Damon De La Peña is a dynamic and results-driven executive whose career spans more than 25 years of groundbreaking leadership across the global supply chain, manufacturing, and technology sectors. With a rare ability to balance visionary thinking and operational precision, Damon has dedicated his professional journey to helping companies evolve into industry leaders, driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and crafting resilient global supply chains. His expertise is a testament to an unwavering commitment to transformation, process optimization, and fostering cultures of excellence worldwide.
Raised with a global mindset and a strong sense of purpose, Damon’s early experiences set the stage for a career that would eventually traverse continents and industries. Beginning his professional journey at Intel Corporation, Damon quickly distinguished himself by launching and leading the company’s first Global Risk Management Organization within its largest division. His leadership not only fortified operational safeguards but also saved the organization hundreds of millions of dollars, establishing a compliance model that echoed across Intel’s global footprint. His tenure at Intel included impactful international assignments in Malaysia, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica, seeding his expertise in multicultural, multinational operations.
Damon’s deep passion for supply chain innovation crystallized during his time as Executive Managing Director at BDM Consulting. There, he sharpened his business development acumen and led international projects across Asia and the United States. His work in strategic procurement, vendor management, and lean inventory optimization delivered tangible cost savings and enhanced organizational readiness for market expansion. These consulting years fortified his holistic understanding of business strategy, operational risk, and the dynamic interplay between sourcing and scalability.
At Capgemini, Damon took his career to the next level, leading high-impact consulting engagements for Fortune 500 clients across procurement strategy, sourcing transformation, and ERP implementation. His projects with Siemens Energy, Kraft International Foods, and Target Corporation reflected not only his technical expertise but also his strategic prowess in aligning technology solutions with business objectives. These years demonstrated Damon’s gift for navigating complexity, building stakeholder trust, and delivering results that redefined operational benchmarks for global clients.
Damon’s role as Director of Supply Chain and ERP Systems at Channel Technologies Group showcased his transformational leadership capabilities in manufacturing. By stabilizing a struggling $6M ceramics division, implementing lean manufacturing practices, and resolving ERP implementation challenges, Damon steered the business to achieve >98% on-time delivery rates and a remarkable resurgence in profitability. His tenure underscored his ability to galvanize teams, optimize processes, and drive sustainable, measurable improvements even under immense operational pressure.
As Senior Director of Global Supply Chain Management at Apeel Sciences, Damon became the architect of a global supply chain framework for a sustainability-focused startup experiencing hypergrowth. He built an international team from scratch, led a three-year phased Oracle Fusion ERP rollout, and integrated blockchain technology to enhance traceability and planning. Under his guidance, Apeel scaled from 65 to over 600 employees, demonstrating his unparalleled capacity to align supply chain and operational strategies with ambitious business visions grounded in sustainability.
At Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp., Damon ascended to the role of Vice President of Global Supply Chain & IT Projects, where he delivered one of his most significant transformations yet. Tasked with modernizing an underdeveloped global supply chain, he consolidated 136 API suppliers into just seven strategic partners, directed a $1.5M Oracle EBS ERP implementation, and revolutionized supplier performance through segmentation and automation initiatives. His efforts not only elevated fulfillment rates from 50% to 80% but also ushered in a new era of FDA-validated operational compliance for the company.
Throughout his distinguished career, Damon’s leadership philosophy has remained steadfast: empower teams, champion innovation, and create systems that outlive any one leader. His extensive international exposure across Europe, Asia, and Latin America has honed his intercultural agility and positioned him as a global citizen of business, equally comfortable driving transformations in boardrooms, manufacturing plants, and executive leadership teams.
Beyond his professional achievements, Damon remains deeply committed to personal passions rooted in sustainability, family, and the outdoors. His advocacy for sustainable food systems, love for hiking and biking, and dedication to mentoring the next generation of leaders mirror his belief that true leadership is about service—to teams, to companies, and to the world at large. Damon’s career is not just a portfolio of roles; it is a journey defined by purpose, impact, and an enduring commitment to making organizations—and the people within them—stronger, more agile, and more aligned with the future.
As Damon De La Peña continues to embark on his next chapter, including board advisory and strategic leadership opportunities, he brings with him a rare blend of operational rigor, technological fluency, cross-cultural intelligence, and an unrelenting passion for organizational excellence. His story is a powerful reminder that transformative leadership is not an endpoint but a continuous journey—one marked by service, vision, and an unwavering pursuit of better ways forward.
Character:
Damon’s career is a reflection of resilience, service-driven leadership, and a steadfast commitment to ethical, sustainable business practices. His actions consistently demonstrate integrity, compassion, and a focus on the collective success of his teams and organizations.
Knowledge:
Damon possesses a rare breadth and depth of expertise in supply chain management, ERP system implementation, and global operations. His knowledge has been honed through real-world experience across continents, industries, and corporate environments of all sizes.
Strategic:
Damon is a master strategist who aligns operational processes with broader organizational goals to create scalable, sustainable growth. His ability to anticipate challenges and design future-proof solutions has consistently positioned his organizations ahead of the curve.
Communication:
Damon’s leadership style is anchored in clear, empathetic, and persuasive communication, ensuring alignment at every level of an organization. Whether leading a global team, negotiating with stakeholders, or presenting to executive boards, he drives clarity, consensus, and action.
