PROFILE SUMMARY
Global Expert with experience in corporate strategy, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and venture capital. Credited with 35+ deals in Europe, Latam, Apac, Middle East and Africa, for Fortune 500 and mid-sized PE-owned businesses. Built strategic M&A capability, process and team to drive strategic acquisitions end-to-end (strategy, origination, execution, closure, integration) several times.
EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
MICROSOFT – Senior Director, Growth Strategy London, NOV 2021 -May 2023
• Set up growth strategy, capability and team for a new business organization (Industry Solutions)
• Reporting to the global head of strategy to drive new product and market strategy (organic and inorganic), partnerships (with software or tech services companies), acquisitions and investments across capability areas (e.g. data analytics, AI/ML, cybersecurity, sustainability, industry solutions)
• Originated and led opportunities for potential acquisitions and partnerships in areas of cyber security, data engineering and data platform implementation, and AI solutions
• Led organic investment cases in fleet management, cybersecurity, and financial analytics solutions
INTERIM HEAD OF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT
BRAIN LABS DIGITAL – Director, Global Head of M&A London, May – Oct 2021
Brought in by Livingbridge PE to ramp-up Brain Labs’ (UK’s leading digital marketing agency) M&A engine for origination, assessment, deal execution and integration
4 completed acquisitions (US, UK, Canada, India) adding 60% to Brain Labs’s EBITDA and 3 new capability areas
Reported to the CEO and worked with the Board. Defined M&A strategy, originated and executed capability-building acquisitions in North America, Europe and APac. Targeted digital agencies specialising in programmatic, marketing analytics, SEO, social creative ad production, ecommerce (Amazon), CRM, etc.
QUALITEST - MD, Head of Corporate Development London, Apr 2020 – Apr 2021
Brought in by Bridgepoint PE to lead inorganic strategy and execution in Qualitest, a global IT Services company majority owned by Bridgepoint
Invested c. $150m to complete 3 transformational acquisitions (QAIT India, Olenick US, Comply Israel) and agreed terms with 2 that completed subsequently (Telexiom Germany, ZenQ India). These acquisitions drove growth of over 50% in revenue and 80% in EBITDA while creating more than $150m value based on entry/exit multiples
Reported to the CEO and presented to the Board for strategy and deal approvals
Led strategy definition, opportunity origination, commercial negotiations, deal origination, due diligence and approvals, business case and deal structuring, detailed negotiation encompassing legal, tax and business terms, outlined integration plans and post-deal governance. Set up a 4-member M&A and integration team
ACCENTURE – Managing Director, Corporate Development London, Nov 2004 – Oct 2019
• Role profile:
MD in global team responsible for strategic acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic minority investments of ($1.5- 2Bm M&A spend annually)
Led investments in specialist businesses in digital, consulting, software, IT services
International experience: UK, Europe, Apac, Mid-East & Africa and Latin-America
Managed a team of 10 in the UK. Set up a team in India. Recruited in Brazil and Argentina
• Corporate Strategy and Product Development Partnerships:
Advised Business Unit leads to shape inorganic strategy, assess impact of acquisitions and partnerships, build-vs-buy analysis, market entry strategy, origination, and integration planning
2 of 4
Product innovation strategy to expand Accenture’s offerings in new domains: digital marketing, innovation consulting, cloud services, RPA etc.
Led partnerships for new products and markets: Client JV with Edcon (retail) in South Africa for loyalty card management business; New offering JV with BTG Pactual (bank) in Brazil for mortgage processing business; New market entry with Al-Faisaliah Group (conglomerate) in Saudi Arabia for IT services; Migration of Nokia’s Symbian OS support team to Accenture which subsequently also led to 2,500-people business transfer from Nokia to Accenture
Worked with global leadership to evaluate minority investments in innovative new domains (industry-specific software, analytics platform, innovative technology platforms)
• Deal execution:
Developed relationships with CxO and Boards of acquisition / JV target companies
Led deal origination, negotiations (NDAs, Term-sheets, Share/Asset Purchase Agreements, JV agreements), and commercial, financial and operational evaluation
Led valuation and business case, deal structuring for acquisitions and JVs
Managed due-diligence; guided post-merger integration and operating model design
Worked with legal counsels on contracts (SPA/APA, JV agreements, client & supplier contracts)
Worked with external advisers (investment banks, big-4 advisors, valuation advisors, software evaluation advisers, PE/VC firms etc.)
• Solution Architect and Commercial Lead (2004-2005)
Solution development for large European outsourcing opportunities ($25–100m contract value)
Client value proposition, solution design, commercials; partnerships; managed pre-sales team