Paul Lefort Email & Phone Number

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

As Regional Development Manager for North America, I drive business growth, customer engagement, and strategic market development. My role blends international sales expertise with operational management to ensure Pennant’s success in the aerospace and defense sectors (with both commercial and government customers).- Key contributions:* Sales Leadership: Spearheading sales activities across North America, expanding existing business lines, and creating new revenue opportunities through tailored strategies and targeted initiatives.* Account Management: Building and nurturing strategic customer relationships, managing major programs, proposals, and maintenance renewals, while delivering exceptional client support.* Market Intelligence: Leveraging deep knowledge of the North American market to identify opportunities, monitor tenders, and align Pennant's offerings with regional needs.* Event Representation: Leading company representation at key industry events, exhibitions, and conferences to enhance visibility and cultivate new business opportunities.* Collaboration & Process Development: Coordinating cross-functional teams to refine sales processes, ensure compliance with export controls, and support marketing efforts with impactful promotional materials.-Additional Responsibilities:* Providing strategic insights for sales forecasts and pipelines.* Leading regional technical demonstrations to showcase Pennant’s innovative solutions.* Representing the company in high-level negotiations, program reviews, and management meetings.* Driving compliance with security regulations, including ITAR and export controls.This role highlights my ability to integrate international sales acumen, public affairs expertise, and strategic management to deliver results in complex, regulated environments.

I cycled 13,000 km across Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Guatemala—a life-changing journey through deserts, mountains, and jungles. I encountered challenges (10 days of cramps, 12 flat tires), but also countless rewards: meeting extraordinary people, immersing myself in breathtaking landscapes, and experiencing the resilience of the human spirit.This wasn’t just a personal adventure—it was also a mission to raise awareness for a rare neurological disease patient association. Along the way, I discovered the power of connection, perseverance, and purpose.Curious to hear more? I’d love to connect and share stories from the road!

Usa

As Product Line Manager, I spearheaded the growth and strategic development of Capewell's commercial timer product line, driving significant revenue and profitability improvements while navigating the challenges of a global pandemic.- Key achievements:* Business Growth: Managed a ~4M$/year product line, delivering a +30% sales increase in 2021 and targeting an additional +25% growth in 2022 through a comprehensive business plan based on corporate, competitive, and market analysis.* Profit Optimization: Increased Gross Margin by 30% in 2021 by implementing effective pricing strategies and cost-reduction initiatives.* Strategic Leadership: Developed and executed a cohesive product line strategy by collaborating with cross-functional teams, including production, supply chain, engineering, and customer service.* Operational Excellence: Addressed supply chain disruptions and labor shortages caused by COVID-19 by coordinating with production, engineering, and procurement teams to maintain delivery schedules and customer satisfaction.- Additional contributions:* Conducted market research and R&D forecasting to align product development with customer needs and industry trends.* Led cost-reduction efforts, process improvements, and budget forecasts, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.* Represented the product line at trade shows, strengthening Capewell’s market presence and customer relationships.This role emphasized my ability to lead cross-functional teams, develop and implement strategic plans, and deliver measurable results in highly technical, fast-paced environments.

Usa

As International Sales Manager, I oversaw and expanded Capewell’s global market presence as a manufacturer and distributor of Aerial Delivery and Search and Rescue products, building strong customer relationships and delivering tailored solutions to meet the needs of OEMs, distributors, and end-users in the defense and commercial aerospace sectors. - Key contributions:* Market Development: Successfully managed and grew the international market, focusing on Europe and South America, while cultivating partnerships with key organizations such as Governments, distributors and OEMs.* Customer-Centric Approach: Developed a deep understanding of product applications and end-user requirements, leveraging insights from military colleagues to align offerings with operational needs, including helicopter hooks, harnesses, flotation devices, and airdrop equipment.* Process Optimization: Utilized ERP systems to manage and improve sales workflows, from quotes to invoices, and collaborated on process improvements to enhance efficiency. Addressed complex export issues with cross-functional team support.* Project Management: Coordinated projects from design to production for Search and Rescue equipment, ensuring seamless collaboration across engineering, production, shipping, and accounting teams.- Additional Achievements:* Restructured key international markets to enable high-volume, low-maintenance passive sales.* Significantly increased sales in South America through focused relationship-building and market-specific strategies.* Represented Capewell at international trade shows, strengthening relationships and negotiating agreements directly with end-users in their respective countries.This role emphasized my ability to build trust, foster collaboration across cultures, and deliver results through a strategic, customer-focused approach in highly technical and regulated industries.

