Gorki Benito Fernández
Coordinator for Brazil
Executive Position in Finance | Commercial Strategy | Costs Efficiencies
Qualifications
- Senior executive with extensive experience in leadership positions within Finance area at large multinational companies.
- Multicultural and international experience having worked and lived in several countries in Latin America and worked with teams from India, United States, Europe and Asia.
- Fifteen years of experience in Financial Planning with the capacity to increase profitability in product portfolio, innovation and process efficiency.
- Expertise in implementation process of outsourcing and Share Business Services with partners in India.
- High competence in integrating and engaging remote teams with efficiency and quality on regional results.
- Experience in complex and changing environments, managing situations of mergers and acquisitions.
- Accountant with a MBA emphasized in Finance and Production at Harvard Latin American School (INCAE).
- Fluent in English and Portuguese, native Spanish
Main Achievements
Financial Planning
- I lead the budget process, P&L management and cash flow control at Cadbury Adams in South America. I implemented financial planning processes linked to the countries’ S&OP programming. I formalized a common agenda and the use of standardized reports and indicators that facilitated the discussions and decision making of the Regional Leadership Direction with the countries. I influenced the profitability and growth of the markets through frequent meetings with the leaders of each of the countries to evaluate the product portfolio, expenses and market dynamics. I recommended actions that support the sustainable growth of the business.
- I developed a standardized financial analysis platform to evaluate the innovation portfolio, involving the different responsible teams such as Marketing, Sales and Production at Cadbury Adams and Kraft. The process was successfully implemented and was a reference for other regions. I developed a set of “Hurdle Rates” (Threshold) to facilitate the dynamics of decision making in the process for the whole team.
- I led the process of financial simulations of the strategic plan 2015-2025 to the Gums and Candies Category, including analysis of the category’s trends and risk scenarios with action alternatives for their mitigation.
Cost Management
- Working together with the Global team I implemented the Cero Base Costs (ZBB) methodology at Mondelez in Latin America, including incorporation and training in globally standardized policies, with new spending limits, rules for approval and responsibilities. I trained approximately 300 people from different organizational levels and functions in the region. The implementation of the ZBB methodology achieved savings of 200 million dollars per year in Latin America overheads expenses.
- In conjunction with Finance Regional Director I formalized the responsibility of each functional leader in Latin America Region with their portion of indirect expenses (Overheads) and the proper control over them. I implemented the KPIs and monthly reports for each role. I established a review agenda linked to the budget and management control processes with regional leaders along the Region.
- I supported the financial portfolio analysis of the factory in Colombia to assure the best combination of SKUs to be delisted upon closing operations in that factory and transferring production to other manufactures in Brazil and Mexico. The result was the reduction of SKUs portfolio in 25% and profit improving in 6 percentage points.
Teams restructuring and integration
- Working with local and Global teams, I led the outsourcing implementation of indirect cost processes with Genpact (India) at Mondelez Latin America as part of the global strategy for restructuring and implementing a zero budget methodology. This process was implemented in a record time (20% less) compared to similar processes in Heinz, Coca Cola, Ambev and others. I conducted the analysis and documentation of each process and its transfer to the team in India. The savings generated after the implementation was US $ 500 thousand per year as a result of the 60% reduction in the number of employees in the region, in addition to the productivity and agility due to the standardization of processes achieved.
Professional Journey
Mondelēz International 06/2010 – 07/2019
Overheads Manager for Latin America – Brazil 06/2015 – 07/2019
I led the financial management of indirect costs (Overheads) in Latin America (US $ 490 million). Reporting to the Global Director of the function. Intense working on process improvements and efficiencies with the outsourced team located in India and local finance teams in the region.
Latin America Finance Manager Gums & Candies Category – Brasil 07/2013 – 05/2015
I coordinated the financial assessments of productivity projects, portfolio innovation and financial strategic plan of the category (10 years). Category annual revenue in the region US $ 1 billion.
Ecuador General Manager – Ecuador 09/2012 – 06/2013
I assumed the company’s General Manager responsibility in Ecuador for 10 months, where I implemented efficiencies in the structure of discounts and commercial conditions, as well as improvements in trade inventory controls (sell in – sell out). Annual revenue in Ecuador US $ 50 million.
Finance Manager– Ecuador 06/2010 – 08/2012
I led the integration of teams, processes and systems as a result of the acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft. I guided and motivated the team during the change process, keeping them engaged and oriented to the business. I coordinated the legal processes with the legal area to unify the companies. Ecuador was Kraft’s first legal entity to complete the merger process in the world.
Cadbury Adams 01/2004 – 05/2010
Finance Manager cluster PERCUP (Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay y Paraguay) – Peru 02/2009 – 05/2010
I coordinated with the General Manager of the Cluster, the improvements for the recovery of the business in Chile. I performed improvements in administrative controls and processes. I reformed the structure of discounts and commercial incentives. After these actions, Chile moved from a position of financial loss to a profit of + 5% in the first year. The collection days went from 120 to 60 in the first 10 months after I started my assignment as a finance Manager.
Financial Planning Manager South America Region – Brazil 01/2004 – 01/2009
I led the standardization and integration of financial planning (P&L) processes for the 10 countries in the region. I centralized the financial analysis processes of innovation of whole Region with the team of Brazil allowing excellence in decision making process and accurate comparisons among markets. In addition, I led the market review agenda of each Country leadership team with Regional Directors.
Pfizer 10/2000 – 12/2004
Financial Planning Manager Andean Region – Colombia 05/2002 – 12/2004
I supported the Due Diligence process of the confectionery division of Pfizer (Adams) during the offering process to be sold, and right awya I led the integration team of the processes and reports according to new owner requirements (Cadbury PLC).
Demand Planner Manager – Venezuela 10/2000 – 04/2002
Academics
- MBA with special emphasis in Finance and Production. LA´s branch of Harvard Business School (INCAE), 1998.
- CPA – Certified Public Accountant. Andres Bello Catholic University – Caracas / Colombia, 1995.
Enhancers Courses
- ZBB Cost Methodology – Mondelez University – México, 2014.
- Economic Profit for Business Analysis – Cadbury Learning Center – Brazil, 2008.
- Strategic Choices Portfolio Analysis – Cadbury Learning Center – Brazil, 2006.
