Issue 3 2023 CEO of the Year 2022- Bahrain SUISSE BANK has a wealth of expertise in the area of trade finance solutions, private and corporate digital banking, and specialises in cutting-edge blockchain banking services. Wolfgang Zulauf, the bank’s experienced and renowned Chief Executive Officer, tells us more about the industry as he celebrates being bestowed with a prestigious accolade in the CEO of the Year Awards 2022. Wolfgang Zulauf
Welcome to the March 2023 issue of CEO Monthly. As always, CEO Monthly is dedicated to providing the latest news and features across the business world to our readership. By sharing knowledge, insights, expertise and success stories from around the globe, we aim to inspire individuals and promote positivity in a world that is in a constant state of evolution. The world of business is ever-changing, so it is important that a CEO can adapt quickly in order to stay ahead of the curve. One of the biggest trends we’re seeing in particular in 2023 is a focus on agility and flexibility, with CEOs recognising the importance of being able to pivot quickly in response to changing market conditions and customer needs. Also crucial is embracing new technologies and business models to enable high quality customer service and efficient supply chain management. A prime example of a leader going above and beyond in these areas is our cover feature, Wolfgang Zulauf, who is CEO and founder of SUISSE BANK. Highly respected both as a professional within the banking sector and as a CEO, Wolfgang is a truly ambitious and fearless leader who is relentless when it comes to seeking new opportunities and responding to a changing industry. Recognised as CEO of the Year 2022, Bahrain in this issue, we take a look at how he has achieved such success in his career. Among these pages, we get to know an array of inspiring CEOs from all kinds of industries, whether finance, marketing, cybersecurity, or even food delivery service training! We hope you enjoy reading through and look forward to welcoming you back next month. Rebecca Scotland, Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News 6. SUISSE BANK PLC: Banking On It! 8. Redesign Your Office as a ‘Third Place’ 9. UrsaNav: Navigating the Future 10. Hill Planet: Strategically Speaking 11. Si Collection: Would You Credit It? 12. YKONE: Influencing Success 13. JAR Capital Limited: Trust in the Future 15. RANE Network Inc: Running the Risk 16. Vigan Group: Power to the People! 18. Winch & Co Private Equity: A Thriving Industry 19. rankingCoach GmbH: Climbing the Ranks 20. Service Club Delivery: Delivering Success 22. Winners Listing Contents
NEWS AssuredPartners Announces New Executive Leadership Appointments
As Covet & Mane expands the operations for its leading Beauty Brand, VIPdesk is supporting the company with elevated customer service via a dedicated team of Brand Ambassadors. VIPdesk is continuing its rapid growth pace by adding yet another premium brand to its mix of customer service focused clients. As a major provider of BPO solutions to the Beauty Industry, VIPdesk is proud to add Covet & Mane to its portfolio of iconic, industry defining brands. Sally Hurley – CEO of VIPdesk commented on the new partnership: “As a CEO of a women owned and led company, I applaud Dafina for what she has created with Covet & Mane! The customers and stylists of this most beautiful brand deserves only the best service, and we are honored to implement a service solution which will allow Covet & Mane to continue its fast growth and excellent reputation while offering an elevated service experience.” Founded in 2019 by CEO Dafina Smith, Covet & Mane disrupted the industry from its inception with the world’s first line of customizable hand-tied hair extensions giving stylists unparalleled control over color and texture. VIPdesk and Covet & Mane are working closely together to deliver an elevated, authentic, and efficient customer service experience. Dafina Smith – CEO of Covet & Mane expressed her excitement about the new partnership: “At Covet & Mane, we’re dedicated to providing unparalleled customer support to our stylists. I’m so excited to expand our Client Success team and partner with a best-in-class agency that’s committed to offering our stylists personal touch connections. We look forward to continuing to serve our mission of offering luxury hair extensions to leading salons and stylists through our partnership with VIPdesk” VIPdesk delivers elevated and authentic outsourced customer experiences for brands who truly care about providing the highest standards of customer service. The company’s unique remote customer service model has allowed the company to flourish with four placements on the Inc. 5000 List of America’s fastest growing companies. With employees in 40+ US States, Europe, and Asia, VIPdesk offers elevated services to customers around the world. With its latest AI-driven Quality and Conversational Insights solution, VIPdesk allows brands to reduce lowvalue interactions while gaining a vast amount of valuable insights about their customer’s sentiment about the brand experience. VIPdesk’s elevated Customer Service approach has delighted millions of customers producing measurable ROI for its clients. VIPdesk is one of only a few B-Corp BPOs in the world, operating with inclusive, equitable and sustainable business practices. As a certified B-Corp, VIPdesk enthusiastically embraces the philosophies of this purpose-driven community which works to reduce inequality, contribute to a healthier environment, build stronger communities, and create more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. VIPdesk is on a mission to elevate the human experience. We are - More Human. VIPdesk Announces New Partnership with Leading Beauty Brand Covet & Mane Company Promotes