Jonathan Leese Email & Phone Number

Reading, Reading, United Kingdom

London, London, Gb

Tangle Teezer is the category defining British haircare brand that produces a range of innovative detangling, blow-drying and styling hairbrushes famous for its unique teeth technology and innovative designs.

Stockholm, Stockholm, Se

Church Crookham, Hampshire, Gb

Responsible for financial leadership with a manufacturer & retail of luxury mobile phones, t/o £150m• Appointed to lead the global financial, treasury and HR functions, supporting 9 sites and 6 retail locations.• Business control, support operations in 12 countries in Europe, US, China, Russia and Middle East• Completed two sales of the Vertu group, from large corporate (Nokia) to private equity (EQT) and then through to private ownership (Godin Holdings Ltd).• Key member of the Vertu leadership team, advising on financial performance, control & profitability• Represents the Group’s interest as Director on the board of Vertu Corporation Ltd and subsidiaries• Definition & execution of financial strategies & group budgets, aligned to business plans & strategy• Leadership, management & control of a global finance and HR team of 25+ staff, supporting the business• Led an efficiency & restructuring programme, reducing cost base by 50% (£65m), improving profitability.• Developed & adopted an end-to-end investment model & process to assess strategic expenditure• Led the finance stream in the implementation of a global e-commerce channel and ERP alignment • Delivered the successful re-financing of the business, transitioning Vertu into a standalone entity• Developed the group pricing strategy, based on competitor benchmarking across the luxury market • Successfully developed and implemented a global cashflow management and forecasting process• Key involvement in highly-complex trade partner and supplier contract negotiation phases• Introduced risk management reporting to the Audit Committee, adopting enhanced internal controls

Church Crookham, Hampshire, Gb

Responsible as Global Business Controller, full leadership of a rapidly-evolving finance function• Accountability for all financial planning, financial analysis, statutory accounting, tax and compliance• Spearheaded the business carve-out / divestment from Nokia, including legal & business structures• Instrumental in development of Vertu as a stand-alone business unit, including core infrastructure• Managed expenditure budgets of £140m+, initiating and leading a portfolio of projects & initiatives• Developed shared service transactional functions in the UK and China, replacing Nokia functions• Supported a major enterprise-wide SAP ERP implementation, underpinned with IT infrastructure• Established a credit committee to critically assess all new store openings and trade partner deals• Dramatically improved cash flow forecasting & management during periods of constrained liquidity• Drove sale process from vendor due-diligence through to management presentations with investors

Jp

Responsible for all aspects financial & business leadership with a leading IT infrastructure provider• Appointed to senior role within a £250m t/o business unit, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujitsu• Provision of strategic-level input, driving cost reductions in the face of tough market conductions• Additional responsibilities to existing Ireland Business Controller role, engaging with key retailers• Full P&L / Balance Sheet control for both businesses, ensuring appropriate management control• Leadership, management and motivation of a team of 3, with further indirect reports & headcount• Effective financial control of the UK consumer business, managing distribution with UK retailers• Successfully managed foreign exchange risk on large deals, via a portfolio of hedging services• Championed the business merger & integration of the Irish business with Fujitsu Services Ireland• Merged 2 disparate businesses, integrating legacy systems (SAP & Oracle) & accounting standards

Jp

Responsible for all aspects of financial & business control, including monthly management accounts• Appointed to senior role within a joint venture business operation between Fujitsu and Siemens• Financial control for the Ireland-based business, supporting strategic planning and auditing needs• Strategic involvement in all aspects of the business, including consumer and B2B product areas• Complete financial reporting responsibility for the Ireland business, engaging with key stakeholders• Successfully developed a new Siebel based commissions system for the UK and Ireland business

Jp

Responsible for all aspects of financial and management accounting, preparing business reports• Appointed to HQ Finance-based role, developing management reports, finance reports & analysis• Developed management reports from the newly-implemented SAP Business Explorer reporting tool• Prepared top-level reports for shareholders & senior management, including financial commentary• Benchmarking analysis activities & initiatives, identifying areas for improvement & strategic focus• Drove business reviews, analysing global financial results & conducting regional business reviews

Acma/Fcma/Cgma, Management Accounting

Ba (Hons), Business And Financial Economics