Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 www.acquisition-international.com • Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 CAPCO: Best Global Management Consulting CFO 2024: Benjamin Simon SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş: Logistics and Container Terminal CFO of the Year 2024 (Middle East): Kutlu Vardar Sustainable Energy CFO of the Year 2024 (Europe): Maarten Juch POWWR is a leading software provider for the energy and utilities sector. Its suite of SaaS and techenabled managed services brings newfound levels of efficiency to the entire energy procurement journey. Since bringing Maarten Juch on board as CFO, the company has benefitted enormously from his versatile skillset and profound knowledge of the industry. Development and consulting of medical centres
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Contents 4 POWWR: Sustainable Energy CFO of the Year 2024 (Europe): Maarten Juch 6 Rohlik Group: eGrocery CFO of the Year 2024: Vineta Bajaj 8 Pharmanovia: Best Lifecycle Management Healthcare CFO 2024: Mohamed ELRouby 10 SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş.: Logistics and Container Terminal CFO of the Year 2024 (Middle East): Kutlu Vardar 12 PraxaMed Center AG: Best Medical Consulting CFO 2024 (Switzerland): Erwin Aebersold 14 CAPCO: Best Global Management Consulting CFO 2024: Benjamin Simon 16 Dissh: Feminine Fashion CFO of the Year 2024 (Australia): Brett Graham 18 PJP Investments Group: Fast Food Franchise CFO of the Year 2024 (UAE): Darrell Edon 19 TRS Resourcing: Best Recruitment Services CFO 2024 (Australia): Rachel Velez Ventura 20 Capstone Infrastructure Corporation: Energy Transition CFO of the Year 2024: Andrew Kennedy 21 Independent CFO: Best Independent Senior Financial Executive 2024 (South Central USA): Brad Sather 7 5 12
4 | Acquisition International, Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 Sustainable Energy CFO of the Year 2024 (Europe): Maarten Juch he energy industry is more competitive than it’s ever been. Suppliers are under immense pressure to adapt to market shifts and ensure an efficient operation. Global expectations to evolve the way we produce energy, competitive pricing, and a shifting climate demand industrywide diligence, and throughout it all, POWWR is a beacon of innovation. Having started at KPMG between his bachelor’s and master’s degree, CFO Maarten Juch contributed to funding a multi-billion-euro strategic infrastructure project. This sparked a passion for working within the industry side of business rather than in an advisory capacity. His career goals shifted towards working on long-term projects of real significance, to truly make a difference to the market. He subsequently occupied a variety of positions within Shell for 11 years, developing a broad skillset which served him well in his role as CFO for ambitious start-up Bluegreen Europe. During this time at Bluegreen, he had a direct hand in building its financial infrastructure from the ground up, though when the pandemic hit, and energy prices reached record highs, the company had to close its doors. However, Maarten took this in stride, turning his vast experience to a new challenge as CFO for one of Bluegreen Europe’s crucial vendors, POWWR. Across the UK and US energy and utilities market, POWWR is streamlining procurement, sales, and risk management through its suite of cloud-based applications. 65 suppliers and over 2,100 brokers currently enjoy complex automated processes and accelerated sales cycles thanks to the company’s sustainable, cutting-edge solutions. To become a leader in any industry, it is important that a business has a way to grow. The problem is that most energy brokers and suppliers are using disparate and outdated tools which makes them feel frustrated and unable to compete in a marketplace that’s moving faster each year. Broker360 is the company’s energy portal, providing instant pricing and sales analytics to maximise returns. It’s aimed to scale businesses and provide real-time information for optimised strategy and customer service. It empowers brokers with full market coverage, team management, and provides an across-the-board competitive edge. Sales360 provides deal pricing, verified quotes, electronic contracts, and customer journey management. The software handles these processes automatically, freeing up sales teams to consider strategy and pivotal decision-making. The end user enjoys a seamless experience, while sales teams benefit from powerful analytics and a more coherent, rapid workflow. Risk360 forecasts demand, provides scheduling and position reporting, and operates via a single, modular platform. Tracking market changes and maximising margins is made simple, assessed against all available data points for holistic analysis. It’s able to integrate with other systems, maximising profitability while imposing minimal disruption. Risk360 presents data transparently, bringing a newfound simplicity to market analysis and an immediate shift towards profitability. The company’s expanding presence within its market is testament not just to the quality of its services, but it also reflects the stewardship of its leaders. Maarten Juch is a prime example of this leadership in action; as CFO, he has helped to drive growth and promote innovation to its fullest extent. I set high quality standards for myself and the people around me. At the same time, I go out of my way to spend time coaching or teaching others on how to achieve those standards, building capabilities and improving processes. A key to Maarten’s success is his desire to not just grow into a role, but to grow the role itself. By working closely with others and always striving to learn from them, as well as trying new things, he’s maximised the roles he’s occupied, seeking to mutually benefit the company and his career going forward. Each and every role has been carefully considered to ensure that it fits with Maarten’s long-term goals, and being CFO at POWWR is a vital part of realising his career vision. Maarten’s attitudes are reflected well by the company’s business model. The products on offer are driven by complex automation which yields insight, informs decision-making, and betters the overall customer experience. He’s keen to embrace tools such as artificial intelligence POWWR is a leading software provider for the energy and utilities sector. Its suite of SaaS and tech-enabled managed services brings newfound levels of efficiency to the entire energy procurement journey. Since bringing Maarten Juch on board as CFO, the company has benefitted enormously from his versatile skillset and profound knowledge of the industry. T “ “ ” ”