Veteran Leaders Randy Larsen and Paul Vredenburg, Current CEO Jim Henderson to Serve as Executive Chairman AssuredPartners, Inc. (“AssuredPartners” or the “Company”) announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Randy Larsen as Chief Executive Officer and Paul Vredenburg as President and Chief Operating Officer. Their appointments are effective September 1, 2023. Jim Henderson, the current CEO and Chairman of AssuredPartners, will remain active with the Company as he assumes the role of Executive Chairman. Mr. Henderson will also work closely with Mr. Larsen, Mr. Vredenburg, and the rest of the executive team, to help continue to execute on the Company’s longterm strategy. Mr. Henderson commented: “Randy is a proven leader. He has excelled at every level of our organization. From producer and agency leader to Regional President and President of Retail, Randy has been intimately involved in all aspects of our growth strategy since 2012. This experience will serve him well as AssuredPartners continues its record-setting growth with Randy at the helm.” “Paul has been a key contributor to the success of AssuredPartners since the very beginning,” Mr. Henderson continued. “His skills in acquiring and integrating businesses have been, and will continue to be, instrumental to our success. Whether in business development or operations, Paul is always willing to roll up his sleeves, understand the challenge, and lead a team to success. I can’t wait to see his talents and leadership applied in this expanded role.” Aaron Cohen, AssuredPartners Board member and Managing Director at GTCR, shared the following about the transition: “Jim led AssuredPartners from a startup into one of the largest and most respected insurance brokers in the country. We are incredibly grateful for his partnership as CEO over the last 12 years and we look forward to his continued leadership and involvement as Executive Chairman. We are confident that Randy and Paul are the right leaders to succeed Jim and continue the unparalleled growth trajectory at Assured. It was important to the board and Jim that the succession plan focus on leveraging the best and brightest leaders inside the Company. Randy and Paul bring different and complementary skillsets to an already exceptional and wellbalanced group of executives. We are confident that this group will continue to provide our customers best-in-class insurance services.” Randy Larsen added, “I am truly honored to follow in Jim’s footsteps as the CEO of AssuredPartners. Together, we have built an amazing organization, and we will continue our success by supporting our regional and local leaders, helping them execute strategies to grow organically and through acquisition.” Paul Vredenburg commented, “With Jim at the helm, we have created an organization like no other in our industry. I love the people of this Company. I am humbled and excited to assume this new role and to continue working with this group as we grow and evolve AssuredPartners to even greater success.”
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 6 Banking On It! SUISSE BANK has a wealth of expertise in the area of trade finance solutions, private and corporate digital banking, and specialises in cutting-edge blockchain banking services. Wolfgang Zulauf, the bank’s experienced and renowned Chief Executive Officer, tells us more about the industry as he celebrates being bestowed with a prestigious accolade in the CEO of the Year Awards 2022. SUISSE BANK is an offshore bank with its back office in Manama, Bahrain. As an enterprising bank, SUISSE BANK offers a range of services designed for private and corporate clients, including private and corporate digital accounts, blockchain banking, and trade finance for its worldwide clients under the offshore license, and its services are provided only to its approved clients and not to the general public. The main services of SUISSE BANK are geared towards its all-in-one wallet. A userfriendly internet banking and mobile app gives the bank’s clients 24/7 access to the private or corporate account, checking accounts and debit card balances, as well as making transfers with a smartphone or tablet with multilingual customer support. The bank offers blockchain banking and enables customers to trade cryptocurrency. It focuses on simplicity, creating an accessible crypto-wallet, as well as handling all the technical aspects with its secure proprietary backend system. As a regulated universal bank, investments in cryptocurrencies at SUISSE BANK are subject to the same legal requirements as traditional financial transactions. Clients and funds are therefore subjected to a strict verification and identification process. Wolfgang Zulauf is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SUISSE BANK, which he established as a private bank in November 2008. He also serves as the bank’s Chairman. “SUISSE BANK comes in the top trade finance banks for our reliable services dispatched in a very timely manner and with the utmost professionalism,” he begins, speaking of his business. “We have a number of products specialising in the field of trade finance. Bank guarantees, standby letters of credit, documentary letters of credit, proofs of funds and warranties – you name it and we have it!” Well-known in the world of offshore banking, Wolfgang has vast experience in the financial industry, having held many high-profile positions with top financial institutions over the years, as well as expertise in the field of private and corporate offshore banking. Wolfgang has served in the role of Chief Executive Officer in other banking institutions in several countries such as London, Moscow, and the Middle East, and he is considered an expert in handling complicated financial trades in new countries, with his