Business transformation, change initiatives (turnaround/restructuring/performance improvement/digital transformation) as Operating Partner, C-level Interim Director or Task Force member for VC – PE – portfolio companies – family office – Fortune 500.

Rapid results for under-performing operations and distressed businesses in the following sectors:
• B2B, B2C professional services
• CPG, FMCG consumer goods manufacturing & retail (food & beverages)

Special focus on performance improvement and business turnaround:
– operational restructuring
– organisational redesign
– operational excellence
– sales & marketing effectiveness
– cash improvements
– resource sharing
– optimal staffing
– key digital technologies integration
– tech / IT function reinforcement
– team building & mentoring / shadow management
– business process digitisation
– risk mitigation
– EBITDA, working capital, P&L control.

► Typical roles are a mix of:

– strategy & technology consulting, boardroom advisory
– hands-on delivery management, on-site progress tracking and adjustments
– project & program management at portfolio level – P3O
– business development, sales & marketing enhancement, GTM – solution to market development
– team building, team management, shadow management
– risk mitigation, operational improvement, process simplification, performance management
– processes & knowledge handover.

► In practice: a global view of the business environment and existing restrictions.

• Ensure delivery of complex Programs and multi-level Projects covering one or more specific functional areas: operations, supply chain and procurement, IT, HR, marketing and sales, distribution, legal, customer services. Strategic Program initiation, hands-on implementation, day-to-day business operations streamlining, and turnkey delivery.

• Apply my turnaround and crisis management skills not only for the rapid recovery of under-performing operations – but also to further improve and/or add new capabilities.

Areas covered by Elena Debbaut: Turnaround • Transformations • Operational & Business Restructuring • Operational Transformation • Digital Strategy • Information and Communications technology (ICT) • Scaled Agile Framework • Rapid Prototyping • Feature Driven Development FDD • DevOps • Acquisition Integration • Innovation Management • Process Enhancement • Corporate Performance Improvement • Project Management Office (PMO) • Financial Analysis • Operating Budgets • Board of Directors

2001-2015: founded & operated E-GRAPHICS SWITZERLAND

► New Business Development

• Started as 1-man company, grow to 12 divisions worldwide (EMEA, US, India, Asia).
Sold after 14 years of operation (acquired by #1, merged into a new entity).

• Positioned E-GRAPHICS™ brand as turnkey solutions provider in Marketing & Advertising.

• Portfolio of top international brands + high-potential SMBs (FMCG, consumer goods, retail, services, luxury).

► Program / Project design & execution, Portfolio Management

• eMarketing advisory services & implementation of end-to-end solutions (E2ES).

• Track record in successful strategy design and operational implementation of multichannel Marketing & Digital Programs (B2B & B2C). Subject-matter expert in:

– rebranding & repositioning,
– e-commerce launch & operations,
– marketing automation,
– web & social media optimization.

• Delivered approx. 300 projects/year. Handled 3-6 major projects in parallel.

► People Leadership & Team Building

• Project team size: 2-14 (different timezones & regions).
• +650 people enrolled over time.
• Accompanied cross-functional teams in project planning, team building, best-practices advisory, conflict mitigation, P&L distribution.

► Business Operations Optimization

• Implemented performance-based, decentralized environment.

• Combined Lean & Agile techniques for continuous improvement of:
– Go-To-Market strategies (GTM),
– Standard Operating Procedures (SOP),
– business metrics & Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

• Increased operational efficiency by average 44% while decreasing business, program & projects costs.

Invited to return end-2018 because of the robust technology & business background. Focus on recovery of underperforming marketing programs and operations. Contract-basis.

► Implement cost-efficient changes to marketing operations through (i) self-funding strategy and tactics (ii) creative briefs (iii) practical solutions.

► Strengthening brand(s) + the marketing plan to grow sales/customer retention with turnkey implementations & multichannel coverage: optimal positioning/messaging, web marketing, mobile, social media, email, video, search, ads, retargeting, offline, improved CX, new user experience design UX-UED.

