kp and me

Maria Muñiz - Operations Director, Rigid Manufacturing

Maria Muñiz

Operations Director, Rigid Manufacturing

I’ve been with kp for 24 years and here’s the best part: I’m still having fun.
After graduating from the University of Santiago de Compostela with a degree in Industrial Chemistry, I started working for a family business called Neoplástica. I worked there for 13 years - initially leading both the quality department in Spain and testing at the lab, before becoming production manager.

During that time, kp acquired Neoplástica and ever since I’ve had the privilege of gaining the insights, experience and expertise that come with working for a global company. I’ve progressed further than I imagined with kp - quite literally - by moving to Portugal. I now lead the Operations for five manufacturing sites across Europe.
What’s fun about my role?
I love to always be on the lookout for ways to enhance how we work. It’s what I’m good at, too - which certainly helps. Day to day, I’ll be making improvements to our current projects to ensure the best performance, quality and safety. It’s a team effort, though. I work with other business functions to communicate what the ‘best’ looks like.

Communication is so key in our business. We value teamwork; creating excellent products and delivering great service relies on it. I’ve recently been working on a new network where teams from different sites can share ideas and experiences.

Share this blog

Communication is so key in our business. We value teamwork; creating excellent products and delivering great service relies on it.
Maria Muniz
Operations Director, Rigid Manufacturing
My biggest challenge?
IMG_7504Moving to Portugal: a new country, with new colleagues. And they are all extremely skilled and experienced. Establishing credibility and respect was critical. I did this with a lot of self-determination and I worked hard to build strong relationships.

I also did this with huge support from colleagues and management. Being a woman in operations is not common, or easy. But here at kp, I’ve only ever encountered support. Along with my adaptability, it’s what has enabled me to progress so naturally to where I am now in the business and in my career.


Here’s what I’ve learnt along the way

  • It’s all about the opportunities: be open to new things
  • Passion is key: it’s what drives me forward
  • Remember: challenges are simply opportunities for learning
  • Communication is critical: share ideas and experiences
  • Most importantly: make sure you’re having fun!
More like this

Anchorname
Anchorname