About Gwenael
I support companies through periods of transition, crisis, or transformation by stepping in as an interim CFO or senior finance advisor. With 25+ years of experience in listed, PE-backed and multinational industrials, I deliver immediate impact where it matters most: cash and liquidity control, restructuring, and margin expansion.
Clients engage me when they need stability and results fast. I bring clear financial discipline, trusted board-level communication, and the ability to energise teams — ensuring transparency, control, and performance improvement from day one.
English
Native or bilingual
German
Conversational
Can work on-site
Geneva (up to 50km)
Experience
- Coda Octopus GroupNon Executive DirectorDEFENSE AND MILITARYApril 2024 - Today (2 years and 2 months)Orlando, United StatesNASDAQ-listed developer of 5D/6D sonar and defence-grade marine systems, serving civil and special ops clients globally.• Governance & Risk Oversight – Member of both Audit and Compensation Committees; contributed to ERM consolidation, internal controls, and SEC-aligned financial oversight.• Strategic Influence – Supported business growth through market access initiatives and network leverage.
- St John's AdvisoryStrategic Advisor and Interim ExecutiveCONSULTING AND AUDITSJanuary 2023 - Today (3 years and 5 months)SwitzerlandOffering hands-on support to PE firms, founders, and boards across healthcare, industrials, and electronics. Led finance operations, debt maturity refinancing, and capital allocation for complex medical device manufacturer. Sector Expertise Acted to P/E firms across European industrial assets.Strategy Consultant.- Interim CFO & SHL Medical (May-Dec’23) – Led finance operations, debt maturity refinancing,and capital allocation for complex medical device manufacturer.- Sector Expertise – Acted as transaction advisor to P/E firms across European industrial assets.
- GKN AerospaceGroup CFOAVIATION AND AEROSPACEApril 2021 - December 2022 (1 year and 8 months)United KingdomGroup Chief Financial Officer for a Global Tier-1 supplier to all major aircraft OEMs, with 40 sites in 12 countries and 15,000 employees.• IPO Preparation & Investor Engagement – Developed the investment case and presentation for the Capital Markets Day ahead of the planned IPO; contributed to a +70% share price increase post-event.• Margin Expansion – Designed and drove a 500+ bps EBIT uplift roadmap, with clear accountability and KPIs.• Finance Culture Shift – Rebuilt the function into a value-driving business partner; embedded automation and digitisation.• Board & Shareholder Trust – Built transparency and accountability around financial performance, introduced robust progress tracking, and earned strong credibility with the Board.
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Education
- Masters of ManagementEDHEC Business School1998Masters of Management
- Private Pilot Licence – Single Engine Piston(EASAPrivate Pilot Licence – Single Engine Piston