Sustainable Energy CFO of the Year 2024 (Europe): Maarten Juch and machine learning, believing that they should do the heavy lifting, leaving humans free to make strategic and creative decisions. I am very willing and comfortable to ask the why? behind existing processes and challenge status quo thinking. He believes that the company will drive the industry forward, and it’s plain to see why. With the launch of its new software module, Sales360 New Connections, POWWR plans to revolutionise meter reading installation by revitalising the current manual process. With enhancements to its current software suite, it’s also increasing traction with industrial and commercial energy brokerages and suppliers. With optimised tender request processing, dynamic pricing, and tailored quotations, these clients are well-catered for. Between its current and future offering, POWWR is set to continue providing the industry newfound ease and efficiency. Under Maarten and its other forward-thinking leaders, POWWR is taking bold strides into the future of energy procurement, sales, and brokerage. Its cloud-based applications are the ideal solution to a sustainable, rapidly evolving energy market, facilitating informed decision-making, improved profitability, and a superior customer experience. Many clients have benefitted from POWWR’s products, praising the company for adding immediate and tremendous value to their businesses. Grid Power Direct, a customer of the Risk360 product, boasts greater agility, having integrated it with their existing ecosystem. With enhanced energy risk management and a simple, centralised platform, the company lauds the industry insight it and forecasts it now generates. Another client, the independent brokerage “UAC Team” was also expending too much manpower before implementing Broker360. Processes were hindered by inefficiencies and were prone to error, though now with Broker360 they’re now thriving, compliant, and better able to grow and adapt to the market. Founder Matthew Finn states, “Broker360 has had a massive impact on our efficiency. We are now able to facilitate as many contracts as a company twice our size.” Long time customer, EDF Energy, benefits from POWWR’s seamless Sales360 platform with unparalleled processes, centralised data, supplies analytics, and increased market intelligence. As POWWR’s unique platform consolidated integral data, EDF Energy found that it could make higher-quality sales decisions through the platform’s transparency and accuracy. This has resulted in an unwavering business relationship between POWWR and EDF Energy, demonstrating just how impactful POWWR’s work can be on any size scale. Helping EDF Energy to continue providing better accessibility for Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), the use of the platform resulted in pristine SME solutions for the energy industry giant. Maarten takes pride in working for such an impactful organisation. He proudly says, “the past two years, as CFO of POWWR, have been the most stimulating and impactful of my career,” and praises the company’s staff for its success. “We have a great team of people across all parts of the organisation, and I look forward to continuing to build with this team to help the industry manage the energy transition ahead.” Contact: Maarten Juch Company: POWWR Web Address: www.powwr.com “ ”
6 | Acquisition International,Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 From the day she achieved a first-class accounting and finance degree from the University of Limerick in her native Ireland, Vineta Bajaj has been destined for great things in this space. In the years since, she has gained a number of certifications from Chartered Accountants Ireland, such as an IFRS Diploma and a UK and Irish GAAP certificate, to name just a couple. Along with this, she is also Chartered Tax and Accounting certified, something made all the more impressive by the fact that she has funded all of this training herself. Across her storied career so far, Vineta has excelled in the field of finance, filling positions for such organisations as KPMG Ireland and Kerry Group PLC. However, it was her ten-year stint with industryleading e-grocery retailer Ocado that really took this finance aficionado to the next level. Joining the company in a senior financial reporting accountancy role in mid-2013, Vineta worked her way up the company ladder, thriving in a number of finance director roles by the time she accepted the job with Rohlik Group in late 2022. The role that Vineta played in developing Ocado into the market leader that it is today cannot be overstated, and a big part of her tenure with the company was spent helping it to develop a strategy that would see it grow internationally. Having more than achieved this, Rohlik Group brought with it a new opportunity; to once again take a growing business and give it the boost it needs to become an industry giant. Despite the similarities between Ocado and Rohlik, there are some notable differences. Yes, Ocado is for ordering groceries and getting them delivered the next day, but customers may also still go to their local bakery or supermarket to pick up the odd thing here and there. Rohlik, however, goes that one step further. It not only does the big weekly grocery shop, but it partners with the likes of the best local bakers, butchers, and farmers, getting their produce on its website. The result is fresh, local food delivered straight to a customer’s door. Making the most of its status as a 21st century retailer, Rohlik’s operation far exceeds simply providing quality produce and fast delivery to its customers. It also prioritises sustainability and the latest technology, as seen in its use of the likes of CN-powered vehicles and electric vehicles across its fleet. Plans for every one of these vehicles to be made electric are also in place, and by utilising such elements as eco-friendly packaging, a programme to sell all preexpiry products, and reusable bags, the business is more than doing its part for the planet. All of this aligns with Rohlik’s ultimate mission, this being to help people across Europe lead happier, healthier lives. Moreover, with more than 17,000 items lining its inventory, the company has one of the most broad and differentiated assortments of goods available across the continent. Its delivery options then