Kostas Vakalopoulos

Finance Leader | Elevating FP&A into Strategic Advantage | Margin Growth, Pricing Strategy & European Transformation

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

About

Finance leader with 15+ years of international experience across Consumer Goods, Luxury, FMCG and Energy sectors, driving financial performance and transformation across EMEA in complex matrix organizations. I specialize in transforming finance functions into strategic performance drivers hence enabling executive teams to make faster, clearer and more profitable decisions. Throughout my career, I have: ▪ Delivered €4.7M margin uplift through global margin mix optimization ▪ Increased revenue by 10% via structured pricing governance across four European markets ▪ Driven 8% bottom-line improvement through targeted P&L efficiency initiatives ▪ Centralized and scaled FP&A operations across multi-country environments ▪ Led financial integration during cross-border acquisition I operate at the intersection of strategy, performance management, and governance. Partnering closely with CEOs, CFOs, and regional leadership teams to strengthen transparency, capital allocation discipline, and long-term value creation. Experienced in leading high-performing remote teams across Europe and navigating multicultural business environments. Based in Barcelona | Open to regional and hybrid European leadership opportunities.

Experience

  • Senior FP&A Manager EMEA at Culligan International
    Dec 2024 - Present · 1 yr 7 mos

    Primary finance business partner to EMEA leadership and country CFOs, leading regional OPEX planning, performance management, and executive reporting. • Re-architected regional budget model to improve visibility of pricing, product mix, volume, inflation and organizational drivers • Institutionalized IT planning & KPI governance framework across EMEA • Identified structural P&L efficiencies driving bottom-line improvement

  • Primo Brands (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)
    • FP&A Director Europe (Ad Interim)
      May 2023 - Nov 2024 · 1 yr 7 mos

      Strategic partner to Europe CEO during acquisition and transformation phase. Led team of 12 controllers across Europe. • Redesigned European planning & forecasting architecture • Implemented executive-level performance review framework • Oversaw pricing implementation across numerous markets in the region • Led finance transition during acquisition by Culligan

    • FP&A Manager Europe
      Apr 2021 - Apr 2023 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Reported to the FP&A Director of Europe and lead a remote team of 9 FP&A controllers across Europe with a clear focus towards achieving standardization and transparency to operational performance and planning. • Owned regional budgeting, rolling forecasts, and multi-year strategic planning cycles. • Standardized and streamlined monthly market performance reviews focusing on executive decision-making. • Implemented automated controls within month-end close process to reduce manual errors and increase reporting reliability

  • SWAROVSKI (Full-time · 9 yrs 2 mos)
    • Senior Global Controller
      Jan 2018 - Aug 2020 · 2 yrs 8 mos

      Global role supporting €2B business and SVP Controlling. • Built first Global Sales Margin Mix model • Identified and delivered margin uplift opportunities • Redesigned Budget and Forecast target-setting framework linked to Mid-Term Plan

    • Regional Controller EMEA
      Sep 2014 - Dec 2017 · 3 yrs 4 mos

      Promoted to supervise all Controlling activities, reporting to the Director of Controlling EMEA. Indirectly managed Cross functional teams of up to 8 people, including senior controllers and analysts. Trusted business partner to the SVP EMEA and the CEOs / CFOs of a region with a total of more than 5,000 retail stores..

    • Head of Controlling & Credit
      Jul 2011 - Aug 2014 · 3 yrs 2 mos

      Reported to the CFO and a trusted business partner to the CEO. Led, mentored, and developed a team of 2 professionals. In charge of all Controlling, Credit, Legal and Procurement processes. Member of the Board of Directors with signature rights.

  • Shell (Full-time · 5 yrs 9 mos)
    • FP&A Controller
      Apr 2010 - Jun 2011 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Direct report to the Shell leadership team. Acted as a close business partner to the commercial team and board of directors to drive profitable growth.

    • Cluster Project Lead and Coordinator (Italy & Greece)
      Jun 2008 - Mar 2010 · 1 yr 10 mos

      Reported to the Cluster Program leader of the project, acted as project leader for five projects running simultaneously across Italy and Greece. Acted as deputy to the Program Leader.

    • Financial Controller (SHELL Lubricants Business)
      Oct 2005 - May 2008 · 2 yrs 8 mos

      Reported to the F&A Manager (Lubricants Business) and worked closely with the Shell Lubricants sales team. Formulated, in close alignment with the business, an innovative financial model to support negotiations with potential customers and maximize profitability.

  • Insurance Consultant at INTERAMERICAN
    Mar 2004 - Feb 2005 · 1 yr