many experiences having taught him a lot of lessons in handling clients, services, and products. As a German citizen, Wolfgang is fluent in German, English, Russian, and French languages, and has studied economics in Cologne, Germany. He also holds a private office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Wolfgang earned respect in the banking sector early on with his exceptional ability to handle offshore banking services and investments. He helps firms to seal their business deals with international clients and he influences markets with his marketing techniques, which serve as boost for his business clients. “Our clients only achieve success with our services,” explains Wolfgang. “Your money is treated like ours. Your basic interests of discretion, risk minimisation, yield optimisation, and flexibility are respected above all else.” A strong businessman like Wolfgang has the capability to turn a start-up into a multimillion-dollar business. He is fierce in his endeavours and heads against market competition with the willpower Jan23101 S to conquer. As a hardworking man, Wolfgang continues to learn all the latest technological inventions in the banking sector and he has played a pivotal role in the development of the SUISSE BANK, investing in growing the dedicated working staff under it. Wolfgang is always scouting for opportunities which help in giving SUISSE BANK a firm stand in the banking market. He is instrumental in leading the bank to handle international operations right from its initial days. His success is largely attributed to his marketing skills, strong knowledge of banking, and a skilled operations team, and he strongly believes that investing in the foreign market is necessary to attain global recognition. Wolfgang has, in fact, built his business empire based on this principle. Recently, Wolfgang gained further international recognition as he was named CEO of the Year 2022, Bahrain in the prestigious CEO of the Year Awards 2022. Now, as he looks towards the future, Wolfgang is planning to expand the banking operations into new countries with a network of trusted agents. He has earned the trust of his clients by showing the offshore banking
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 7 operations and explaining the economic structure of the new country. “We have always successfully combined the principles of innovation and tradition in our work,” he exclaims. “Since its foundation in 2008, SUISSE BANK has always further advanced progress – we are open to new developments in the worlds of banking and finance, open to progressive ideas and projects and are of course always keen to hear about new financial models. “Your success is our goal!” SUISSE BANK PLC United Tower, Level 29 Building 316, Road 4609 Manama - Sea Front 346 Bahrain T: +973 (0) 16 555 071 F: +973 (0) 16 555 001 [email protected] www.suissebank.com
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 8 Redesign Your Office as a ‘Third Place’ As a young lad I was fortunate enough to always feel a sense of community and belonging everywhere I went, whether this was seeing my local neighbour at the youth centre or my parents’ friends at the library, there were communal spaces available. nfortunately, due to austerity and budget cuts, physical community spaces have been lost and digital communities have taken precedence. Nevertheless, physical spaces will always be necessary, as preserving communities can improve people’s lives. Given only 21% of employees are engaged at work and the increasing levels of stress among staff, I decided to revamp my office space into a collaborative hub that could be used whenever necessary by my team. I think that business leaders have a responsibility to rebuild community hubs where they can, and this is why: We are losing our ‘third places’ Through the years, I’ve witnessed the steady deterioration of the so-called ‘third places.’ These are spaces where people go to unwind, different from their homes (referred to as first places) or their workplaces (second places). Third places provide a space to connect with the local community, often at no personal cost. The defunding of places like youth centres by the government has had a damaging effect on our communities and we shouldn’t underestimate its repercussions. With the rising cost of living and the ongoing aftershocks of the pandemic, employee well-being is being put to the test. This is not only a moral issue but a financial one as well, with low engagement costing the global economy a staggering $7.8 trillion. Business leaders have an opportunity and a duty to make a genuine difference in employee wellbeing. In my experience, redesigning my office space with emotional well-being and collaboration in mind has delivered excellent results and is something all business leaders should consider. It’s time to rethink our office spaces Not only do physical community hubs provide a dedicated space for employees to collaborate, but they also provide a place for employees to take a break from work and interact with their peers in a more relaxed setting. This can help to reduce stress levels and create a positive work environment. Additionally, physical community hubs can help to build a sense of belonging and connection among employees. This can lead to greater involvement and engagement, resulting in improved productivity and higher morale. The design of an office space varies depending on the type of business it is used for. It’s essential to consider the specific needs of your industry when designing the layout. Nevertheless, there are some key elements that should be taken into account regardless of the business. With hybrid working becoming the new standard, it has become more vital than ever to foster meaningful interactions between colleagues. To do