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Professional Experience
2000-2002:
BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A. - holding company of the Business
Objects Group. The company develops, markets and supports
business intelligence software. Annual turnover FY 2001 - 152
million euros, 750 employees of which approximately 500 assigned
to the product development group. Business Objects is quoted on
the Paris Euronext Premier Market and the Nasdaq.
Position:
Director of Finance and Administration
Brief:
Redefine and enhance the financial, administrative, legal and
computer support organisation (25 employees) to enable the sales
and marketing organisations and the parent company achieve their
growth and profitability goals.
Achievements:
·
Rebuild of sales administration organisation and revamping of
tools to improve efficiency and facilitate seamless period end
closes.
·
Creation of a system plan for the development of productivity
improving tools and subsequent benchmarking of software vendors.
·
Migration of the core financial system through two major upgrades.
·
“Euro” enabled all financial and sales support systems
and sub-systems within agreed deadlines.
·
Obtained favourable tax ruling from French Ministry of Finance
concerning international sales transactions with a major
integrator and a 0.5M Euros tax claw-back. Elimination of a
serious, long outstanding tax risk.
·
Co-opted the Country Marketing Director from HP.
1998-2000:
BAAN COMPANY – ERP Software Developer, Distributor and
Professional services provider – Group annual Turnover 1998
627M Euros. Baan Company was acquired by the Invensys Group in
2000.
Position:
Director of Finance and Administration
Brief:
Provide high quality financial, administrative, legal and
computer support to the sales and marketing organisations and the
parent company. Advise and support Paris based EMEA management in
subsequent restructuring activities.
Achievements:
·
Led negotiations with the Works Council and the French Labour
control agency concerning a plan to reduce headcount on economic
grounds. Execution of the plan in a timely manner with the
redeployment of all employees affected by these measures.
·
Managed the operational and legal merger of a financial software
company purchased by the Baan Group and its subsequent spin-off
via un MBO.
·
Negotiated the implementation of the 35 hour working week with
the Works Council following the enactment of the Aubry I and II
laws.
·
Co-opted the Country General Manager from Sybase.
1987-1998:
TANDEM COMPUTERS – COMPAQ - Fault tolerant
mainframe computer manufacturer acquired in 1997 by Compaq
Corporation, manufacturer of personal computers and servers.
Position:
Director of Finance and Administration and Interim Country
General Manager (TANDEM)
Brief:
To provide the financial and administrative infrastructure
necessary to support the growth of the French subsidiary and to
provide the parent company with financial and general management
data.
Achievements:
·
Creation of a professional services joint venture with major
French partner. Turnover 3M Euros after 3 years activity.
Profitable in second year of existence.
·
Creation and development of a local Vendor Leasing program to
facilitate product sales. Signature of the largest hardware
financing deal company-wide.
·
Set up of European cash pooling system in collaboration with ABN
AMRO.
·
Relocation of company’s French headquarters in Boulogne and
subsequently Sèvres. Successful negotiation of early lease
termination on both occasions.
·
Interim Country General Manager from March to June 1995.
1985
- 1987
METROSERVICE – 3rd party computer hardware maintenance
provider. Wholly owned subsidiary of Metrologie International, an
independent distributor of computer equipment.
Position:
Director of Finance and Administration
Brief:
To prepare the company for its IPO on the Paris Stock
Exchange Second Market.
Achievements:
·
Financial and operational audit of the company in close
collaboration with the external auditors. Evaluation and fixing
of the offer price with investment bankers Paribas and brokers
Ferri.
·
Presentation of the operation to institutional shareholders,
employees and the financial press.
·
IPO to French Second Market in May 1987 – 9.1M Euros of
working capital raised in the course of this exercise. The
notoriety of the company was also greatly enhanced as a result of
this operation.
1974 - 1985
TELEX COMPUTERS - MEMOREX - ATARI
Manufacturers
of plug compatible computer peripherals and consumer electronics
products (video consoles and home computers). Professional
Services providers.
Position:
Financial Controller and Interim Country General Manager (ATARI)
Brief:
To provide operational support to the sales and marketing teams
and financial support and reporting to local general and
headquarter management in a fast growing and highly competitive
environment.
Achievements:
·
Created and developed the Finance and Administration function at
ATARI.
·
Active contribution to the start up of a company whose turnover
grew from 0M Euros to 35M Euros in 3 years, brand developed to
market leadership position.
·
Interim Country General Manager in 1985 following the sale of
ATARI by Warner Communications to the Tramiel consortium.
·
Restructuring of the French subsidiary with an 80% reduction in
headcount and spin off into a new entity.
1969 - 1973
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
International
auditing and consultancy services company.
Position:
Audit Senior
Brief:
Cross-industry operational and financial auditing.
Achievements:
Audits of large accounts in automotive, petrochemical, banking
and service industries.
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