Lubbi Ernjakovic
Operations Executive | COO | Operations & Supply Chain
Consumer Products • Global Supply Chain • Manufacturing • PE/VC-Backed
I am an operations executive with a track record of building, scaling, and optimizing supply chain and manufacturing organizations in private equity and venture-backed consumer goods, CPG, and manufacturing companies. I specialize in translating strategy into execution across global operations, with deep experience in sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, and retail program delivery and technology.
I thrive in lower middle-market environments where operational infrastructure needs to be built, not just managed. I bring a builder's mindset, a PE operator's discipline, and the hands-on urgency that growth-stage companies need.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts | Open to On-Site, Hybrid, Remote & Travel.
── EXPERIENCE ──
Chief Operating Officer
2021 – PresentBuilt and scaled a $14M sourcing, supply chain, and contracting platform serving national retail customers. Led end-to-end operations including demand planning, sourcing, logistics, and financial planning. Implemented KPI-driven reporting systems and optimized supplier and 3PL networks to improve cost structure and service performance.
Vice President, Global Operations
2014 – 2021Led global supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics across the U.S., China, and India for a VC-backed lighting company. Managed Tier 1 OEM/ODM partners, built scalable planning and sourcing systems, and supported major retail accounts including Costco, Home Depot, Walmart, and Amazon. Integrated an acquisition into a unified operating platform while maintaining operational continuit.
Cloud Executive
2013 – 2014Led product strategy and partnerships for a SaaS platform focused on cloud infrastructure and automated billing systems. Built partnerships with AWS and enterprise platforms to support scalable recurring revenue models.
vCIO, Director of Technical Operations
2010 – 2014Member of the founding leadership team. Led technical operations, client strategy, and service delivery. Built scalable service models and supported revenue growth through pre-sales engineering and long-term technology roadmaps.
Project Engineer
2006 – 2010Led enterprise infrastructure deployments and cloud migration projects. Supported sales engineering efforts and developed standardized client systems and technology roadmaps.
── RESULTS ──
Organizational Leadership at Scale
700% Revenue Growth
Built and led operations at Retail Brands On-Demand from inception through a successful exit, driving 700%+ revenue growth while establishing scalable organizational infrastructure, aligning cross-functional teams, and delivering profitability.
Global Supply Chain Buildout
$1M Facility | $650K Investment
Negotiated and secured a $650K government investment from a Chinese municipal economic development office for a $1M, 50,000 sq ft company-owned manufacturing facility in China, while simultaneously ramping production and supply chain operations to deliver a successful Costco launch and rollout.
Seamless Integration at Scale
Zero Disruption | 554 Workstreams Executed
Led post-acquisition integration, managing a 554-item cross-functional workstream spanning legal, customer, supplier, financial, and organizational functions; achieved 99% completion within year one while maintaining zero service interruption across D2C channels and major big-box retail partners including Home Depot, Walmart, and Lowe’s.
── EXPERTISE ──
Executive Leadership
Supply Chain & Manufacturing
M&A, Integration & Transformation
── MEET LUBBI ──
Get to Know
Lubbi
Ernjakovic
Operations Executive | COO
VP Operations/Supply Chain
── Q & A ──
Why did you choose your profession?
I actually started my career in technology consulting, and one of my early roles evolved into serving in a virtual CIO capacity. In that role, I worked closely with business owners to solve business problems through technology, which gave me a front-row seat to how companies actually operate.
That experience taught me something important: the most valuable work is not the technology itself, it is understanding how a business operates and finding the right solution to move it forward. I enjoy the combination of analytical thinking and real-world execution. Whether it is standing up a supply chain, integrating an acquisition, or rebuilding a broken process, the results are tangible and measurable.
Over time, I gravitated toward operations because it sits at the center of everything. It is where strategy either works or it does not.
I have also been drawn to PE and VC-backed companies because the expectations are clear and the mandate is simple: build it, fix it, and scale it. That environment fits how I operate.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
I am most proud of building Retail Brands On-Demand from the ground up and seeing it through to a successful exit. It was a full lifecycle effort, from inception to execution to outcome, and required solving across every part of the business.