this, offices should be redesigned with the intention of promoting collaboration and communication. They should have comfortable areas with couches, TVs and refreshments such as tea and coffee. Additionally, it should be a place where employees can make memories and have fun that cannot be replicated working from home. This could include activities like darts, Xbox gaming and karaoke nights, which can provide a break from the day-today and help to ease the financial strain of socialising in the current cost of living crisis. Opening the office 24/7 to our staff has been hugely beneficial. We’ve used it for after-work events and even for a weekend daycare for coffee catchups. Our team is more connected than ever and we have reenergized a feeling of togetherness in the area. Kids who would not have been able to meet each other are getting together on weekends and my staff can meet their colleagues’ friends when appropriate. I urge other business leaders to think of your office as a third place for your team. - U
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 9 Mar22259 Navigating the Future UrsaNav is globally known and respected as the expert, industry leader, and top producer of low-frequency PNT solutions. We speak to the firm’s CEO, Charles Schue, as he is recognized in the CEO of the Year Awards and aptly named PNT Solutions CEO of the Year 2022 - USA. It’s a long road from climbing 1350-foot towers and replacing transmitter tubes to the CEO’s office. Fortyseven years of in-depth experience with everything from the details of signal propagation to international radionavigation policy have made UrsaNav CEO Charles Schue the world’s leading authority on low frequency (LF) positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Headquartered in Billerica, MA, UrsaNav is the world’s leading supplier of Loran-C/D, Enhanced Loran (eLoran), and LFPhoenix™ products and services. The firm provides design, development, replacement, installation, and operations support. Clients include civil government agencies, military, and commercial organizations across the globe. Company staff, starting with CEO Charles Schue, have been involved in nearly every Loran-C and eLoran project in the world since the mid-1970s. These include the current Loran systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and South Korea, and former/current Loran/ eLoran systems in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, India, Norway, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Turkey. It is hard to overstate Schue’s depth of experience and expertise in the field. Starting as a hands-on technician in the US Coast Guard, he rose to leading R&D and life-cycle support of the entire North American Loran system, which supported the national airspace system, maritime operations, and timing and frequency synchronization for telecommunications and financial institutions. His duties included representing the US at international coordination meetings and technical conferences. LF PNT is a highly specialized field and UrsaNav is the dominant player. As the only company with a proven track record in the technology, UrsaNav’s expertise is in high demand around the world. The company equipped and supported the UK’s eLoran Initial Operating Capability demonstrations. It is a key supplier and consultant for South Korea’s Loran-C to eLoran transition, providing a less expensive, more accurate, and fully independent solution. UrsaNav is also working with two other countries to upgrade or install systems. The most common sources of PNT signals are those from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). But these satellite signals are very weak and easy to block and/or imitate. Strong, extremely difficult to disrupt and hack eLoran signals have easily survived jamming and spoofing trials in both the US and UK. “Unless you work in the field of PNT, you are probably unaware of how important these ‘invisible utilities’ are to everyday life,” he explains. “In our modern world, we are connected more than ever in space and time. Think telecommunications; financial services; aviation, maritime, rail, and vehicle transportation systems; information technology; gas, electric, and water delivery; even dams and traffic lights,” Schue elaborates. “All depend upon weak space-based signals that are easily interrupted.” Starting with GPS, other GNSS, such as Europe’s Galileo, and several Regional Navigation Satellite Systems, have enabled widespread adoption of PNT services in many applications across modern society. “These are superb systems, and we should ensure they are ‘protected, toughened, and augmented’ in every way possible. The issue at hand is assurance of safety, security, operational continuity, and economic viability when spacebased signals are not available or not trustworthy.” Many independent government and commercial organizations in the US and UK have documented our overreliance on space and the vulnerabilities that result when no national backup or alternative solutions are provided. “Disruption of, or interference with, PNT systems can adversely impact individuals, businesses, national economies, and military security. The existence and nature of threats to PNT services are well known, and governments and industry globally have recognized the need for resilient PNT services that can mitigate intentional and unintentional threats.” Schue recommends searching online for UK and US government reports detailing the consequences of overreliance on space, or for jamming events. Disruptions that happen frequently are those affecting transportation sectors: aviation, maritime, and land mobile. When air traffic is disrupted or endangered, such as happened recently at Dallas-Fort Worth or Denver, it impacts the safety, security, and economics