NON- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

During the last 5 years, I have been sitting on many boards of directors in many different countries for companies of all sizes. Ranging from 150 MLN Euros in Kenya to 7 BLN Euros in China through the many partnerships and joint ventures Danone Group has throughout the world.

You obviously don't play the same role when you are a board member of a company than when you are supervising and managing fully consolidated companies. In the board role, you are more of an advisor to the company's management tasked with supporting and challenging them in their strategic choices. 

What I can bring to a board of directors is mainly a 'business to consumer' focus centred towards the consumer's, customer's and shopper's understanding and knowledge. Additionally, in companies where brand building is key, I can bring my close knowledge of brand equity building and purpose development with all stakeholders from retailers to consumers to local communities. Social responsibility and sustainable development has always been high on the agenda.

Besides, if a company is interested to develop its business in the emerging markets, I can bring my knowledge and experience in most of these countries. From this, I have been opening and developing businesses in Russia, CIS and Central & Eastern Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary), China, Korea and Japan, India, Middle East (Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Gulf States) and Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya). With these positions, I have developed an extensive network in most of these countries.

More importantly, with me on the board, you will have a solid sparring partner opening up different angles to the many challenges every company faces in these turbulent times (economic instability and volatility, rapid technological evolution and innovation, changing consumer and shopper patterns and global climate change).