We built supply chain, sourcing, logistics, financial reporting, and retail execution from scratch. Seeing it become a valuable asset that was acquired by a multinational healthcare supply company was extremely rewarding.
Looking forward, I want to apply that same operating model in my next opportunity and continue building and scaling businesses.
What drives your leadership philosophy?
Set clear expectations, build the right systems, and put strong people in place to execute.
I believe performance comes from alignment, visibility, and accountability, supported by simple, repeatable processes. That is why I place a strong emphasis on SOPs and KPIs. They create consistency, improve decision-making, and allow teams to scale effectively.
How would your peers and team members describe your responsiveness as a leader?
They would say I am direct, available, and decisive. I do not let things sit. I have operated in environments where speed matters and ambiguity is costly, so I make decisions, communicate clearly, and keep things moving.
I am also hands-on without micromanaging. I get into the details when it matters, especially during transitions or high-pressure situations, but I build teams that can operate independently. The goal is to make myself less necessary over time.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in your profession?
Get close to the work early. Focus on learning how businesses actually operate before you try to optimize them.
Spend time in the details, the numbers, the supply chain, the customer, and the people. Many early-career professionals try to jump to strategy too quickly before they have built real operating experience.
Understand how decisions translate into execution, and build a reputation for getting things done quickly and reliably.
Be proactive. Do not wait to be told what to do. Look for opportunities and take ownership.
── INTERESTS ──
── TESTIMONIALS ──
“I had the privilege of bringing Lubbi on as a partner at Retail Brands On-Demand, where he served as our Chief Operating Officer from the company's earliest days through a successful strategic exit. Simply put, Lubbi was the operational backbone of the business.
Lubbi played a central role in building the business from the ground up, leading operations, supply chain, and financial planning with a high level of discipline and execution. He established the core operating infrastructure across sourcing, logistics, and demand planning, while building strong supplier and partner relationships that enabled the company to scale efficiently.
What sets Lubbi apart is his ability to operate across every layer of the business and connect strategy with execution. He developed data-driven systems for sales reporting and KPIs, improved supply chain performance, and effectively managed vendor and co-manufacturer relationships, consistently balancing growth with cost control and operational stability.
Beyond his technical and operational expertise, Lubbi is a strong partner and leader who is deeply committed to the mission. He brings a practical, solutions-oriented mindset and knows how to align teams, suppliers, and stakeholders to get results. I trust Lubbi fully — he has proven I can give him any important challenge and know he will carry it forward from thoughtful planning to guaranteed execution.
Lubbi is my top recommendation to any organization looking for a proven operations leader who can build, scale, and drive meaningful outcomes.”
“Lubbi Ernjakovic is a proven, senior operations leader with a track record of successfully resolving long-standing barriers to success, consistently exceeding expectations.
Lubbi skillfully led global operations and manufacturing at Lucidity Lights, Inc., overseeing a complex, international operation across a range of suppliers, building a world-class team, and leading a complete product pivot and relaunch from concept to launch in a record ten months.
He successfully led the multi-faceted (650 action items) integration of a much larger, more complex business into Lucidity Lights in 2020, conducted amidst restrictions posed by the global pandemic. This work required strategic planning and execution to ensure a seamless integration, delivering his Board-approved plan on-time, complete, and error-free. He has rich operational experience in M&A.
He is a highly-strategic, collaborative, energizing leader who consistently raises the bar of the organization and cultivates a winning culture.”
“Lubbi is a proven leader in a variety of areas, including operations, supply chain, international manufacturing, and technology, among others. Lubbi has the unique ability to manage people and execute flawlessly while keeping the overall business strategy in mind and providing valuable contributions as a member of a Leadership Team.
He is a quality teammate who will not fall victim to group think or confirmation bias, especially when it means putting the team or business interests ahead of his own. These traits coupled with his unrelenting tenacity, would make him one of the most valuable team members I can think of in any company, no matter the size, stage, or industry.”
── CONTACT ──
Let's Connect
I'm always open to new opportunities, conversations, and connections. Reach out on LinkedIn and let's talk.
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