of the country, the airlines, and – most importantly - the passengers. Schue has advocated for “skyfree” PNT solutions to spacebased systems since GPS first became operational in 1994. This idea became a cornerstone of what is now commonly called the System-of-Systems approach, which includes a mix of spacebased, terrestrial eLoran, and wired solutions. Nations can mitigate their overreliance on sole-means PNT by providing alternative PNT solutions “that are readily available; provide easy and seamless transition to/from the primary or other alternatives; allow continuity of operations at a possibly degraded, yet usable, accuracy, availability, and integrity; and are dissimilar enough from other alternatives to withstand the effects that might be affecting the primary solution.” Governments around the world have concluded that eLoran easily meets these requirements. Schue continues to champion LF terrestrial augmentations to enhance the PNT and frequency resilience so important to national infrastructure. He helped found the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation, a non-profit organization that is instrumental in obtaining support for developing national PNT architectures that incorporate diverse elements to reduce overdependence on GNSS. In addition to advocating policy and strategies, Schue leads UrsaNav’s pioneering contributions to the technical development of LF radio navigation systems. Their LFPhoenix™ solutions include patented ideas for nations seeking sovereign control of their PNT infrastructure via terrestrial means, even those who operate space-based solutions. The founder of nine businesses ranging from providing key components of ion plasma rocket engines to making the world’s best crispy beef jerky, Schue is the quintessential entrepreneur. His roots are firmly in radionavigation, though. The most recent evidence of this was his selection as a Fellow of the US Institute of Navigation, and recognition as PNT Solutions CEO of the Year 2022 – USA at the CEO of the Year Awards. A very well-deserved and fitting accolade indeed! Jan23842 Contact: Charles Schue Company: UrsaNav Web: www.ursanav.com
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 10 Strategically Speaking Hill Planet is a marketing agency and consultancy that provides digital marketing and outsourcing services. We find out more from CEO, Tony Masero as he celebrates a win in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2023. Experts in online and offline marketing, Hill Planet is a strategic marketing agency and consultancy specialising in providing unique and personalised strategies and solutions for companies and brands to gain visibility and become better known, as well as monitoring results to ensure objectives have been met. The company offers a 360-degree marketing service so clients don’t have to worry about a thing. The experienced and knowledgeable team of experts is trained, qualified, and specialised in all facets of marketing, fully equipped with all the latest tools to achieve its clients’ marketing objectives. Hill Planet has been working with SMEs since 2002, obtaining the best results for its clients by designing and implementing a personalised marketing plan adapted to specific needs and objectives, creating a truly unique experience for its customers. “Setting a goal, segmenting it into objectives, and defining the steps to achieve them through executable and measurable actions is the result of a marketing strategy tailored to your needs,” explains Tony Masero, the firm’s Founder and CEO. “We develop the roadmap for the course of your company. We plan your strategy to obtain the best results in your business.” The methodology used by Hill Planet in its digital projects is agile, achieved after more than 400 digital projects carried out. This allows the company to give the maximum added value in each aspect of the project. Each client of the Hill Planet team has an exclusive manager at the helm who is assigned to them at the beginning of the project. These people act as liaisons and draw on their experiences and career paths in managing marketing to cater for different companies and industries. “We create long relationships with our clients,” Tony elaborates. “We become their marketing department and we manage to achieve the objectives set by each organisation each and every time, for complete client satisfaction.” As a continuation of its commitment to providing customer excellence, Hill Planet provides personalised budgets and rates for each separate strategy, with fixed rates meaning there are no nasty surprises and clients always know exactly what to expect. Recently, for his dedication and commitment to the company, team, and clients, Tony Masero was recognised in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2023 and named Most Influential Strategic Marketing CEO 2023 – Barcelona. “We want to accompany you on this exciting path. We go with you from the business plan to the last line of code. We provide you with all the necessary tools to shape your project, make it viable, and develop it to create a business for the future.” Contact: Tony Masero Company: Hill Planet Web Address: www.hillplanet.com “I enjoy working with innovative, early-stage companies,” Tony enthuses. “I love experiencing the hustle and bustle of start-ups, helping ideas grow, and bringing them to life.” “ “
