Who is Douglas Paulo De Campos?

During a five-year period of my professional life, I worked constantly and continuously. No vacation, no weekends, no holidays. I was trapped in endless global work where a holiday in the States often turned out to be just another workday elsewhere in the world. When asked how I managed to squeeze in seven days a week work either in my off-base office or somewhere around the world, my answer was simple: Get a job you love, and you never have to work again! I would have continued that working rhythm had it not been for two encounters. Encounters aside, I found one common theme between what I used to do, and the professional practice of Douglas Paulo De Campos, the CEO of Wolverine.   

Douglas Paulo De Campos was born and raised in Brazil, developing his professional career primarily in São Paulo state. From an early age, he was fascinated by business and manufacturing. Douglas enjoyed understanding how things work and was drawn to stories of successful businesses and leaders. This curiosity naturally evolved into a passion for operations and strategy.

Douglas attended UFRJ in Rio de Janeiro, one of the top universities in the country, where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering. To strengthen his business acumen, he pursued further education, including a two-year business program at CEAG – São Paulo, an MBA at Fundação Dom Cabral in partnership with Northwestern Kellogg in 2001, and a Master’s in Strategy and Innovation at Fundação Dom Cabral, completed in 2023.

Douglas’s background in engineering provided him with a structured, analytical mindset. He was drawn to problem-solving and process optimization, which naturally led him to manufacturing and operations. Over time, he complemented his technical expertise with business studies to develop a broader strategic perspective.

Throughout his career, Douglas has been fortunate to have mentors and great bosses who became friends and played a crucial role in his development. He considers himself a lifelong learner, constantly seeking new knowledge and perspectives. He also finds inspiration in books, particularly those about business, leadership, and innovation. Some of his favorites include:

• The Founder’s Mentality by Chris Zook & James Allen

• Good to Great by Jim Collins

• The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen

• The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

• No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer

Douglas started his career in manufacturing and operations, working in fast-moving consumer goods before transitioning to the automotive industry in 2004. Precision machining and the continuous pursuit of excellence in manufacturing fascinated him. Operations can be demanding, but the challenge of continuous improvement and problem-solving keeps him motivated.

He began as a trainee and then moved into roles such as Process Engineer, Manufacturing Manager, and Regional Planning Manager for Latin America. Later, Douglas transitioned to the commercial side as a Commercial Director, which honed his negotiation and interpersonal skills. From there, he returned to operations as Operations Director, then became General Manager. In 2022 he moved with family to the U.S.—to Michigan, back to a commercial role as North America Sales Director. In 2023 he became VP of a global business unit, and in 2024 CEO of Wolverine Advanced Materials.

Douglas’s significant milestones and achievements include:

• As General Manager, he led a 50% revenue growth over 3 years while growing profitability.

• He spearheaded the expansion of operations in Brazil, opening a new plant and consolidating the whole business in one big campus with 600 employees.

• Throughout his career, he has helped launch critical programs in fuel systems, electric power steering, A/C compressors, and transmissions for major Tier 1 customers globally. He also helped to develop a major business with a top 5 global OEM, supplying transmission components.

• Recently, at Wolverine, he helped expand the company’s footprint in China with a new R&D Tech Center in Changshu.

To Douglas, people come first. Having the right people in the right roles is essential. He values teamwork, accountability, and commitment to excellence. Douglas thrives on leading teams toward a vision, always with a continuous improvement mindset. Seeing a strategy come to life through teamwork and execution is what excites him the most.

In the automotive industry, resilience is key. He takes a realistic yet optimistic approach—always understanding the numbers, defining a clear plan, and executing with discipline. There is no substitute for the work. His philosophy is simple: "Know your numbers and always have a plan."

While he has had exceptional bosses who guided him, he has also been influenced by team members at all levels. He believes learning should be a conscious effort, and one can gain insights from anyone, whether it’s a senior executive or a machinist on the shop floor.

Douglas has had two major experiences leading cultural transformations in organizations by implementing Agile methodologies, fostering a “fail fast” mindset, and empowering change-makers. A motivated team aligned with a strategic vision— the results are truly remarkable. Douglas’s proudest achievement is the grand opening of the new plant in Brazil that stands out as a major milestone.

Douglas does not pretend to perfectly balance professional responsibilities with personal interests—he dedicates long hours to his work. The reality is that professional and personal life are increasingly blended, and he often responds to emails or join calls even during holidays. He rarely uses an “out of office” reply—it’s just not his style. He makes sure to maintain physical and mental activity, which helps him stay energized and focused.

The list of significant challenges is long: the 2008’s financial crisis, Brazil’s 2015 downturn, COVID-19, and more. One of the toughest challenges was launching a new business that scaled from a handful of machines to over 40, running 24/7 with 80 employees and multiple part numbers for one big Tier 1 player that supplied three major OEMs. Quality issues initially impacted on-time delivery and financial results. With the support of a fantastic global team and the local technical team, the problems were tackled, one by one through disciplined problem-solving. It took time, but in the end, it turned around successfully.

As for the future, Douglas still has years ahead as an executive, but eventually, he would like to transition into board roles and mentoring future leaders. He learned success requires the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. He considers adaptability crucial.  To those aspiring to pursue similar path, his advice is:

• Be open to new challenges.

• Go beyond your defined role—always look for ways to add value.

• Never waste a good crisis—it’s an opportunity to grow and learn.

Outside of work, Douglas enjoys tennis and golf. He finds both sports are excellent for the mind and body. Tennis keeps him active and competitive, while golf allows for relaxation and strategic thinking.

As for the two encounters: 

Dr. Tim Merkel, of then Abex, had just gone through open heart surgery. I spoke with him during his recovery at home and then met him at an industry gathering. He was pale and frail and had lost some weight. Having known of my vacationless work habit he whispered in my ears that “our companies will be around long after we are gone…”

Later, I got a new boss, an outsider who reviewed my file carefully. He asked me if I knew the company policy does not allow missed vacation pay. I did. He said he’ll go around that policy and pay me for all the missed vacations, and he ordered me to take a vacation immediately!

Having edited Douglas Campos’s brief biography, I found something in common with him. During my professional years: I never did activate my “out of office” email either! And I still don’t.    

Editor's note: We are seeking to highlight the professional journeys of individuals who have made significant contributions to Brake Technology or Business. Referrals are encouraged.