Raúl Bartolomé is an engineering and business leader with over 25 years of international experience in automotive electronics, software, and product innovation. His career spans OEMs, Tier-1s, Tier-2s, and entrepreneurial ventures across Europe, Asia, and North America.
At HARMAN International (Samsung), Raúl has directed Car Audio engineering across Europe, built and led the Intelligent Cockpit software product line with full P&L responsibility, and currently leads the Hardware+ transformation program — a global initiative to enhance efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness across divisions.
Before Harman, he held senior roles at Magna International and Lear Corporation, and co-founded two start-ups that achieved breakeven within two years. This combination of corporate and entrepreneurial experience gives him a unique perspective on how to scale innovation and drive transformation in complex global organizations.
Alongside his professional career, Raúl has pursued advanced education including a Bachelor and Master in Electronic Engineering, an MBA (Distinction), a Master in Financial Advice & Asset Management (summa cum laude), and is completing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the University of Bradford focused on asset pricing and algorithmic trading. He is also a certified European Financial Advisor (EFA).
Recognized as an innovation leader with multiple patents, Raúl thrives at the intersection of technology, product management, and financial strategy — turning ideas into products, portfolios, and transformation programs that deliver measurable business impact.
Core strengths:
- Business Leadership & P&L
- Product & Portfolio Management
- Innovation & IP Strategy
- Automotive Electronics & Software
- Transformation & Change Leadership
- Global, Cross-Cultural Team Development
Leadership & Transformation
Throughout my career, I have led global teams, large-scale programs, and transformation initiatives that reshaped how engineering organizations operate.
At HARMAN International, I directed Car Audio engineering across Europe, managed global reorganization efforts, and coached international leadership teams. I later built and led the Intelligent Cockpit software product line with full P&L accountability, introducing innovative cloud-based tools for software-defined vehicles. Today, I lead the Hardware+ transformation program, a cross-divisional initiative focused on efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness across engineering functions worldwide.
I have consistently demonstrated the ability to:
- Align strategy and execution across business units and regions.
- Lead multicultural teams in Europe, Asia, and North America.
- Drive organizational change through process harmonization and digital transformation.
- Deliver measurable impact in time-to-market, cost optimization, and product quality.
I believe that true transformation requires not only process and technology, but also leadership, empathy, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Finance & Innovation Strategy
My career has always been at the intersection of technology, business, and finance. Beyond leading engineering and product teams, I bring a strong foundation in financial management and strategic decision-making, which allows me to turn innovation into measurable business outcomes.
This financial background allows me to:
- Link engineering and product innovation with business value creation.
- Manage P&L, OPEX/CAPEX, and investment decisions with confidence.
- Apply data-driven decision making to both corporate and entrepreneurial contexts.
- Bridge technical depth with strategic business foresight.
For me, innovation and finance are two sides of the same coin: turning ideas into sustainable products and transformation programs requires both visionary leadership and disciplined financial management.
Engineering & Technology Foundations
My career began with hands-on engineering in electronics and software development, giving me a solid foundation that still informs my leadership today.
I have led teams that designed premium audio systems, infotainment solutions, and software-defined vehicle platforms. My expertise spans:
- Hardware: system architecture, PCBs, EMC validation, and advanced electronics design.
- Software: embedded systems, operating systems, automotive standards (SPICE, AUTOSAR), and virtualization.
- Systems: E/E architecture, functional safety, cybersecurity, and infotainment platforms.
This technical grounding enables me to engage effectively with engineers at every level, while steering strategy at the executive level. It also strengthens my role as an innovation leader, where I hold multiple patents and have driven the development of next-generation automotive solutions.
Entrepreneurship
In addition to corporate leadership, I have embraced entrepreneurship. I co-founded two start-ups that reached breakeven in under two years.
At Cisium Inc., I built an engineering services company in the Philippines, delivering innovation projects such as patented electronic devices, industrial automation systems, and wearable technologies. At Janty Ltd., I contributed to pioneering electronic cigarette technology, later patented and commercialized.
These ventures taught me the value of:
- Agility in product development and go-to-market.
- Financial discipline in managing growth under resource constraints.
- Customer-driven innovation by staying close to market needs.
My entrepreneurial experience complements my corporate career, giving me a dual perspective on how to scale innovation, whether within global organizations or new ventures.