Mara Zavagno

After years of serving in senior executive roles across global organizations, as well as in Boards of Trustee, I am eager to contribute with my experience and perspective at Board level, particularly within a mid-sized engineering company.
My career has centered around leading people strategies during times of growth, change, and transformation. I understand the importance of providing constructive oversight, asking the right questions, and ensuring that decisions are made with both strategic intent and long-term sustainability in mind.
EXECUTIVE CAREER EXPERIENCE THAT WILL BE USEFUL AT BOARD LEVEL
Here are some examples of my Executive career that I can bring as NED to a board:
1. Change Management and turnaround: Throughout my career, I have developed a proven track record in driving change and efficiency improvements from both operational and strategic perspectives. Notably, I joined the ISD Board during a critical period when the institution needed guidance for financial turnaround and reputation enhancement. I am known for my ability to counsel and coach businesses, facilitating change management with a creative problem-solving approach.

2 M&A Integration Expertise: Having led the people-side integration of several large-scale acquisitions; I bring a deep understanding of how strategic decisions impact employees and organizational culture. My experience navigating M&A challenges—aligning workforce strategies, designing operating models and managing cultural differences—I can help Boards to balance business and financial goals with human considerations.
3. Inclusive Culture and Leadership: As Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Konecranes, I spearheaded initiatives that embedded D&I into the fabric of the business. This included global pay gap analyses, unconscious bias programs tailored to different Regions and building diversity of thoughts in the teams. Boards are aware that an inclusive culture is a driver for better performances. With my experience and perspective, I can help shape board-level discussions on talent strategy and organizational resilience.
My leadership style is characterized by taking ownership, fostering a positive attitude, and bridging cultural conflicts to find constructive solutions. I am highly reliable, trusted, and dedicated to developing people, building diverse and high-functioning teams with an entrepreneurial mindset.


PREVIOUS BOARD AND COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE
Board’s Governance Experience: Since 2019, I have served as Chair of the HR and Governance Committee on the Board of ISD Düsseldorf. In this role, I focus on ensuring sound governance practices, risk management, and alignment between strategy and execution. This experience has given me an appreciation for the distinct role non-executive directors play in providing oversight without stepping into operational management. Since 2024, I cover the role of Board Chair for Konecranes and Demag srl, driving strategic review, and organizational compliance.
In addition, since July 2022 I am also covering the role of MD for Demag Cranes and Components GMBH in Germany. This role, in combination with the Non -executive Board experience, allowed me to understand and navigate Strategic governance, considering the non-executive and the Executive Board perspective.

COMPANIES/SECTORS WHERE I CAN BRING THE MOST VALUE IN
Global Perspective with Local Sensitivity: My ability to navigate international markets while respecting local nuances has been honed through leading teams across Europe, Asia, and America.
This perspective is particularly relevant for engineering companies operating in competitive global markets or managing cross-border operations.
In addition, I have large experience working with Diverse companies in the industry, like Terex Group, a US stock listed company, Konecranes, a Finnish stock listed companies but also with private equity owned companies, like Sanitec and NO-profits organizations where I contributed as Board member
Finally, the global mindset is further enriched by my personal experiences, including having an Asian family and relocating internationally, which has deepened my understanding of multicultural complexities.
I aim to contribute through thoughtful challenge, strategic guidance, collaborative decision-making, and extensive experience in large business and people management.
I would feel honored to join your Board, and I feel passionate for and well equipped to support your sector.