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Case Studies

Implementing a global procurement system

Implementing a global procurement system The Situation The procurement system was piloted through a live test in the USA, and a decision was taken to deploy it a worldwide basis In order to respect the timeline, the client needed additional management forces. The Solution A WIL Group member put in place a seasoned Interim Manager with strong expertise in purchasing Ability to manage a large purchasing organization Strong leadership The manager built a “Deployment kit” to be used in each country. He designed the plan and distributed the tasks between his team. He exercised a tight control in order recover immediately in case of deviation. The Result The system was installed in the countries assigned to the manager according to plan The timing objectives where achieved and the deployment approach/process was later used for other areas.

Case Studies

Restructuring an acquired company for a global diagnostics company

Restructuring an acquired company for a global diagnostics company The Situation A French diagnostics company has acquired the Dutch subsidiary of an US Group. A rationalization program has to be conducted between three sites in Holland, France and China – the closure of the Dutch factory was scheduled at the end of this rationalization program (in two to three years’ time). The Solution The client asked a WIL Group member to put in place a Dutch senior Interim Manager, mainly to: Be the General Manager of the subsidiary and impulse a strong management to improve quality and productivity Head the project team in charge of the technical rationalization Prepare and negotiate the closure in medium term Manage the various transfer operations The Result Over 12 months, the first phase of the mission was conducted and the plan defined and negotiated. Implementation could be managed during the second year.

Case Studies

Implementing an ambitious growth strategy

Implementing an ambitious growth strategy The Situation Following a strategic consultation process, a US Pharmaceutical company decided to grow its business by entering the India market.. The client contacted WIL Group to execute this growth strategy. The key challenges were: To gain an advantage in the Indian market, they had to move as fast as possible They needed to minimise cost and risk They needed to deploy a manager with the right inter-personal skills, knowledge and understanding of the sales cycle and culture in the Indian pharmaceutical market. The Solution WIL Group proposed the creation of a virtual sales office for the client in India. In the eyes of local pharmaceutical companies, the client would have a physical presence in India overnight, without having to create or acquire a legal entity. WIL Group sourced an experienced Indian business development manager for the client with knowledge and expertise in the Indian pharmaceutical market. The Result The new manager deployed by WIL Group quickly formulated, organised and executed a sales plan. Within twelve months, the client signed up three, new Indian customers, who collectively accounted for over 5% of the client’s global revenues. This success was possible because of WIL Group’s involvement and its unique global position of being able to identify and access international business talent.

Case Studies

Revolutionising performance in an international logistics provider

Revolutionising performance in an international logistics provider The Situation The customer is a large European logistics service provider which operates in more than 140 countries. It is 100% PE owned. While the company was growing through acquisitions in many countries, working methods had hardly evolved to adapt to the changing environment and profitability dropped. An extensive program aiming at radically changing some fundamental processes was launched. Specifically, the objective was to implement cross-cutting actions between countries instead of trying to optimise the results of each country. The Solution The Interim Manager role was primarily to help country managers and major segment of business leaders to identify concrete actions to improve performance. These actions focused on operational processes designed and deployed internationally (instead of locally) to make the company offer more attractive and to increase revenues. Also set up shared service centres in a European country where labour costs are lower, creation of a Group Purchasing team, and overhauling the core system and developing digital technologies to improve CS. The Result The X-PM Interim Manager was so successful that he was hired as CRO and Group HR Director, member of the Executive Committee, a few months after he started the mission. He concluded that new financing was required. This success enabled WIL Group to be selected for two other missions necessary to continue the transformation of the company: management of the Information Systems for 18 months and of the Purchasing Group for one year.

Case Studies

Saving a historic business with an experienced CEO

Saving a historic business with an experienced CEO The Situation Despite a strong brand going back to the 1850’s, and an international sales reach with 90% exports, the Group results were negative several years in a row. The losses and apparent inaction made the financing bank require an immediate change of CEO. Given this situation, the owner requested a turnaround manager with in depth knowledge of the industry and restructuring experience. The Solution Engaged an Interim CEO with extensive relevant experience from a PE environment. The Interim CEO was assigned the task to develop a comprehensive turnaround plan and urgently implement actions to secure on-going operations and cash-flow. In parallel, the CEO made an in depth analysis and action plan including financial plan. Concluded that new financing was required The Result The CEO implemented the change plan and in parallel looked for new financing/new owners. The owners decided sell the Group as they could not provide any financing. In the eleventh hour, managed to get PE backing for a MBO with full support from the original Bank. Successfully carved-out the Group A lot of work remains, but the company is on the right track.