► Define & optimize marketing projects/programs and support them through (a) operational efficiency (b) omnichannel & digital marketing transformation.

• designing the implementation of projects & programs

– capabilities analysis, concept development, roadmap planning, milestones
– key KPI analytics, C-level metrics
– budget, P&L
– SLA, dashboard, scorecards, stakeholder management
– project delivery, value delivery

• hands-on technical advisory to support the recovery of marketing operations & marketing cost-reduction through technology integration + solid conception of martech stack

– solutions analysis/business case, tech architecture, vendor selection
– new technology implementations, technology updates, software implementation
– new digital business models, database management, CRM/ERP
– marketing technology SaaS solutions

• cross-functional change management to support marketing initiatives & commercial efforts

– strategic, operational & technical re-design
– process design & improvement, workflows, tasks prioritization
– campaign continuity, sales & marketing teams coaching

► Serving mid-market SMB & high growth start-ups in Switzerland. Linking established corporate processes with the agile entrepreneurial/start-up spirit. Supervising work package delivery of remote/onsite cross-functional teams through rapid release cycles.

► Business Process Improvement (BPI)

• Mandate to increase effectiveness of sales & marketing central level reporting.
– Direct report to Head of Sales & Marketing (C-level Executive board Director).

• 12 distinct plants, approx. 4’000 total headcount at national level.

• Handled all phases of reporting process related to marketing, sales, and production:
— research,
— design & standardization of documents / dashboards,
— process implementation / process automation / process optimization,
— data collection / data consolidation,
— data analysis / data mining,
— dissemination of information between local manufacturing plants and national HQ teams.

► Sales & Marketing alignment

• Performed additional CRM integration & brand marketing improvement activities.

Operational Restructuring, Performance Improvement, Turnaround, Transformation Program

► Post-acquisition Restructuring Program (PE-backed)

• Involved in post-acquisition restructuring & re-sale within max. 1 year (Task Force of 2, on-site). Direct report to General Director CEO (C-level Executive board Director, member of the Steering Committee). Portfolio Transformation / Business Change Director as operational coverage.

• 5 distinct plants, multi-site operations. 8 brands. Market-leader group.
– Strategic Investment of several large, international PE private equity funds.

► Strategic Alignment & Implementation

• Accompanied complete overhaul of structures/work-flow processes with special focus on profitability.
e.g. of Strategic Initiatives:
— growth sales beyond traditional area
— reposition brand on high-end segment
— costs reduction.

► Business Operations Optimization

• BPR (business process redesign) including risk management & asset management.
• BAU (business as usual) optimization, operational due diligence (ODD), budgeting & resource allocation, ad-hoc changes of supply chain/procurement/marketing/distribution/corporate finance, while brewery plant had to remain fully operational.

█ Results:

– Successful transformation and plant sale 4 months before deadline.
– Plant and Brand sold to BBAG – Heineken.

█ Context:

• Implementation in a new market of Danone’s products and brands.

• Capability building under time-critical and limited budget. Recovery program. New production plant building & equipping (max. 1 year). Business development. Performance management. Part of a new Program Management team of 6.

• $67 million investment.

► Program & Cross-functional Project Management

• Contributed to the building & equipping of new production plant:

— cross-functional project management,
— new business process design, transformation, change management, standardization,
— budgeting & resource allocation, escalations & prioritization.

• Worked directly with COO (Senior Program Director role) on a variety of strategic initiatives needed for the new processing plant, including continuous improvement, cross-functional integration, performance management, stable industrial manufacturing operations, good manufacturing practice (GMP).

• Covered areas such as Supply Chain, Production, Corporate Finance, HR, Marketing and Sales (e.g. improved data analysis, operating models, commercial deals, staff recruitment, budget control).

► Strategic Alignment & Performance management implementation

• Facilitated compliance & adjustment of Danone global strategy & processes to local context (legal, culture), before final transfer to Danone Group.

