A 7-month project to lead the financial restructuring and prepare the company for a successful sale
Client and Sector:
Our client, a leading company in the food sector (frozen products) with operations in Spain (Castilla y León), was at a crucial strategic moment: preparing the company for a corporate sale process.
The Situation / Need (The Pain):
The organization faced a critical challenge: the need to professionalize its financial structure and optimize costs to maximize value in anticipation of the imminent sale. They required immediate, objective executive leadership, free from internal organizational inertia. They needed a leader with proven experience (Accountability), deep financial and regional environment knowledge, capable of making decisions and executing a shock plan from day one.
The Approach and the Solution EPUNTO (The Methodology): EPUNTO activated, in less than two weeks, an Interim Manager from our pool of managerial talent to assume the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position of the company.
For 7 months, the executive was integrated into the management committee with clear objectives: to lead the optimization of costs and renegotiate the bank debt to stabilize the financial position.
Under the supervision and mentorship of Emilio del Prado, Partner at EPUNTO, the project focused on executing the necessary restructuring and preparing the organization for the process of due diligenceThe success of his management and the trust he generated were of such magnitude that, after the successful acquisition by a leading business group in the sector, our executive was promoted and appointed General Manager by the new owners.
Partner responsible for the project
Some questions and answers
What was the main challenge in this project?
The challenge was to prepare the company for a sale, restructuring its finance department and optimizing costs, in a complex environment with no time for a learning curve. They needed a 'plug and play' executive who could provide immediate solutions.
Why was an Interim Manager chosen instead of a traditional selection process?
La speed and objectivity These were critical needs. The company needed a leader free from historical inertia to implement complex changes and couldn't wait the 6-9 months of a selection process. It needed top-level talent, overqualified for the position, who could guarantee measurable results in the short term (7 months).
What was the most significant impact in the first 90 days?
In the first quarter, our Interim Manager successfully renegotiated bank debt and established a clear cost optimization plan, stabilizing the financial situation and preparing the company in a solvent manner for the sale process.
How did EPUNTO ensure knowledge transfer at the end of the mission?
Our methodology includes a structured exit plan. In this case, it was a complete success: the Interim Manager led the transition during the sale and, thanks to the trust he built and the results he delivered, he was selected by the new owners as the permanent CEO, ensuring the full sustainability of the improvements.
What differentiating factor did EPUNTO contribute to this solution?
The speed of onboarding (less than two weeks) and the precision in selecting the executive. We provided an Interim CFO who not only had proven technical experience in finance and restructuring, but also a deep understanding of the regional environment (Castilla y León) and the soft skills necessary to navigate the company culture and build trust, even with new buyers.