MEET THE TEAM

Harri Gröhn is Founding Partner Evop Oy. He is the only European to be trained in the "Improved Profitability" (IP) program developed by General Electric.

He has facilitated the program in numerous companies and other organizations for twenty-five years in Finland, Germany and Russia, and has been involved in project work for General Electric Aviation / Aircraft Engines.

During this time he has directed over 300 projects.

These projects represent a wide range of different types of improvement activities.

Project work has been carried out in the pharmaceutical, electronics, IT, engineering, foundry and other manufacturing industries, as well as in the energy and telecom industries.

He has also facilitated projects in research centers, collaborative projects between research centers, industry and academia as well as in hospitals and the finance sector.

Previously, Harri was Employed by Nokia Corporation and after that he coordinated technology transfer projects within the F / A-18 Fighter Acquisition Counterparties at the Technology Industries Federation. He was initially a member of the technical working group of the Compensation Committee of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which was later affiliated to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Harri brings with him knowledge of General Electric Aircraft Engines' management system expertise, contacts with GE and his knowledge of the Finnish business community. Harri published a book entitled "In the Same Direction - A Guide to Systematic Leadership" on the IP program in 2007. Harri holds a M.Sc in Engineering from Tampere Technical University.

Terry Russell is Partner at Evop Oy and President, Russell Consulting, a business improvement consulting practice working with domestic and international companies to improve business performance through management system and process improvement and through Six Sigma training and implementation. Clients have included companies in both product manufacturing and service sectors.

Prior to his current position, Terry accumulated 36 years of professional experience including 7 years as a mechanical design engineer with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration before joining General Electric Aircraft Engines in 1968. With GE, Terry held various technical and engineering management positions including energy programs plant manager and design engineering management assignments that included responsibility for engine structures, bearings, seals, accessory drives, secondary systems and logistics support.

In 1989 Terry joined the GE Aircraft Engines Engineering Division Staff as Total Quality Advisor in support of Continuous Improvement implementation. He also provided leadership for a New Product Introduction process, served as an instructor and organization resource for Total Quality methods and tools and was responsible for Engineering Division education and training. While in this position Terry participated in the development and implementation of an Improved Profitability through Cycle Time and Quality Program for Finnish Industry. This program focused on business improvement through the emphasis of the leadership role and the application of Total Quality methods and tools in specific business environments. This program was recognized as a model for future GE international programs and led to Terry's participation in a Total Quality based business improvement program in Spain from 1998 - 2000.

Terry holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration. He holds instructor certifications from GE, Motorola (Six Sigma) and Ford (TOPS8D), and is an ABET Program Evaluator. Terry is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio, and serves as Co-Chair and Chair of the Industrial Advisory Boards for the Ohio University Department of Mechanical Engineering's mechanical engineering and energy engineering programs.

Claus Carlsen is Founding Partner Evop Oy which provides DOE and EVOP based efficiency improvement programs for the power generation industry as well as other process and manufacturing industries in Europe.

Previously Claus has worked 30 years in various management positions including the last 22 years as COO or CEO in the Glass, Energy, Polymers, Fiber and Fine Chemicals industries. In the last 22 years his roles have been focused on major improvement initiatives including restructuring, industry consolidation, acquisitions, exits, accelerated growth as well as profit, cash flow and ROIC improvement. In addition to his multi-sector background Claus has global operations and general management experience with a geographic emphasis on Finland, Germany, UK, Denmark, China, and South Korea.

In his roles as CEO he has implemented many efficiency improvement programs the most successful and sustainable of which was the GE developed "Improved Profitability" program.

Claus holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Copenhagen Business School and an MBA from London Business School