Case Studies

Turning around a consumer goods company

Turning around a consumer goods company The Situation After a management review the CEO decided to replace the current Managing Director and to restructure and turn around the operations. The company needed to implement a broad change program incl. revitalising sales, reduce costs, reduce debt, restructure logistics and relocate the head office and at the same time keep the co-workers motivated and customers ‘unharmed’. Given this situation, the company requested a seasoned Interim Managing Director with a strong background in front-end retail sales. Owners also decided to put the company in reconstruction and speed up relocation. The Solution Engaged an Interim Manager with a strong track record in driving sales from supplier to retailer combined with top leadership and people skills By being transparent from day one and providing incentives the Interim quickly won the acceptance of all employees despite major lay-offs By lifting up young managers that believed in the plan to senior positions the broad experience base of the Interim was fully leveraged The Result The Interim Manager reduced costs with close to 2/3 and reset the capital base. Moved distribution and logistics abroad and relocated HQ to a major metropolitan area Introduced a revised business model with a strong sales focus

Case Studies

Managing the sale of a Scandinavian-German transport company

Managing the sale of a Scandinavian-German transport company The Situation The existing owners decided in early 2014 to investigate the opportunity to sell the Company in the near term. Contacts with several financial advisors and lawyers had been initiated but not selected. In parallel, the Company needed to strengthen the strategic business control competence. Given this situation, the PE owners requested an Interim Senior Advisor with extensive CFO experience to manage the sales process and build competences. The Solution The WIL Group proposed a Senior Advisor with CFO background and extensive experience in managing a company sales process. The Interim took charge of the sales process including: data room build-up, prospectus and presentations, advising and coaching the entire Management team including the MD & CFO, and developing the strategic business control (e.g. tenders) and a matching reporting package. The Result The Interim took charge of the sales process including: data room build-up, prospectus and presentations, advising and coaching the entire Management team including the MD & CFO, and developing the strategic business control (e.g. tenders) and a matching reporting package.

Case Studies

Driving major IT change programme for a Norwegian-owned UK company

Driving major IT change programme for a Norwegian-owned UK company The Situation Smedvig Capital was set up in 1966 to manage the family’s asset portfolio of approximately NOK 10 billion. Their UK business Exchange Group operates a national network of over 30 skills training centres in public libraries and other public locations. A lack of investment in the core Learner Database and ERP system had led to major performance issues across the network. The Solution An Interim CIO was selected from the UK talent pool. An Information Technology & Business Executive with extensive commercial experience in blue chips and specifically in eLearning and software services. Exchange Group is the largest network of Microsoft IT Academies in the UK. The Result Leadership injection into the IT team Commission & Complete Database Review Project Implementation plan Learner database review and transformation plan Resolve critical issue with current network services provider Complete IT staff role & capability review; and staff performance appraisals Alternate network service provision tenders

Case Studies

Sourcing a Chief Restructuring Officer for a multinational concrete business

Sourcing a Chief Restructuring Officer for a multinational concrete business The Situation PRETERSA, is a company dedicated to the design, manufacture and assembly of precast concrete structures. Owned by Magnum Capital Since 2007 the concrete market had been progressively collapsing. The Solution Engaged to diagnose Company Viability Appointed a Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) The Result EBITDA stabilisation reached due to cost reduction policies implemented. Secured working capital financing in order to enable the company to manage its seasonal cash requirements.

Case Studies

Appointing a new CEO for major Spanish machinery business

Appointing a new CEO for major Spanish machinery business The Situation HUNE, is the second largest Spanish company in the machinery and platform lift business. It is owned by the global PE firm Advent International. Current debt structure rise to more than 25 times EBITDA. The Solution Engaged an Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a Restructuring Advisor (CRO) Appointed a new CEO of the company The Result Worked with management to implement rigorous cash, management processes and controls enabling the company to survive without injection of new cash Designed and implemented a collection structure improving customer insolvency by 80% Company Internationalisation (Saudi Arabia, Colombia)

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