Maximilian Eugster Email & Phone Number

Hired by a major competitor of Publicis, I led pan-European reporting with commercial and operational support for four MDs at five communications agencies, working across a highly competitive pharmaceutical market. Tasked with revitalising the finance function, I led a comprehensive overhaul of organisational structure and rebuilt the team, processes and systems from the ground up. Major achievements included:- Introduced new standards of rigour, control and insight through an overhaul of reporting systems.- Achieved 40% cost reduction through significant gains in profitability through better back office efficiency.- Consolidated four locations into one, integrating processes and systems to capitalise on synergies.- Led cultural change, with sharpened focus on resource allocation and prioritisation of higher margin clients and projects.- Galvanised a team of 15; delegated and empowered to radically improve performance, coaching individuals to progress their skills, and collaborating with HR to introduce structured performance development frameworks.- Created new transfer pricing process and achieved £100Kpa reduction in contractor costs.- Rolled out a major new IT finance system, halving monthly reporting.

London, United Kingdom

I first worked for Publicis in 2005, two years before being approached by the outgoing FD to become his replacement. Arriving during a period of transition, I spearheaded a major operational and cultural change programme, building a best practice business partnering finance model and enhancing commercial performance across the UK operation.That success led to promotion to a more commercially focused European finance position across 10 EU-based agencies in UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. I played a central role in maximising profitability of negotiations with global client procurement teams, working closely with regional FDs to deliver project efficiencies, and creating appropriate pricing for each client project. Highlights included:- Drove growth through introduction of commercial frameworks across pricing and profitability.- Coached commerciality and a cost-conscious culture into key stakeholders.- Standardised procurement negotiations and bid processes across Europe.- Instrumental to several major wins and increases in profitability with major clients, including Pfizer and Boehringer.- Collaborated with MDs and other cross-functional partners to maximise cash flow, mitigate risk and improve clarity of MI.

London, United Kingdom

• International Finance Manager, International Property Databank (IPD), Oct 2006 – Dec 2006• IS Finance Manager, Kraft Foods, Jan 2006 – Sep 2006• Deputy FD, Publicis Healthcare, Jun 2005 – Dec 2005• Sabbatical as Ski Instructor, Jul 2004 – Apr 2005; qualified in New Zealand, coached in Verbier, Switzerland.

During my nine years at Kerry Foods, I worked my way up from a financial accounting position through finance teams focused on commercial, logistics and operations, culminating in heading up efficiency optimisation of supply chain function, managing a budget of £70Mpa. Major successes included the delivery of £3M cost savings through a distribution redesign, including outsourcing and renegotiation of key contracts.

St Albans, United Kingdom

Ba Jt Hons, Geography & Anthropology

Education record