even include sameday delivery, with this seeing items delivered as little as an hour after booking. More than 97% of the company’s deliveries are on time, and they are carried out in handy 15-minute slots for added convenience. As one can hopefully see, the partnership of a pioneering organisation like Rohlik Group and a proven finance specialist like Vineta should open up the floodgates for some truly remarkable innovations and continuous growth in this sector. Unsurprisingly, over the past 18 months or so, this has certainly been the case, with a number of exciting developments being carried out that have seen the company fortify its leading position in this industry. One such achievement has been its acquisition of online German supermarket Bringmeister. This venture was made official in September last year, and saw the company expand further into Germany by opening its Berlin operations shortly after. Such a strategic move was highly beneficial across the board, as it increased efficiency, brought in more customers, reduced operational costs in some key sites, and aided the increase in profitability. Things did not end here, as Rohlik also integrated its leading automation technology into this combined operation, giving customers a taste of this Czech online grocery retailer’s signature services, from its swift delivery times through to its array of local and international goods. Yet another milestone achievement, this one from earlier this year, saw Rohlik Group secure a staggering €160m in fresh growth capital, allowing it to fund its additional European expansion efforts. This investment was spearheaded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, along with the aid of existing investors Sofina, Quadrille, Index Ventures, and TCF Capital. Also, this investment was complemented by the European Investment Bank’s Scale-Up Initiative, which provided Rohlik with growth capital funding. On the back of accomplishments such as these, Rohlik is demonstrating its ability to continue to grow, adapt, and thrive, even in a market as turbulent as the one that exists in the post-pandemic world. As such, the company is presently targeting more than €1 billion in revenue with positive cash flow by the end of this financial year. This will not be the first time that Vineta has been responsible for helping a business to cross the billion-dollar mark, as she did the same with Ocado, taking it from a £500 million business to a £2.5 billion business. Even though she is not quite there yet with Rohlik Group, the progress that Vineta has made and the acclaim that she has received in just 18 months has been remarkable to see. Having always dreamed of becoming a CFO, Vineta is truly living the dream, being guided every step of the way by her first-hand experience and a wealth of knowledge concerning both finance and the world of online retail to Since being established a decade ago in the Czech Republic, online grocery company Rohlik Group has been setting the gold standard for service delivery in this sector and is on an upwards spiral towards becoming Europe’s leading online grocery delivery service. The business today operates right across Europe, including in the likes of Germany, Austria, Italy, and Hungary, in addition to its home nation. For the second consecutive year, we are championing the company’s CFO, Vineta Bajaj, who has been taking the brand to new heights since joining the team back in December 2022. eGrocery CFO of the Year 2024: Vineta Bajaj
take the company to new heights. With a visionary like Vineta Bajaj on its side, the sky is the limit for the future of Rohlik Group. “I have a firm belief that online grocery is here to stay. I’ve chosen to stay in this industry because I believe in it. Rohlik, and other businesses in online grocery, are changing the way the world shops. That’s the mission I’m part of.” Contact: Vineta Bajaj Company: Rohlik Group Web Address: https://www.rohlik.group/ eGrocery CFO of the Year 2024: Vineta Bajaj
8 | Acquisition International, Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 Best Lifecycle Management Healthcare CFO 2024: Mohamed ELRouby tilising a master’s degree in finance and multiple prestigious certifications including, Chartered Global Management Accountant CGMA from UK, FPAC, and CSCA, Mohamed ELRouby’s unrivalled passion for finance has seen him excel in a variety of positions across the different regions since starting his career as a management accountant back in 2003. Highlights of this career in the two decades in major corporations like Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Energizer and Takeda. This impressive career culminated in Mohamed securing the position of Pharmanovia’s Middle East Africa CFO and Global Commercial Finance Lead, a role he has excelled in now for just shy of three years. With a skillset that includes everything from finance transformation to data analytics and financial consulting, Mohamed has been on the receiving end of industry acclaim during this tenure, even being named as the CFO of the Year for Innovation at the Middle East CFO Vision & Innovation Summit & Awards 2024. Mohamed is also one of the top 25 finance social media influencers in the Arab world and in the top 200 worldwide, boasting an impressive 38.5k followers on LinkedIn. Chartered Global Management Accountant certification is just one of many qualifications that this award-winning CFO holds, and it is his unique knowledge and vast experience in this sector that has helped to take Pharmanovia to new heights. To truly underpin the distinction of Mohamed’s achievements, it pays to explore Pharmanovia and its operation in more detail. From its headquarters in Basildon, a borough in the English county of Essex, global lifecycle management company Pharmanovia pioneers change in this sector by partnering with likeminded pharmaceutical, digital health, and technology distributors and suppliers that share its goals of sustainably and measurably improving the experiences of patients and communities on an international scale. If one was to pick a country at random from the world map, the chances are that Pharmanovia would either have an office there or operate in its market. Collaborating closely with forward-thinking brands and rediscovering, repurposing, and re-engineering their operations and products to drive better outcomes, Pharmanovia has grown considerably over the past decade, expanding its reach from just 15 markets in 2014 to closer to 200 today. This is merely the beginning