Jay Swank

Brought in to open and scale Lynxeo’s North American automation business following its carve-out from Nexans, with full responsibility for establishing the regional commercialization model, channel strategy, and market-entry architecture. Serve as the senior North American commercial leader for automation cables, working cross-functionally with global executives and operations teams across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Own the definition and execution of the North American go-to-market approach — including target-segment prioritization (OEMs, harness manufacturers, specialized distributors, and volume logistics partners), distributor program structure, pricing and discount logic, and stocking vs. non-stocking strategy. Align portfolio adaptation, certification priorities, and lead-time expectations to meet regional technical and application requirements. Hold decision authority for North America operational readiness and early-stage market deployment — including partner selection, channel engagement cadence, and allocation planning across global manufacturing plants. Engage directly with strategic accounts and ecosystem partners to secure early adoption and shape long-term growth programs for the region. This is a greenfield market-build role, combining commercial leadership, channel architecture, and operational alignment to establish Lynxeo’s presence and growth trajectory in North America. - Full ownership of North American commercialization, pricing, and channel model - Decision authority for operational readiness, partner selection, and stocking strategy - Senior North American counterpart to global executive and plant leadership

Held multi-P&L leadership responsibility across technical and product-focused commercial teams operating within GCG’s Automation & Factory Solutions business vertical and spanning multiple brands. Led hybrid technical-commercial organizations with national reach, guiding pursuit strategy, margin structure, delivery models, and cross-brand program execution. Directed teams accountable for new business development, complex multi-site opportunities, and monetized solution delivery — with services representing one component of a broader growth portfolio. Frequently engaged as an executive-level problem-solver and cross-functional escalation point (“Swiss-army-knife” role), supporting initiatives across sales, operations, vendor strategy, and organizational transformation. Influenced compensation frameworks, pricing and margin models, delivery cost structures, and vendor partnership programs to improve profitability, repeatability, and commercial effectiveness across distributed regions. - Led multiple P&Ls across technical services and product-driven commercial teams - Operated cross-brand within the Automation & Factory Solutions business vertical - Served as executive-level escalation & integration leader across growth initiatives

Founded and operated a boutique photography business in parallel with my professional career, combining creative problem-solving with disciplined business ownership. Built the business model, pricing strategy, and service offering across guided photo excursions, hands-on training workshops, and corporate product/brand imagery projects. Developed and delivered paid group programs and destination workshops, teaching participants practical storytelling and documentation skills. Partnered with corporate clients to produce visual content aligned with marketing objectives and product positioning. Managed full small-business operations — financial planning, marketing, client acquisition, and delivery execution — gaining operator-level experience in growth discipline and adaptability. Successfully completed a full business acquisition and sale in 2023. - Founded, scaled, and exited a services-based small business through acquisition - Designed and delivered paid training workshops and guided excursion programs - Produced product and brand storytelling imagery for corporate clients

Joined C&E in a technical sales role and was promoted to Technical Sales Manager, then to Director of Technical Resources after identifying and developing a new revenue stream through billable services. Led a hybrid organization of application engineers and new-business sales resources operating across a multi-state region, working cross-functionally with marketing, inside sales, customer service, and outside sales teams. Built the Services Group from the ground up — designing the revenue model, delivery structure, and go-to-market motion that strengthened strategic account retention and created recurring growth opportunities. Directed pursuit strategy for complex projects and new logo development while mentoring remote technical and commercial talent. This role established my identity as a commercial and growth leader — combining technical credibility with business development, services monetization, and cross-functional execution. -Built and scaled a billable services program and revenue funnel -Led hybrid technical + commercial teams across a multi-state region -Drove complex pursuit strategy and new logo acquisition

Promoted from Controls Engineer into Controls Engineering Manager, leading automation and robotic integration projects for custom, engineered-to-order production systems. Entered the role focused on engineering leadership but increasingly operated as the primary customer interface for solution design and project alignment. Guided customers through feasibility and scope decisions, frequently reconciling technical objectives with budget constraints to keep programs viable. Owned full-cycle delivery in the absence of a PM function — proposal alignment, vendor coordination, commissioning oversight, and cross-functional team leadership. This role shifted my trajectory toward consultative, customer-facing leadership and complex solution-selling environments, ultimately influencing my decision to transition into distribution, business development, and commercial growth leadership.

Progressively promoted into a leadership-track engineering role within a lean, JIT manufacturing environment. Led retooling and retrofit projects across automated production lines, integrating mechanical, electrical, and controls upgrades to improve uptime, throughput, and safety performance. Owned full-cycle project delivery — feasibility assessments, vendor evaluation, budgeting, change implementation, programming oversight, and startup — while mentoring maintenance teams and coordinating cross-functionally across production, quality, and engineering. This role established the foundation of my continuous-improvement mindset and technical credibility that later shaped my commercial strategy and business development leadership career path.