich, Germany

• January 2003 - August 2006

  Team Assistant at Daimler AG

  Hamburg Area, Germany

• 2003 - 2006

  Bachelor Professional, Business Management w/ emphasis on Controlling

  AWS Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

• 2000 - 2003

  Certificate as Office Administrator w/ emphasis on industry (Industriekauffrau)

  German Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg, Germany

• 1993 - 2000

  German "Abitur" (granting university entry)

  Gymnasium Athenaeum Stade, Germany