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 11 Jan23399 Non-performing loans (NPL), where scheduled payments cease, are more commonplace than you might imagine. Sources estimate that in 2021 the average percentage of loans not being repaid worldwide was over 6%. With the present economic climate, this could be set to rise. As a business or financial institution, the way in which you manage debtors can be crucial to your continued success. One business that is ready to take the reins when it comes to debtor challenges is Si Collection. The company provides a range of services to enable its clients to enhance their credit profiles and control risk. Simone tells us, “Our team believe in the value of their work. Each team member is passionate, enthusiastic, and motivated to achieve results. We aim to delight our customers and contribute to keeping the company solid and prosperous.” The company is currently owned by UK based Alchemy Partners, a Private Equity Fund with an impressive track record of investments. Si Collection numbers among its clients such household Milan-based credit enhancement company, Si Collection, has been helping businesses and financial institutions improve their credit profiles for 30 years. Known for its transparency and reliability, Si Collection tailors its approach to the requirements of each of its clients. Its CEO, Simone Caraffini, is our Most Influential Financial Services CEO 2023 – Italy. We take a look at the company in more detail. names as Electrolux, Ford, New Balance, E.ON, Volksbank and KRUK Group. Si Collection’s services span the life of a loan, from the initial application through to collection and, if required, legal action. Prevention being better than cure, Si Collection offers a credit checking service. This enables its clients to understand whether it’s prudent to enter into a commercial relationship as well as assess risk and make a decision about guarantees. Simone explains, “Our credit checking service is one-ofa-kind. It’s built on historical data and the experience of bad payers. It’s an excellent system to help clients avoid acquiring risk and the negative effect that credit losses have on their results.” Inevitably, companies and financial institutions still need help to recover outstanding debts, and Si Collection excels in this area too. The more time that passes, the more difficult it becomes to recover a debt. Simone tells us, “That’s why we’ve made speed one of our cornerstones. We’ve defined specific procedures for each stage of credit management. Quick and precise action increases success and generates higher levels of performance.” Integrating each client’s internal processes with its own, Si Collection creates a strong synergy between the company and its clients. This enables the client to escape the continuous loop of reminder activities. Simone says, “For the most non-performing loans, those with a maturity of more than 12 months, we take charge of the customer’s credit management cycle with complete autonomy. This keeps costs down and enables us to operate in the most time-efficient and accurate manner.” Providing a range of outof-court recovery services throughout Italy and a dedicated phone collection team, the company also offers legal assistance. So what is the key to the company’s success? Simone explains, “For over 30 years we have been managing the impaired loans of the most important banks and financial institutions in the country. Our record is excellent. We’re able to maximize results even in the worst situations. “We use a real-time monitoring system allowing documents to be managed and consulted at any time. For credit collections, we count on our nationwide network of agents who specialise in door-to-door recovery. Our result-oriented master legal team also uses cutting-edge operational processes and tools.” Thanks to its unique technology platform and credit management and recovery capabilities, Si Collection is also the ideal partner for investors specialising in the nonperforming loan sector. Si Collection manages crises and transforms the into opportunities. To find out more, please visit the company website. Contact: Simone Caraffini is CEO Company: Si Collection Web Address: https://sicollection.it/ Would You Credit It?
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 12 Influencing Success Influencer marketing agency YKONE, caters to luxury beauty, fashion, travel, and lifestyle brands worldwide. Being the first of its kind the company has been leading the way for almost 15 years. Spearheading the company is founder and CEO Olivier Billion, our Most Influential Advertising Services CEO 2023 - France. We take a closer look at the evolution of YKONE from where it began, in Paris, to where it is today. In 2008, armed with a master’s degree in marketing, and experience as the Digital Marketing Manager of L’Oréal Paris’ Luxury Division, Olivier Billion set out on a journey to build a unique business of his own. From a small French company, YKONE has grown into an internationally recognised brand, present in 16 cities around the world. Influencer marketing, in different guises, has been around for centuries. But it was when YouTube was launched in 2005 that influencers and social media met for the first time. Even then it took a while for the ‘influencer phenomenon’ to start to make a real impact. By that point, YKONE was already ahead of the game. No surprise then that the company became a favourite of a dazzling array of luxury brands, Gucci, Moët & Chandon, Clinique and Boss, to name drop a few. YKONE’s unique formula for matching its prestigious clients with an unrivalled network of influencers and celebrities, leverages the power of social media to the full. Its data-driven approach and cutting-edge creativity combine to wow audiences with powerful imagery and poetic storytelling. Having mastered the art of influence, the company helps its clients reach millions of viewers, every day. Olivier says, “These brands trust us to create and broadcast amazing content on a local or global scale. We tailor every strategy and piece of content to each platform’s strengths and fine-tune it to generate massive impact.” Having offices worldwide gives YKONE the