of its journey, and the team here are constantly scoping out new and exciting corporate partnership opportunities so as to add next-generation medical products to the company’ portfolio that complement its primary areas of focus. The types of partners it is seeking are established brands, innovators in this space, those who offer new dosage forms and technologies, and finally, disruptors of the digital sphere. In return for their partnership, client businesses are afforded access to a leading provider with a robust knowledge that spans everything from corporate development and the commercial market through to the regulatory and technical side of industry. Aside from these corporate partnerships, Pharmanovia also operates across the manufacturing and distribution sectors. From the contract manufacturing organisations it works with for the manufacturing of both its active pharmaceutical ingredients and its packaging, through to the third-party logistics companies, specialist distributors, and contract sales organisations that it uses to market, promote, and distribute these products worldwide, Pharmanovia seeks out the best of the best when it comes to choosing its partners. Forging robust and lasting relationships with those that are capable of delivering on its high standards has proven key to Pharmanovia’s success. Pharmanovia’s unwavering commitment to quality across its operation is reflected further in its product portfolio, which features a range of cardiovascular, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, and miscellaneous pharmaceuticals. This portfolio is growing constantly, with the insights of the company’s patients and clients considered when it comes to Pharmanovia identifying and developing new therapies and treatments, be it through its in-house team or the strategic partnerships that it has a successful track record of building. Thus, at its core, Pharmanovia sees its purpose as being to make medicines today that are fit for tomorrow’s world. By the end of next year, the company anticipates that it will be one of the fastest growing specialist pharmaceutical brands in the world, one that is leading the charge by introducing an effective range of medicines and treatments that target key areas and some of the most common diseases. Committed, agile, and innovative in equal measure, Pharmanovia combines its global reach and local expertise to drive lasting change. It was with more than 20 years of experience thriving as a global finance and strategy lead for some of the world’s leading multinational companies that Mohamed ELRouby came to Pharmanovia in October 2021, securing his position as the company’s CFO for its Middle Eastern and African operations. A global lifecycle management company, Pharmanovia operates in approximately 160 markets worldwide, with more than 15 offices and 300 employees currently to its name. Despite fierce competition, Mohamed is one of the company’s best and brightest. U
This is something made possible by its teams, who enjoy the inclusive and high-performing culture that Pharmanovia nurtures across its dozen-plus global offices. An internal culture such as this lends itself to ongoing learning and development and builds a team that are unafraid of trying new things. The company recognises that great talent can be found everywhere, and this is why it looks for the right attitude, as opposed to the right background. To support this, it has made an array of career paths available for prospective employees. Operating a two-year graduate scheme for recent graduates, as well as a hands-on apprenticeship programme, the future of this industry is clearly of paramount importance for Pharmanovia. This is something that can be seen further in its commitment to sustainability and protecting the planet, its social policies that include the likes of diversity and inclusion activities and giving to global charities such as HIPZ. This in addition to its strong governance procedures that see compliance and moral ethics followed down to a T. As one can hopefully see, the joining of Mohamed ELRouby and this remarkable organisation represented a positive step forwards for them both, with the former’s skills concerning every element of finance unlocking new possibilities for the latter to continue to grow and develop its presence on the world’s stage. Pharmanovia operates according to the belief that every action, whether big or small, has an impact. Hiring Mohamed as CFO for the MEA region is certainly an action that has had a huge and lasting positive impact. Recognised as the Best Lifecycle Management Healthcare CFO 2024, Mohamed ELRouby is a beacon of excellence in both the global financial and pharmaceutical industries. We wish this innovative CFO all the best as he continues to pioneer and drive lasting change at Pharmanovia, a business that he is an absolute credit to. Any readers wishing to keep up with Mohamed as his story continues to unfold are encouraged to follow him on LinkedIn, and more information about Pharmanovia itself can be found using the link listed below. Contact Details Contact: Mohamed ELRouby Company: Pharmanovia Web Address: https://pharmanovia.com/ Best Lifecycle Management Healthcare CFO 2024: Mohamed ELRouby
10 | Acquisition International, Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş., also known as SOCAR Terminal, is a prominent port management company located in Aliağa, İzmir, Türkiye. The company is renowned for operating one of the largest and most advanced ports in the Aegean region. Here, we delve into the illustrious career of SOCAR Terminal’s CFO, Kutlu Vardar as he is named in the Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024. Logistics and Container Terminal CFO of the Year 2024 (Middle East): Kutlu Vardar OCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş. is part of SOCAR Türkiye, a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic. The terminal was created to enhance the efficiency of Petkim Port and develop it into the largest integrated port in the region. SOCAR Terminal serves as a crucial logistics hub in the region and provides various services, including container services, project cargo services, and warehouse services. The development of Petkim Port has been in the works for over a decade, with several key companies playing crucial roles in its advancement. In 2010, Petlim Port Management Inc. was established to aid the mission in developing Petkim Port, and is a 100% subsidiary of Petkim, which in turn is part of SOCAR. In