Ivan A Martinez
Chief Operating Officer | Investor | Board Advisor
About Me
Senior executive with 20+ years of experience leading private
equity-backed distribution and manufacturing companies.
I drive EBITDA growth by scaling operations, optimizing cost
structures, and transforming commercial models with a long-term
enterprise value focus.
My background spans national multi-site platforms, complex M&A integrations, and full P&L ownership. I’ve led organizations through rapid growth, digital transformation, and operational turnarounds, combining hands-on operational leadership with strategic planning, pricing optimization, and investor engagement.
Known for building data-driven, execution-focused cultures. I bring the discipline of a boardroom operator and the intensity of a field leader, bridging strategy and execution at scale.
"Blue Collar Grit, Board Room Polish"Experience
Chief Operating Officer
KSI Corporation · A Kinderhook Portfolio Company
2021 – Present New York Metropolitan AreaSenior Executive Team Member reporting to the CEO. Responsible for developing and executing our Operational Plan for the distribution of aftermarket and OE products, including our B2B, B2C and E-Commerce distribution and shipping centers. Full P&L Responsibility.
Key Responsibilities and Selected Achievements:
- Engage with Board and C-Suite on M&A, strategy, and investment vision; present monthly/quar-terly to Board.
- Scaled the platform rapidly: tripled employee base, expanded to 50+ distribution centers, and managed a 400-truck delivery fleet servicing multiple body shops and retailers.
- Optimized labor efficiency: reduced costs by 7.5% through deployment of advanced analytics, workflow redesign and KPI-driven accountability across DCs.
- Delivered margin lift: achieved 250 bps gross margin improvement by designing and executing an AI-powered dynamic pricing model leveraging ERP data and competitive intelligence.
LKQ Corporation
NASDAQ 14B | Aftermarket, OE and Recycled Replacement Automotive Products Manufacturer and Distributor.
2007 – 2021 Dallas, TXAVP Operations and Operational Excellence
2015 – 2021Operated inside a $14B region scale enterprise; reporting to CEO driving synergies and integrations across multi-billion-dollar platforms.
Director Operations and General Manager
Keystone Automotive Operations
2007 – 2014Executive Team member responsible for developing and executing our Sales and Operational Plan.
Director Operational Excellence and Regional Marketing
Ingram Micro
2003 – 2007 Miami, FLExecutive Team member, reporting to Regional President, recruited to articulate and execute our Continuous Improvement Vision and Strategy.
Quality and Productivity Manager (Master Black Belt)
Nokia Mobile Phones
2000 – 2003Reported to Director of Operations, supported all aspects of the Production, Quality Management System ISO 9000 (TL) & Continuous Improvement implementation.
Johnson & Johnson
NYSE 90B | Ethicon Endo-Surgery Global Leader in minimal invasive medical devices.
1996 – 1999Manufacturing Engineer
Maintained production equipment uptime and throughput while leading line transfers from U.S. to Mexico.
Board & Advisor Roles
Member of the Board of Advisors
SkySpigot
Nov 2024 – PresentCollaborate with the leadership team to guide strategic initiatives in the development of innovative atmospheric water generation (AWG) systems.
Cohort Representative
Harvard Business Analytics Program
Oct 2019 – Jun 2021Elected leadership role within the post graduate program representing 100 students.
Management Consulting
SixSigma.us · Full-time
2014 – 2015Project Management, Program Delivery, Coaching and Training Development
Education
University of Dallas
Masters Bussiness Administration, Major: Marketing
Universidad Autónoma De Nuevo León
Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
Certifications
Harvard Business Analytics Program Certified with Distinction
Post Graduate Certification (2019 – 2021)
Harvard University
Focus: Digital Strategy, Data Science, People Analytics, Supply Chain Management
GenAI + Strategy Completion Badge
Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard (2025)
Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certified & Lean Instructor
Nokia + SixSigma.us