Markos Brotzakis

Directs UAE, KSA and Qatar accounting, finance, treasury, IT and tax functions. Joined to offer strategic vision to the group and mature solutions to the undergoing transformation.

• Lead a major transformation project involving organisation into Business Units, Business Process Design, and Implementation of Epicor ERP.
• Provided solutions in raising finance and in solving regional tax issues.

Member of the executive team assembled to develop a banana farm in the Philippines and organise international fruit trading for the company. Direct Report to MD and BoD.

• Setup operations in UAE and the Philippines.
• Directed accounting, finance, tax and IT in both locations.
• Developed a finance strategy for the project implementation, and designed systems and procedures to ensure safe delivery.
• Developed feasibility study, sensitivity analysis & Business Plan for a Greenfield 1.500 ha Banana farm in the Philippines. Participated in investor roadshow.
• Instigated & secured finance facilities with Asia Development Bank and Landbank in the Philippines.
• Controlled project development. Saved 5% in project costs through rigorous control of supply chain and procurement activities.
• Directed IFRS Reporting and consolidation of UAE and Philippines operations. Financial Planning. Designed and implemented Netsuite.
• Coordinated external audit. Liaison with legal & tax advisors. Tax planning in the Philippines.

Listed multinational manufacturer of glass food containers & coolers, member of CCH Group (Coca-Cola). Group turnover € 550 million. Partner to Country Manager, reported to Group CFO.

• Managed accounting, finance and IT functions.
• Acted as change agent for the integration of the newly acquisition, GCC’s largest Glass plant.
• Developed strategy with Country Manager for the new acquisition.
• Forecasted successfully the sale of Glass BU, 12 months in advance.
• Directed IFRS financial statements, Management Reporting and Financial Planning in Hyperion.
• Performed variance and KPI analysis. Coordinated corrective actions to achieve targets.
• Managed working capital. Improved DSO and DPO generating $12M liquidity for the company and the Group, without disturbing supply-chain operations.
• Initiated cost reduction activities impacting EBITDA. Efficiencies totalled $3M.
• Managed treasury. Restructured finance facilities, managed trade finance, multicurrency transactions, funds, liquidity and hedged raw materials and equipment purchases. Bank signatory.
• Managed Capital Expenditure (Capex). Performed feasibility studies, project negotiation, project financing and control of two successive multi-million USD expansions of the plant. Achieved zero deviation from budgeted amounts.
• Designed an MRP solution in Navision and implemented it at a record time of 2 months.
• Coordinated external audit. Liaison with legal advisors, banks, free-zone authorities and minority shareholders.

Listed multinational (member of Benetton portfolio of companies), world’s largest Retail (Duty-free) and F&B Company for travellers with turnover in excess of €6 billion. Direct Report to Group CFO.

• Directed operational and financial control. Partner to Regional MD.
• Developed strategy in Retail and Hospitality for the region and member of the team planning European Strategy. Spearheaded growth and expansion in the region.
• Accountable for set targets (financial and operational).
• Performed feasibility studies on expansion projects & M&A’s in South-East Europe.
• Performed restructuring activities in the region, concerning M&A and ownership transfer.
• Directed financial and management reporting and consolidation in Hyperion for multiple countries, locations, distribution channels, brands and operating segments. Commented on variances and significant events.
• Revised variance & KPIs analysis with emphasis on Sales, COGS, payroll and other operating expenses. Initiated and monitored cost control & cost optimisation activities coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Renegotiated all concession contracts during 2009-2011 crisis achieving cost savings in excess of €10M.
• Coordinated financial planning, short-term and strategic (Budget, Forecasts, 3 & 5-year plans).
• Designed, implemented & supervised accounting systems and controls according to group policies with emphasis on cash management, inventory control, asset protection and fraud deterrence.
• Consolidated treasury function, ensuring financial facilities and liquidity are in place.
• Performed performance appraisal (ROI & ROCE) of investments and brands.
• Coordinated and managed successfully geographically dispersed finance teams.
• Designed and implemented IT infrastructure ensuring business continuity and accommodation of an expanding business model including SAP, Hyperion, MS Exchange, POS systems, IP telephony.
• Managed tax affairs (Corporate Income Tax, Investment Incentives, Transfer Pricing, Thin Capitalisation, Indirect Taxation, Cross-border Transactions).