December 2018, SOCAR Türkiye Energy Inc. fully acquired APM Terminals Port Management Inc., which was managing the terminal operations. The company was then renamed SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş., with operations now undertaken by SOCAR Terminal. Now, SOCAR Terminal oversees port management and continues to operate the port in alignment with its initial integration vision and goals, maintaining the previous management’s port management system and operational structure. With an integrated dock structure of 700 meters and a minimum of 16 meters water depth, the terminal is the first and only port management company in the Aegean region to efficiently provide services to ships with a capacity of 18,000 TEU. As the largest port in the region, SOCAR Terminal holds a container handling capacity of 1.5 million TEU. With such a high capacity, SOCAR Terminal has certainly achieved its mission of establishing itself as a leader of the Turkish port sector. Overseeing the company’s financial operations is renowned Chief Financial Officer Kutlu Vardar. Born in Akhisar in 1979, Kutlu completed his primary and secondary education there before qualifying to study at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the Middle East Technical University in 1997. After graduating in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Public Administration, Kutlu felt it was time to enter the business world. His university degree had well-equipped him with the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully navigate the corporate world, and Kutlu utilised this to his advantage. From 2003 to 2010, he held various positions in the PwC Assurance Department, and was responsible for performing independent audit procedures, specialised in the retail, tourism and energy sectors. Kutlu has extended his knowledge on International Financial Reporting Standards, US GAAP and SOX-404. Kutlu engaged in various IPO and merger and acquisition projects. Kutlu oversaw the of his clients’ budgets, performance evaluations, billing, and various administrative affairs, in addition to participating in recruitment interviews and holding a position in the staff evaluation team. Kutlu was the member of PwC Energy and Retail Groups. In 2010, Kutlu joined the team at Petkim Petrokimya Holding A.Ş. as the Risk Management and Internal Control Manager before becoming the Risk Management and Internal Control Coordinator. Here, Kutlu oversaw the establishment of an internal audit department, internal control framework, and enterprise risk management system from scratch. He was responsible for the preparation, execution, and reporting of audits, as well as contributing to the business plans of Petkim as a part of consultancy. Kutlu was the Chairman of Turkish Commercial Law Committee and member of Sustainability Committee. From 2013 to 2014, Kutlu worked as a Finance Manager at Tesco Kipa, where he gained valuable experience in supervising the financial activities and performance of the company. This included reporting, accounting, analysis, dispute management, cash-flow management, compliance and controls. Kutlu joined SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş., formerly APM Terminals, in 2014 as the company’s Treasury, Business Control, and Risk Manager. Kutlu worked as the Accounting, Control and Risk Manager and Internal Audit, Risk and Insurance Manager of the company before being appointed Chief Financial Officer of the company. In this time, Kutlu has driven the company to great heights, utilising his vast wealth of industry expertise to successfully guide his team. Kutlu played an active role in the establishment of SOCAR Terminal and involved in various projects during the design of the SOCAR Terminal’s systems and processes. What’s more, Kutlu also taught an Advanced Accounting course between 2020 to 2021, as a part-time lecturer at İzmir University of Economics. As a lecturer, Kutlu’s area of expertise lay in management, accounting, and control systems. Using the remarkable knowledge he had gained throughout his career, Kutlu was able to shape and inspire the minds of our future. In addition to his impressive professional history, Kutlu also boasts a certification in Risk Management Assurance and holds a CPA certification, making him a Certified Public Accountant. These certifications not only highlight Kutlu’s expertise, but also demonstrates his commitment to staying at the top of his field. Outside of his position, Kutlu is married, and a father to his thirteen-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter. He enjoys playing chess, playing keyboard, listening to music, and reading history books, particularly about World War II. An intelligent individual with a distinguished career in the industry, Kutlu is recognised as a leader in his field. The sky is the limit for Kutlu, as he continues to strive for excellence in his position at SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş. The Chief Financial Officer has masterfully demonstrated his expertise over the course S
Logistics and Container Terminal CFO of the Year 2024 (Middle East): Kutlu Vardar of his successful career and shows no signs of slowing down. Overseeing the financial actions of the largest integrated port in the Aegean region is an extremely complex role that can only be successfully undertaken by an industry professional of as high standing as Kutlu. The Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 aims to highlight and celebrate the leading CFOs around the world, acknowledging them for their vital role in the long-term success of their company. For his hard work, expertise, and dedication to enhancing the financial performance of SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş., Acquisition International recognises Kutlu Vardar as the Logistics and Container Terminal CFO of the Year 2024. We would like to congratulate Kutlu on his achievement, and eagerly anticipate the ways in which he will continue to drive and shape the finance sector. To keep up to date with Kutlu Vardar and his ongoing work within the financial sector, follow his LinkedIn profile today. Contact: Kutlu Vardar Company: SOCAR Aliağa Liman İşletmeciliği A.Ş. Web Address: https://www.socarterminal.com/