unique ability to roll out its campaigns internationally whilst keeping them rooted in each local culture. Often, bigger campaigns can involve hundreds of influencers across the globe. But that’s not the only thing that sets YKONE apart from its competitors. Olivier explains, “We’re a new kind of company. We mix traditional agency services with proprietary technology and data, talent management and in-house production. This means we’re able to focus on the details and quality needed to generate successful campaigns and delight our clients.” Finding the right influencer to suit each client’s brand is critical to the success of every campaign. This is where YKONE excels, selecting influencers with a strong affinity for both the brand and target audience with care. Each influencer’s feeds and content undergo meticulous checks to ensure they are professional, authentic, and compatible with the brand values of the client. YKONE even verifies each audience to ensure congruence with the brand’s target market. Managing the wealth of information required to ensure every campaign is a success is no mean feat. And that’s why YKONE has developed its own proprietary software, Campaygn, integrated with Salesforce. The advanced analytics platform allows clients to manage all their campaigns in one place, measure campaign results and obtain precise information about the return on investment and competitor performance. With YKONE’s expertise in its field and the reach of influencer marketing growing year on year, the company is seeing stellar growth – and, so far, has seen its revenue double year on year. When Olivier isn’t leading the team at YKONE, he can be found sharing his insights and experience in influencer marketing with audiences at conferences around the world. Contact: Olivier Billion Company: YKONE Web Address: https://ykone.com/
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 13 Jan23366 Fully independent wealth manager, JAR Capital Ltd offers advisory and corporate finance services to high-networth individuals and families seeking to grow and secure their financial interests. The firm is committed to working with clients to ensure that their wealth is diversified across asset classes and financial institutions, while providing a single point of contact. The expert team at JAR Capital employs its vast knowledge of the investment markets and its wide range of contacts across countries and institutions to ensure growth and security for all of its clients. “JAR Capital’s approach to business has always been that our clients’ success is our success,” explains CEO, Achal Kapoor. “We strive to look after the preservation of our clients’ wealth; we ensure we’re getting the best possible result for everyone.” Achal looks after the wealth management and the corporate business for JAR Capital and has been associated with the financial services industry for the past 23 years. He started his career with Standard Chartered Bank and has held senior management positions with Citibank in London and Kotak Mahindra in India. Achal holds an MBA degree from McGill University, Canada and an Engineering degree in Computer Sciences from India. Completely independent of any bank, service, or product, JAR Capital Ltd (JAR Capital) liaises with a number of institutions to source the very best investment solutions available for its clients and bring them complete peace of mind. We find out more from Achal Kapoor as he celebrates being named as a CEO of the Year. “My leadership style has evolved as I progressed in my career and moved across geographies,” he elaborates. “What started as a transactional role evolved into a more collaborative, strategic, and supportive position.” The growing importance of technology in the business means that Achal has to understand how to deploy these evolving and powerful tools. However, he believes that whilst technology is complementary to wealth managers’ activity, it cannot replace them, since no algorithm is more powerful than trust. “Building and maintaining trust is always at the forefront of my thinking and decision making,” Achal continues. “JAR is built for the kind of situation the world finds itself in these days. Disruption and uncertainty mean that sound advice and management and, again, trust are more in demand than ever. We want to do more than just help our clients weather the storm. We want to find a way for them to thrive in these challenging times.” The staff at JAR Capital are the drivers of the firm’s success and it has progressed as a business due to the steadfast dedication and professionalism of the entire team. “We are very informal in terms of our culture, but very disciplined and organised when it comes to delivering our service,” Achal states. “We look for honesty, integrity and, very importantly, a willingness to learn and evolve. All our team members need to be open minded so they can understand, accept, and perform in ever-evolving circumstances.” And it certainly is an uncertain world currently. Last year saw the end of lockdown and business activity started to inch towards normality and, although Achal and the team had an encouraging start to last year, various factors stood in the way of a comprehensive recovery. Labour shortages, financial market correction, the cost-of-living crisis, and the war in Ukraine contributed to a challenging year for industries and businesses across sectors and geographies. However, these uncertainties also presented opportunities for JAR Capital. “Clients are now paying much more attention to the quality of their financial advice and services and they are very selective about who they allow to manage their assets,” Achal tells us. “JAR is well placed to benefit from the experience and networks of its partners. We have added new clients and increased its