Driving cashflow, P&L and M&A

During my tenure as COO at both Havas and Exact AI, I was responsible for overseeing the daily operations and ensuring the smooth running of the business across all functions, with a key focus on financial management, including cashflow and P&L oversight.

At Havas, I was tasked with managing the overall P&L of the business, ensuring profitability while balancing operational costs, investments, and strategic initiatives. I worked closely with department heads to optimise budgets, streamline processes, and ensure that financial targets were met. One of my key responsibilities was managing cashflow to ensure the company had sufficient liquidity for day-to-day operations while funding growth initiatives. Regular reviews of financial forecasts, cash reserves, and expenditure allowed me to make strategic decisions that would positively impact the company's financial health.

Additionally, I served as the Chairman of the Merger and Acquisitions Council at Havas, where I led key discussions and strategies around identifying, evaluating, and executing M&A opportunities. This role involved deep financial analysis, negotiating terms, and overseeing the integration of new acquisitions to ensure they aligned with the broader business strategy. I worked closely with legal and financial teams to ensure deals were structured in a way that maximised value for the company while minimising risk.

At Exact AI, my role as COO was focused on scaling the business while maintaining operational efficiency. This included automating financial reporting processes, ensuring accurate P&L management, and monitoring cashflow to fund strategic investments in AI-driven solutions. I played a hands-on role in managing the business's rapid growth, building financial frameworks that supported scalability without sacrificing quality or service. By streamlining operations and aligning resources, I ensured that Exact AI could adapt to the demands of a growing client base while maintaining strong financial discipline.

In both roles, the day-to-day involved liaising with various departments, including marketing, operations, and finance, to ensure that all parts of the business were aligned with our financial goals. My focus was always on driving profitability, optimising cashflow, and ensuring that every decision was aligned with our long-term growth objectives.