12 | Acquisition International, Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 Best Medical Consulting CFO 2024 (Switzerland): Erwin Aebersold ince its inception in 2013, PraxaMed has been consulting and supporting companies in the healthcare sector, specialising in the establishment and operation of their medical centres. Acting as project managers, the PraxaMed is the expert when it comes to creating the best conditions to ensure the profitable operation of a practice. With over a decade of experience, PraxaMed has a proven track record for success in providing clients with administrative, financial, and personnel management support. “We support doctors, as well as communities and other parties involved in setting up medical centres with our many years of experience. After construction, we provide support and advice on all possible administrative matters such as finances, trusts, taxes, and more,” Erwin tells us. “We have already successfully implemented over 50 medical centres in Switzerland.” Erwin Aebersold has been the Chief Financial Officer, entrepreneur, and coach at PraxaMed since his appointment in 2022. When he is not overseeing the financial operations of PraxaMed, Erwin can be found training for marathons and travelling the world. “I am very cosmopolitan,” he says, “I have visited countless countries and completed both the New York City marathon and an Ironman. My international family inspires me to achieve my best and I am eternally grateful that we are healthy and happy.” Having achieved a degree in Business Economics and an Executive MBA from the Bern University of Applied Sciences, Erwin is an expert in finances, funding, administration, and personnel management. This experience has not only equipped him for success as a Chief Financial Officer, but also for his role within PraxaMed, a company that specialises in financial and administrative management support. Before joining PraxaMed, Erwin built his experience in the CFO role across many sectors, including construction, real estate, employee benefits, and healthcare. This experience has allowed Erwin to develop an in-depth understanding of his role within the company, gaining a wealth of transferrable skills and knowledge that could be applied across sectors. In 2020, Erwin co-founded Proloyal, a company specialising in providing consulting services for clients in the areas of finance, taxes, and marketing. Prior to this move, he had already worked successfully as CFO for two companies (once for 15 years and once for 12.5 years). When Erwin joined PraxaMed in 2022, he joined as an industry expert looking for a change of pace. “I took on a new challenge at PraxaMed,” he recalls. “When I applied for the position, the company was in a perfect storm.” Erwin tells us that when he initially joined PraxaMed, the focus was on securing the company’s existence and building a completely new team. This strategy allowed PraxaMed to cement itself within the industry, now operated by a team sharing the same mission and vision. Now that PraxaMed has successfully established itself within the market, and the company has formed a specialist team, its focus has shifted. The company is now continually reviewing its strategy with external people, enabling it to remarkably improve the quality of its accounting processes and performance. Ongoing reviews allows PraxaMed to make the appropriate adjustments to its processes, ensuring that clients receive the highest standard of service across each project. The ability to adapt is crucial for companies wanting to successfully navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the healthcare sector. The healthcare industry is subject to ongoing changes, which requires professionals to closely monitor emerging trends and challenges and react appropriately. “In this environment, resilience is of the utmost importance,” says Erwin. He tells us that the healthcare system is currently undergoing huge challenges, citing demographics, volume expansion, and a lack of skilled workers. Such challenges require flexibility, dedication, and industry experience to successfully navigate and are not easily fixed overnight. However, undertaking continual strategic development and building upon its team of professionals allows PraxaMed to display its resilience and ensure that it remains at the forefront of the industry. Of course, a company is only as successful as its employees, meaning that its internal culture and leadership style is exceedingly important to its operations. PraxaMed opts for a positive culture that promotes communication, innovation, and education amongst employees. “For me, communication is very important,” Erwin tells us, “and as a learning organisation, we are constantly focused on improvements.” Communication ensures that all members of the team are on the same page, working towards the same goals. Through this, Erwin can ensure that his team are delivering consistent, high quality results. Employees feel valued, heard, and trusted, which in turn drives them to produce their best results. For those seeking to emulate Erwin’s success as a CFO, he advises a similar approach. “Good training and further education is an important basis,” he says. “Passion and motivation, combined with honest communication, are the keys to success.” Through committing himself to his education and building more than a decade of experience, Erwin has displayed the passion and motivation required to rise the corporate ladder and solidify himself as an expert in his field. Going forward, Erwin plans to continue delivering excellence and tells us that he aims to develop his skills further. “Lifelong learning is important to me,” he says, “as well as serving customers with added value and promoting employee satisfaction.” As for PraxaMed, the company has proudly implemented its new succession solution service with its new partner model. Through this service, PraxaMed assists practices in finding a successor in preparation of retirement, allowing doctors to ensure the longevity of their life’s work. The service is undertaken at the client’s pace, allowing them full control over the pace of handover, whether they continue to work or reduce their workload gradually. PraxaMed is a leading service provider that has been instrumental in establishing and operating medical centres owned by doctors. The company operates with the aim of aiding doctors in starting their own medical centres by providing administrative relief and support. Here, we speak with Erwin Aebersold, CFO of PraxaMed as he receives his title in the Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024. S