• Directed accounting, finance, tax, IT and quality.
• P&L (EBITDA) and Capital expenditure ownership.
• Spearheaded organic growth from 1 location to 12 and from 3 stores to 25.
• Developed retail & hospitality sector strategy. Reviewed investment proposals for expansion.
• Reviewed periodically brands performance, commercial practices and ROI.
• Performed feasibility studies for all new projects in the country.
• Negotiated Joint Ventures (JVs) with BP, Shell and other Oil companies for the construction and operation of Motorist Service Stations.
• Participated in the negotiations and reviewed all concession (Highways & Airports) and construction contracts.
• Directed Project Control for all construction and fit-out projects in Motorways and Airports, in total Euro 150 million. Delivered on time Motorist Service Stations and Airport locations (8 Greenfield, 4 Renovation). Achieved project savings of 3% (savings € 4.5 million).
• Directed timely and accurate financial and management reporting (IFRS). Reported for multiple operating segments on a store-by-store level in Hyperion.
• Reviewed weekly and monthly variance analysis and KPIs.
• Designed and monitored corrective actions to achieve targets.
• Guided financial planning (Budget, Forecasts, 3 & 5-years plans).
• Managed treasury. Negotiated finance facilities and invested excess liquidity according to Group policy.
• Developed alternative revenue streams adding more than €5Μ in top line.
• Introduced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and reporting.
• Monitored Corporate Governance according to group guidelines.
• Monitored company risk (assessment, management and mitigation activities).
• Full ownership of external and internal audit, legal and tax affairs.
• Managed relationships with landlords, constructors, franchisors, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Designed and implemented MIS system offering variance analysis and KPIs measurement, delivered through dashboards and custom Excel reports to support management decision-making. Introduced BI systems to improve sales forecasting and supply-chain activities.
• Instigated and delivered ISO 22000 (HACCP) project.

• Established Greek subsidiary in 1997. Organised the new entity and introduced IT systems.
• Prepared Financial Statements, Financial Planning (Budgets, Forecasts) & Corporate Management Reporting.
• Controlled food cost, retail cost, operational expenses and capital expenditure.
• Managed loans for construction.
• Reviewed and authorised transactions.
• Performed tax advising.

Member of Hay Group, one of world’s top Management and HR Consulting companies. Direct Report to Regional General Manager.

• Coordinated corporate reporting and consolidation under US GAAP, Financial Planning & Tax Advising.
• Performed variance analysis. Coordinated with project consultants to achieve targets.
• Managed accurate and timely preparation of financial statements of local entities.
• Carried out successfully an M&A transaction.
• Coordinated external audits. Liaison with HQ, legal & tax advisors.

Member of Alcatel Group, a listed leading manufacturer of telecommunication equipment. Direct Report to company CFO.

• Supervised accounting, tax & IT.
• Supervised Costing, Financial Accounts, Corporate Management Reporting, Payroll, Expenses Control and Tax Advising.
• Managed cash-flow, and inventory.
• Saved taxes equal to 1/3 of a group M&A transaction.
• Developed SOPs to safeguard accuracy of financial statements & company assets.
• Managed external audit. Liaison with legal & tax advisors and public authorities.

• Managed major accounts like AT&T, Alcatel, First National Bank of Chicago and San Paolo IMI, as well as companies in construction, services and trading.
• Prepared Financial & Management Accounts under U.S and U.K GAAP and Tax Advised in complex tax issues.
• Project Controller and Tax Advisor for the construction of seven shopping malls for a German multinational.