About ME

My professional experience is mainly in:

• General Management (Strategy & Execution)
• B2C Marketing and Sales
• Partnership Management
• Emerging Markets
• Mergers & Acquisitions

My main passions lie within:

• Building high performance and committed people, teams and organisations
• Shaping winning growth strategies in turbulent times
• Permanently reinventing and transforming companies
• Richness of the diversity of people, cultures and markets
• Superior and sustainable profitable growth

I have been working for Danone Group for over 30 years in many different positions and geographical regions. Danone is a major worldwide food and beverages player with more than 27 BLN Euros annual sales and is the major yogurt and fresh dairy producer in the world.

While I started my career in sales and marketing between France and the Netherlands, I moved to Eastern Europe in the 90's once the iron curtain fell. First I launched Danone in Bulgaria (the homeland of yogurt) through a take-over of a local state-owned company resulting in a totally reinvented and reorganised business.

Next I built Danone in Russia through 3 separate stages. First, setting the foundations by building a brand, sales and distribution network and growing a pool of talent. Next, building the right local manufacturing and sourcing platforms while expanding the business in the CIS region. Finally, initiating and executing the merger with a very strong local player to become one of the major F&B companies and the market leader in Russia and CIS with 3 BLN Euros turnover.

In between, I had the opportunity to run the Danone water and beverage business in Spain. A leading water company with strong local brands that was being challenged by Coca Cola entering the water market.

After having built significant businesses in Eastern and Western Europe, I progressed into a Regional Vice President position covering first Eastern, Northern and Central Europe for 3 years managing over 10 businesses and accelerating organic and external development in the region.  

Most recently, I have managed the fresh dairy business in Africa, Middle East and Asia for the last 4 years covering more than 15 countries and partnerships (joint ventures) from China, Japan and South Korea to India and Israel to North, West and South Africa shaping winning strategies in these regions