Région De Paris, France

As Public Affairs Officer at Ariane Group—a joint venture between Airbus and Safran specializing in launchers manufacturing for space and defense—I played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s European strategy, focusing on institutional relations and advocacy for cutting-edge space technologies, including Europe's launcher, Ariane 6.- Key contributions:* Lobbying & Institutional Engagement: Planned and executed lobbying campaigns targeting French and European ministries responsible for Space and Industry, ensuring alignment between ArianeGroup’s goals and governmental priorities.* Strategic Intelligence: Provided detailed institutional intelligence and weekly analyses of European space programs, enabling the leadership team to develop informed strategies and strengthen relationships with EU institutions.* EU Program Analysis: Assessed and reported on European funding opportunities and initiatives, contributing to the company’s long-term strategy in aerospace innovation and collaboration.* Cross-Sector Collaboration: Supported ArianeGroup’s core business areas—civil launchers, orbital propulsion systems, and defense—by translating institutional insights and market analyses into strategic initiatives that aligned with the company’s objectives and strengthened its competitive position.This role highlighted my ability to navigate complex institutional landscapes, advocate for technological advancement, and support one of Europe’s premier aerospace organizations in its mission to guarantee Europe's autonomy in Space.

Région De Rennes, France

As part of my Master’s degree program at Sciences Po, I completed a business intelligence internship, contributing to strategic decision-making for a leading sheet metal subcontractor.- Key contributions:* Competitor Analysis: Developed and implemented a competitor monitoring system in collaboration with the Sales team, providing actionable insights to enhance market positioning.* Market Research: Conducted an in-depth analysis of the French sheet metal market, identifying trends, opportunities, and potential risks to inform strategic planning.* Strategic Recommendations: Synthesized business data into proposals for strategic orientations, presenting them to the CEO and Sales department to guide growth and operational decisions.This experience honed my skills in data management, market analysis, and strategic planning, laying a solid foundation for future roles in business intelligence and strategy.

Région De Paris, France

As part of my Master’s degree at Sciences Po, I completed an internship focused on risk analysis, project management, and legal advisory within a governmental context, contributing to critical initiatives such as crisis management and bilateral relations between France and Ecuador.- Key contributions:* Governmental Project Management: Assisted in the implementation and monitoring of governmental projects, conducting risk analysis, managing budgets, and creating dashboards to track key performance indicators (KPIs) for effective follow-up.* Legal Advisory: Provided legal advice to Ecuadorian citizens in France and French individuals planning to relocate to Ecuador, helping navigate complex immigration and legal processes.* Crisis Response: Played an active role in the consulate's crisis management efforts following the April 2016 earthquake, coordinating French humanitarian aid proposals and supporting emergency relief initiatives.This experience enhanced my skills in political risk management, project coordination, and international relations, equipping me to handle complex, cross-border challenges in future roles.

Panama City

As part of my Master’s degree at Sciences Po, I completed an internship in the cultural and communication department of the French Alliance in Panama, where I developed a broad skill set in public relations, project management, and international diplomacy through the coordination of high-profile cultural events.- Key contributions:* Public Relations & Media Coordination: Managed relations with the media, embassies, and diplomatic contacts. I delivered speeches, radio interviews, press releases, and diplomatic notes to promote cultural initiatives.* Sponsorship & Fundraising: Secured $90,000 in sponsorships for cultural events, collaborating with corporate partners and stakeholders to ensure financial support for international projects.* Event Planning & Coordination: Organized international tours for artists, handling all logistical aspects including accommodation, visas, transportation, and budgeting.* Team Leadership: Led teams responsible for the technical preparation of cultural events, ensuring seamless execution and high-quality results.This role helped refine my leadership, communication, and event management abilities while deepening my understanding of cross-cultural diplomacy and the complexities of organizing international initiatives.

Master'S Degree, International Trade And Management, With Honours

This highly selective and renowned MBA-equivalent program, ranked France's Top 1 Master's in International Business (2016-2024), equips.

Master'S Degree, International Affairs, With Honours

This prestigious Master's (MA-equivalent) from Sciences Po Rennes combines in-depth geopolitical analysis with international trade.

Certificate In Leadership Principles, Organizational Leadership, Complete

Leadership Principles is a 8-week, 40-hour online certificate program from Harvard Business School. Leadership Principles is designed.

Economics, High Honours

The "Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles" (CPGE) ECE, which stands for Economic and Commercial Preparatory Classes with an Economic.