Best Medical Consulting CFO 2024 (Switzerland): Erwin Aebersold Even in the wake of PraxaMed’s recent success, Erwin has his sights set on delivering excellence. “At some medical centres, there are still huge challenges that have not yet been finally resolved,” he says. For the remainder of the year, Erwin and PraxaMed will be focusing on minimising these challenges and ensuring operational efficacy for its clients. The healthcare sector is always changing, presenting new obstacles and opportunities for professionals across the board, but with the specialists at PraxaMed to hand, clients need not worry. Erwin Aebersold has displayed innovation, motivation, and dedication throughout his illustrious career. With a deep understanding of the industry, combined with his commitment to operational excellence, Erwin has successfully established himself as an industry leader, earning him the deserved recognition of the Best Medical Consulting CFO 2024. Contact: Erwin Aebersold Company: PraxaMed Center AG Web Address: www.praxamed.ch
14 | Acquisition International,Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 Capco, a Wipro company, is a global management consultancy driving transformation in the financial services and energy industries. Capco leverages its profound knowledge of financial services across banking and payments, capital markets, wealth & asset management, insurance and energy, to drive critical transformation initiatives for its clients. Capco’s leadership encourages a diverse, Be Yourself at Work culture, entrepreneurialism, and a bold spirit of creativity. A wholly owned subsidiary of Wipro, Capco marries its market leading management consultancy know-how with Wipro’s extensive scale and technological expertise to offer true end-to-end transformation solutions to clients. Ben’s illustrious career has spanned several distinguished companies, including his role as CFO for Swiss-based wealth management fintech, Azqore and an 18-year tenure as CFO for Capgemini for business units across Asia, Europe, and America. Prior to his current role at Capco, Ben spent 18 months at Wipro as a global head of financial transformation and is focused on re-shaping financial processes and tools to provide crucial business insights and drive profitable growth. Ben describes himself as an activist CFO, focused on enabling operational results to support growth, profitability, and cash performance of the business. As a transformation leader, Ben understands the importance that individual talents and roles play in delivering impactful results, and as such, he aims to foster and celebrate excellence among teams. I believe in the power of simplicity, conveying a straightforward vision broadly to the organisation and establishing clear goals for everyone to rally around. Every person on my team understands Capco’s broader mission and we partner together to achieve success against our shared goals. In this sense, Ben’s role is about ensuring that Capco is on track to fulfil its mission, bringing teams in alignment with financial business objectives and measuring its success against key metrics. While compliance and accuracy must always come first, Ben says, “The Finance team must become a trusted partner to the business by understanding the levers of success and helping to anticipate risks and opportunities.” This proactive and developmental approach to his duties as CFO is helping to support Capco’s success. “Finance must convey a compelling and transparent message on goals and results,” he adds, “to bolster a culture of financial success.” Throughout Ben’s career, he has distilled the rule that his personal success is tied to the success of his company. His standard as CFO relies on how well he can facilitate Capco’s successful performance, and he has three major ambitions to help facilitate this success. First, he aims to build the best-in-class finance team and processes the company needs. Second, he is keen to help the business leverage the combined the strengths of Capco and parent company Wipro to create unique market value. Last, he aims to integrate innovative solutions into existing workflows to benefit both clients and internal teams. With regards to the future of Capco, as the business grows, the firm will continue to invest in its people and in offering clients bespoke solutions to help them to “leverage the opportunities offered by GenAI for both itself and its clients.” Ben shares, “I am very focused on creating synergies between Capco and Wipro commercially, operationally and in crafting innovative solutions.” This dedication to the company’s overall wellbeing, for the good of the industry and its many clients, makes Capco a standout choice for financial services and energy companies. Finally, Ben believes that Finance must be of the world and in constant contact with the business. “We must bring our functional power to the service of the business to protect the company’s assets and enhance long term shareholder value.” With high ambitions to build the Finance team for the future of Capco, supporting Capco and Wipro unique value proposition for clients, and leveraging GenAI to accelerate and enhance delivery for Capco and its clients, Ben’s position as CFO is vital to supporting the ongoing growth of the company. Capco is set to achieve an abundance of great things, and we’re proud to present Benjamin Simon with his title of Best Global Management Consulting CFO 2024 in our Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024. Here at Acquisition International, we strive to highlight the successes of individuals and businesses which make a huge difference to their industries through their unparalleled areas of expertise – and we’re sure to see both Benjamin and Capco continue to succeed. Contact Details Contact: Benjamin Simon Company: CAPCO Web Address: www.capco.com Best Global Management Consulting CFO 2024: Benjamin Simon Best Global Management Consulting CFO 2024: Benjamin Simon. ” Benjamin Simon, CFO of Capco, is building a distinguished career within the consulting sector, which is dynamic and constantly evolving. According to Ben, “Management consulting is in the middle of its most exciting transformation in 20 years due to changes in client requirements, GenAI and other industry trends.” Ben is helping to steer the company through this shift, helping Capco to maintain its focus on financial stability, domain expertise and relentless innovation. Acquisition International spoke with Ben to explore his success, how he aims to add value to the company, and his future goals. Best Global Management Consulting CFO 2024: Benjamin Simon ” “
Best Global Management Consulting CFO 2024: Benjamin Simon
