A 3-month project to ensure the executive transition and launch the company's international expansion plan following an M&A transaction.
Client and Sector:
Our client, a leading Portuguese company in the agri-food (dairy) sector, a producer of high value-added products, was at a crucial transformation: its acquisition by a European private equity fund following a process of spin off of a large multinational corporation.
The Situation / Need (The Pain):
The organization faced a critical challenge driven by the M&A transaction: the need for immediate executive leadership to steer the new phase as an independent company. They required a CEO with proven experience (Accountability), capable of ensuring operational stability, taking control of management and executing an ambitious growth 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 General Management. For 3 months, the executive was integrated into the company with clear objectives: to ensure an orderly transition after the acquisition and to design the new strategic plan for commercial expansion.
Under the supervision and mentorship of Patricio Gil Olmedo, Partner at EPUNTO, the project focused on stabilizing the organization, professionalizing the management structure, and laying the groundwork for entering new international markets. The executive's suitability was such that the project culminated in a "Try and Hire" agreement, resulting in his permanent employment with the client.
Partner responsible for the project
Some questions and answers
What was the main challenge in this project?
The challenge was to lead the post-M&A transition of a spin off and turn it into a successful independent company, launching an international expansion plan. All this in a complex environment that required a 'plug and play' executive to take control from day one.
Why was an Interim Manager chosen instead of a traditional selection process?
La speed and Warranty The following the M&A transaction, the needs were critical. The private equity fund couldn't wait the 6-9 months of a standard process. It needed highly skilled, even overqualified, talent that could guarantee immediate results. The solution was so successful that it became a 'Try and Hire' operation in just 3 months.
What was the most significant impact in the first 90 days?
In the first quarter, our Interim Manager managed to fully stabilize post-acquisition management, align the team with the new ownership, and design the detailed strategic plan for entry into key new markets, such as the Maghreb and the Mediterranean area.
How did EPUNTO ensure knowledge transfer at the end of the mission?
This case is the perfect example of a successful transfer. The executive's fit was so precise that the client decided to bring him on permanently. The Interim Manager he turned in the permanent General Manager, guaranteeing the total sustainability and continuity of the project that he himself had defined.
What differentiating factor did EPUNTO contribute to this solution?
The speed of onboarding (less than two weeks) and the precision in selecting a CEO with specific experience in both the agri-food sector and private equity fund management. We provide a leader capable of managing the present (stabilization) and building the future (expansion) simultaneously.