Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium
Senior executive with extensive experience in international M&A, strategy, governance, legal and compliance in multinationals across industries. Combining excellent legal skills with strong strategic, financial and business insights. Advisor and member of boards and executive committees with particular experience in the following domains: - Cross-border M&A projects in Europe, Latin America, USA, Asia and Africa; - Managing complex international litigation, including major cartel cases and commercial litigation, as well as high profile corporate criminal cases; - Trusted adviser to CEO, board and shareholders; - Leader of strategic projects and major restructurings; - Proven track record in creating and developing high performing international, cross-cultural teams. - Managing the group’s legal and internal audit departments and setting up the compliance and risk framework; - Corporate governance and shareholder relations in private as well as public companies; Strong interpersonal skills; experience in managing cross-divisional, multi-cultural teams; focus on business objectives, result oriented with proven track record; combining strategic thinking with hands-on approach. Fluent in English, French, Spanish and Dutch. Good knowledge of Italian and German.
Responsible for managing the legal, compliance and internal audit departments of Toyota’s European operations (€ 25+bn turnover, 53 countries, 1,000,000 car sales annually). Provide strategic support and counsel on business strategy and legal issues to Chief Executive Officer and senior management team and as an advisor to TME Executive Committee. Excited about navigating the revolutionary changes in the automotive industry and helping Toyota take its position as a leading company in autonomous, connected and sustainable mobility.
Advised the board and senior management on strategic legal matters; project manager of all major M&A transactions; managed the Group Legal Department; co-ordinated the legal risk management and acted as company secretary. Member of the Group Executive Committee. • Project manager of all major M&A transactions, including €1bn acquisition of the European plasterboard business of Lafarge, which increased Etex’ turnover by 50%, and the $230m divestment of Etex’ ceramics business in Latin America; • Managing major litigation, including multiple asbestos cases, a major cartel case in Germany and one of the biggest criminal cases in Italy involving more than 3,000 civil parties; • Changing the legal department’s culture to adopt a customer centric culture with a focus on business objectives, improving the level of legal support, introducing a pro-active case management and a permanent assessment of external counsels;
• Trusted adviser to the CEO and the chairman of the board of directors on strategic matters such as mergers and acquisitions, risk management, compliance models, shareholders’ relations and corporate governance; • Leading the defence against the take-over bid from Belgacom, the first hostile take-over bid in Belgium since more than 15 years. The defence resulted in substantial benefits for both Telindus’ shareholders and employees in the form of a hefty increase of the bid price and firm undertakings in favour of the employees;
• Managing larger transactions, often cross-border, including public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures, re-structuring as well as financing operations; • Advising clients on international commercial contracts and representing them at the commercial courts in trade and maritime matters. • Managed the London office of Loeff Claeys Verbeke from October 1999 until the merger of Loeff Claeys Verbeke with Allen & Overy in 2001;