█ Results:

– New plant fully operational in 250 days (4 month before deadline) and within budget.
– Since the start of the mandate, and after only 18 months, Danone Group became the market leader in South-Eastern European Region.
– Company growth from zero to 31% market share, with headcount increase from 7 to 224.
– Elected “Best Plant” for production & operation efficiency, process quality, sales growth.

► Business Development: Strategic Program Initiation & Implementation

• Mandate to integrate marketing, commercial, and business development initiatives into the national strategy, for a portfolio of 16 international pharmaceutical/healthcare brands (direct report to CEO).

• Strategic Program Initiation & Implementation to support the expansion at national level.

• Lead intense marketing campaigns that activated 75’000 health-care professionals at National level (B2B & B2C retailers, hospitals, pharmacists, doctors, academic key opinion leaders).

█ Results:

– Business Development Projects increased customer engagement to 97.8% and sales to 2 millions $ (from 40K), within 21 days of campaign’s launch.
– Reduced by +50% the initial agreed marketing budget & execution time.

Developed a broad range of deep functional and technical expertise as line-manager with P&L responsibility; before gradually taking management positions with strategy implementation, performance management, and decision-making/problem-solving authority.

Working directly with the top-management on a contractual basis, I also offered consulting and project leading services as principal covering: market and business analysis, operations management, strategic planning, financial & operational planning, business administration (management of business operations, resources, finances, MIS), and also business development (marketing, branding, new markets, launch new products & services).

Major milestones:

► Self-employed

• bookkeeper, then certified accountant (CA)

• software engineer (SE)
– design & development of 1st local accounting software (sold to another business entity),
– CRM database software,
– stock management software.

• administrator: start-up & daily management of 2 new family business (food retail, real estate)

► Independent Contractor

• official certified translator and interpreter for Conferences at the Romanian Parliament, government agencies, trade fairs, for-profit organizations

• business journalist (TV, written press)

► Business Facilitator; Strategic, Financial & Operational Consulting

• official agent for the implementation of foreigner companies and products in Romania

► Product, Project & Operations Management

• medium and large-scale product, project & operations management (focus on marketing, new business implementation & business development)

█ Some references: Romanian Economic and Investments Forum, INTERPOL Conferences, the national newspaper ZIUA, various national television and radio channels (SIGMA, TVR, CDR), Otopeni City Municipality, VIAMI Computers, CARREFOUR, LAFARGE.

► Master in Information Science – MSc IS (92% grade) – advanced specialization

Information Systems, Technology Management, PM, Databases, Multimedia, Emerging Technologies

Thesis:
«Conception and implementation of a MIS: management information system»

For hands-on and real-world aspects about data flow & process management,
thesis received the maximal score of 100%.

█

In parallel to working activities, continuous professional development certifications, and the above specialized, advanced master studies, I have successfully completed a lic.phil. University degree covering French Literature and Linguistics, General History, Media & Communication.

Numerus clausus system based on knowledge examination.

Interactively coordinate proactive e-commerce via process-centric “outside the box” thinking. Completely pursue scalable customer service through sustainable potentialities.

Collaboratively administrate turnkey channels whereas virtual e-tailers. Objectively seize scalable metrics whereas proactive e-services. Seamlessly empower fully researched growth strategies and interoperable internal or “organic” sources.

– numerus clausus (aptitude & knowledge examination)
– 1 year educational training
– 6 days per week; 8 hours daily
– combination of theory and work practice

• Digital Marketing
• Marketing
• Social Media Marketing

• Full-Stack, Tech Developement Web & eCommerce

• Organizational Analysis
• Competitve Strategy
• Operations Management
• BA – Business Administration — professional degree

• Risk Management: M_O_R, Management of Business Opportunities & Risks (strategic, programme & project, operational)
• MOP — Management of Portfolios (portfolio, programme & project management; transformation & change initiatives)
• Program Management — Prince2 project management (Recognized Global Best Practices & Methodology in delivering projects)

• Management Accounting — professional degree

Institutions:

• AXELOS Global Best Practice
• Udemy
• Coursera
• Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
• Stanford