16 | Acquisition International, Global CFO Excellence Awards 2024 Feminine Fashion CFO of the Year 2024 (Australia): Brett Graham ince joining Australian feminine fashion brand Dissh more than a year ago, CFO Brett Graham has helped the company traverse the difficult financial landscape that any business must cross. In just his first year on the job, Brett oversaw its very first financial audit, the sale of its minority shares to BBRC, and the preparing of financial systems that were robust enough for this brand - which was established back in 2001 by current CEO and Creative Director Lucy Henry-Hicks’ mum - to undergo hypergrowth on the international market. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Brett has excelled in this role over the past 13 months or so, all from a background in tech and resources no less. Telling us more about his career journey so far, Brett explains, “I originally started in financial accounting, but the bulk of my career has been in financial planning and analysis in both London and Paris.” His prior experience in this field is the primary reason why Brett was able to secure this fashion CFO position, a role that is becoming increasingly commercial across this landscape. Brett tells us: “Gone are the days of simply being the expert when it comes to accounting standards. Today, the onus is on the CFO and the finance team to contribute across the operational and commercial teams on a daily basis.” He continues, “within finance, business partnering is as critical as the controllership function.” Things do not end here however, and aside from thinking and acting commercially, it is necessary for somebody in this position to be able to engage well with an array of diverse personalities. It is somewhat of a tired cliché to imagine a company’s finance team tucked away in a corner somewhere, introverted and reluctant to partake in the broader operations of a business. This is certainly not the case anymore, particularly at Dissh, where its high-performing finance team strike the balance between introverted and extroverted, with members from both of these camps being represented equally. For Brett, these extroverts, or at least people who are willing to act as such, need embed themselves in every level of a business, finance included. With such a broad knowledge encompassing many of the broader aspects of business, it is no surprise that the leadership style favoured by Brett is modelled on the approach coined by Brene Brown, albeit with a few unique elements thrown in for good measure. Favouring a cool, calm, and collected line across the board, particularly at times of high stress, Brett is immensely proud of the fact that he has not seen a single angry face throughout any of the Dissh executive team meetings during his time with the company so far. Textbook conduct such as this inevitably rubs off on colleagues, who see this behaviour and follow it for themselves. What helps is that everyone who works for Dissh truly prides themselves on doing so, and over the course of his career, Brett has neither seen nor read about any business with as many people having worked there for more than a decade. As for his leadership methods when it comes to the finance team specifically, trust is the defining element, and something that Brett deploys wholeheartedly across every team member. You don’t need to be a genius to do well in business. Most successful businesspeople will tell you that it is mostly about hard work and luck. With such a remarkable business culture in tow, Dissh can put all of its energy into what truly matters for any business. The product. Even coming from a software-oriented background where the focus was on the customer and the product in equal measure, this idea of the product remaining at the centre is largely the same for almost all retailbased businesses, regardless of what they sell. If it is not, then something is probably not being done correctly. On the back of this commitment, Dissh has defied all odds over what has been a challenging few years globally and has attracted double-digit growth year after year. Such unprecedented growth has even caught the eye of some of the most senior investors operating in this space, like the man who is perhaps Australia’s most prominent and successful retail investor, Brett Blundy. Much of the growth that the brand has achieved in the 23 years since it launched has been down to the remarkable women who run most of the areas of the business. Many of these senior positions are filled by decades of experience and sheer talent, pioneering businesswomen who have grown the brand effectively thanks to a robust product and marketing strategy that is widely seen as one of the best across Australia. Marketing a product that is equal parts luxury and affordable, the gold standard that most retailers are striving for, may be a tough nut to crack, but it is proving a fruitful strategy for this female-owned feminine clothing brand. Brett hits the nail on the head when he puts it like this: “People don’t survive off of our products, so it is solely up to us to make them want our products.” Since we are in unprecedented times on a global scale, spending has slowed right down, making discretionary retail one of the toughest sectors to operate in. Whilst this brings with it a heap of challenges, it also opens the door for new and exciting opportunities. For Brett, “the big opportunity for retailers right now is that there isn’t a prosperity wave to ride, which means if you have a great product, you are already beating those that don’t and heavily rely on volumes and positive economic conditions.” Dissh’s products certainly are great, and this is why it is helping to pave the way for like-minded retailers across this dynamic sector. Although Dissh works incredibly hard to steer clear of clichés for the most part, Brett Female-founded Australian clothing brand Dissh is a Sydney-based fashion label that today possesses eight physical stores dotted across Australia and a strong presence in both its home country and the US through its online channels. Earning most of its revenue through these online avenues, the company’s customer base is predominantly comprised of women in search of sustainable clothing that is designed in-house and can make them look and feel great. Having come in later on as the company’s first CFO, Brett Graham is playing a vital role in shaping this growing brand’s success. S ” “
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