John O'Brien

CFO; Corporate Finance; Transformation

France

About

20+ years creating value as CFO, SVP Corporate Finance, and Director of Transformation, in tech, environmental and energy industries at regional and worldwide levels, based in North America and France, consistently exceeding expectations. I am binational (American and French with >20 years living in France). I Identify value creation opportunities (financial, human, environmental, operational, social...) and put in place the required strategies, tools, processes, organizations and teams to best realize them. I construct, value and negotiate complex deals and bids to optimize value for all stakeholders (M&A, O&M, DBO, PPP, regulated and non, and variants). I build cohesive high performing teams in complex international environments, and identify and develop talented individuals. Successful multiple organizational levels, from business unit financial, strategic and asset management up to regional and worldwide initiatives led as a senior executive. Generated $millions in recurring business unit EBITDA gains and significant ROCE improvement while North America CFO & Sr VP, plus significant transactional gains on asset rotation. Put in place the processes and tools to generate >100M€ in recurring performance gains plus >60M€ in cash flow working capital improvement for a 9B€ worldwide energy business. Transformed the finance function for a >70B€ group leveraging SAP S4HANA. Areas of Expertise: • Financial & Performance Management • Change Management / Leadership • Corporate Finance • Business Development; M&A • Asset & Risk Management • Regulation

Experience

  • Veolia | Water Tech (Paris, Île-de-France, France · Hybrid)
    • Veolia Watertech CFO Technology & Products and CFO Supply Chain
      Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

      Following VWTS and VWT integration: Worldwide supply chain finance responsibility for a $5B water technology activity (manufacturing on 4 continents), plus CFO of the $1B Technology & Products activity (12 product lines) covering the full spectrum of water filtration/purification needs, and state of the art testing equipment

    • Chief Financial Officer ES Products & Supply Chain
      Mar 2023 - Jul 2025 · 2 yrs 5 mos

      Worldwide supply chain finance responsibility for a $3.2B water technology activity, plus CFO of the $700M Products activity covering the full spectrum of water filtration/purification needs, and state of the art testing equipment

  • Consulting Specialist at Freelance
    2020 - Apr 2023 · 3 yrs 4 mos

    - Transformation/Change Leadership, Finance/CFO, strategy, start-ups

  • ENGIE (8 yrs 1 mo)
    • ENGIE Director Finance Transformation
      2016 - 2020 · 4 yrs

      ♦ Transforming the Finance function (>5000 Finance FTEs; >300 systems; 24 core activities; 70 countries) to be a value partner in Engie’s transformation; ♦ Redefining organizations, responsibilities, processes, tools (SAP S4 Hana), and data flows

    • Vice President Financial Control, Performance & Consolidation Global Gas & LNG
      2012 - 2016 · 4 yrs

      Global Gas & LNG Business Line (9B€ turnover)

    • Chief of Staff to Group CFO
      2012 - 2012 · Less than a year

      Chief of Staff to CFO ENGIE (74B€ revenue), Paris, France • Committees: CODIR Finance; COMEX Finance • Key role supporting new Group CFO Isabelle Kocher managing Group Finance CODIR plus 5 branch CFO’s, and completing and integrating major acquisition

  • SUEZ (11 yrs 1 mo)
    • Senior Vice President Corporate Finance & Regulatory Business North America
      2007 - 2011 · 4 yrs

      ENGIE SUEZ North America ($1B turnover) Committees: Operations (CODIR), Consideration & Investment, Risk ♦ Responsibilities: Corporate Finance; Regulatory Business Department; Chief Risk Officer; FP&A and Strategic Planning

    • CFO Regulated Segment North America
      2004 - 2007 · 3 yrs

      SUEZ North America/United Water (#2 US water company; $1B turnover)

    • Financial Executive Nalco OIS
      2003 - 2004 · 1 yr

      ENGIE Nalco (3B€ turnover) ♦ Financial oversight of Ondeo Industrial Solutions; Member Executive Committee

  • Financial Director; Head of FP&A and Consolidation at Schlumberger
    1997 - 2000 · 3 yrs