Massimo Garau-Finance Director

Founded the finance department from scratch and built the team

Took over and established finance processes from the parent company

Collaborated with the Managing Director to introduce a decision-making framework based on financial KPIs

Took over customer communication to reduce overdue receivables

Documented and improved internal processes

Adjusted the revenue deductions structure to reduce discounts

Implemented several price increases and cost reduction measures

Achieved: tripled profits and the highest revenue growth in the German confectionery market over ten years

Led a team of up to 10 employees in finance, customer service, IT and HR

Turnaround of Europe North through restructuring the finance department, introducing monthly closings, accruals, provisions and cash pooling

Changed the business model in Denmark from an in-house sales organization to an external distributor

Reduced headquarters staff by around 35%

Introduced a new pricing structure

Achieved profitability and sustainable growth within 18 months

Led a project team to restructure the subsidiary Bendick’s UK (March–August 2008): closed the factory and relocated production to Germany

Integration of production sites in Germany and Italy as integration manager to specialize product lines and leverage economies of scale

Responsible for the logistics function with up to 27 employees across three sites

Transfer of machines, recipes, customers, materials and technology know-how between sites

Achieved: 8% capacity growth, 20% inventory reduction, 20-day shorter lead time

Sale of two businesses in the UK and Sweden and acquisition of two companies in Germany and India to strengthen the core business

Financial valuation, search and assessment of potential targets, coordination of legal and financial advisors, and due diligence

Supported the closure of an Austrian subsidiary (August–October 1995): financial planning, timeline and action plan for confidential execution

Identified and evaluated cost improvement options for subsidiaries in Italy and Germany, leading to the merger of both companies

Achieved: a 150% increase in pre-tax profit in the downstream business since 1995