assets under management from new and existing clients. We expect the broader markets to stabilise in 2023 and are in a great position to take advantage of the more favourable conditions.” Recently, Achal was delighted to be recognised in the CEO of the Year Awards and named CEO of the Year, 2022 - London, United Kingdom. Now, as the world continues on its post-Covid reset, Achal and the team expect to be busy putting their clients in the best position to benefit from it. What this means for Achal is a lot of thinking on his feet and not only tracking events but anticipating them and being prepared for scenarios that aren’t even on the radar currently. “I believe that I’m just getting started,” he says of his plans for the future. “My mission is to build the business to a point where JAR becomes one of the most soughtafter partners and advisors. We have the tools and the experts that we need, so it’s a matter of focusing even more on beating our own past performances and challenging ourselves.” Contact: Achal Kapoor Company: JAR Capital Limited Web Address: www.jarcapital.com Trust in the Future
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 14 Making International Expansion Happen In 2018, international expansion experts Lourdes Cuevas and Pilar Macchiavello launched a company set to disrupt our ideas around trading on the world stage. Aimed at medium-sized companies looking for international success, GüipUp breaks down the barriers many businesses face when looking to trade abroad. Lourdes Cuevas is our Most Influential International Trade CEO 2023 – Spain, we speak with her to find out more. GüipUp translated means ‘Whip Up’ – to cause or encourage a strong feeling or reaction in someone or something. Since starting the company in Barcelona in 2018, Lourdes and her team have done exactly that. The world of international trade is a complex place where the rules are often completely different from one country to another. But after 20 years in the business, Lourdes is well aware of the issues that organizations face. She comments, “Expansion can be a complex process but at GüipUp we make it easy. There are lots of considerations such as understanding different markets, regulations, and frameworks. Cultural and language barriers often play a part too. Taking into consideration the inevitably steep learning curve, it’s no wonder many businesses are hesitant to take the leap. At GüipUp our unique solution enables clients to expand in an affordable and controlled way.” GüipUp’s unique business model provides its clients with the tools and resources they need to feel confident in their endeavours. Clients have complete autonomy to make decisions and have full visibility and control of the process. As a women-founded company, GüipUp has built a team of talented executives attracted by the company’s flexible and inclusive work conditions. Lourdes says, “Our company started as a dream but became a reality when we were able to start building our team. The way we work and the flexibility we provide foster an atmosphere of cooperation, team thinking and loyalty. We’ve attracted female talent which has been crucial for us. But the GüipUp ethos doesn’t only appeal to women, our talented male team members benefit too. That’s what I call inclusion.” Before founding GüipUp, Lourdes worked for a US Corporation for 10 years. Around 7 years ago, she arrived in Barcelona to execute an expansion plan on their behalf. When the project was delayed, Lourdes came up with the idea for GüipUp. She explains, “Since the beginning of my professional career, I’ve been leading international market strategies. It’s given me a lot of experience and the opportunity to understand different business cultures. This means I’m able to navigate the communication process with ease, and that’s any organization’s main challenge when facing a ‘new market’.” The daughter of an entrepreneur, Lourdes knows that to lead, it’s important to understand every phase of a process. In her words, “A plumber can’t make good decisions while making assumptions behind a desk. It’s imperative to go into the pipelines to understand what happens there. My leadership style is about being humble. I never stop learning, taking part in experiences to gain resources and knowledge, and creating a team-thinking culture. Life is so much easier when we share values of trust and confidence.” So far GüipUp has made a range of alliances that enables the company to provide its clients with a turnkey solution to expansion. From qualifying the original idea to choosing the right portfolio of products, sourcing legal, regulatory, and logistical resources, sales, and supply chain tracking and traceability, GüipUp has it covered. Plans for the future include continuing to build on its trusted supply chain that helps clients expand into North America, Mexico, Colombia, and Western Europe. And what about Lourdes’ own plans? She tells us, “I’ve been preparing myself for this specific professional moment. I have a clear vision of where we are as a company and where we want to go and I’m enjoying every single day. As a woman CEO and Founder, I have a strong responsibility to be an example for other women. We are stakeholders in creating abundance and a better world for all.” Contact: Lourdes Cuevas is CEO Company: GüipUp! Web Address: www.guipup.com Subscribe to CEO MONTHLY Subscribe here www.ceo-review.com/subscribe
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2023 15 intersections of those risks mean for its clients. “Our lens is strategic and forward-looking, not just an analysis of what is happening now but where we expect things to head and the implications/ripple effects for business,” Steve continues. “And we can help clients take steps to efficiently respond to risks and mitigate their impact.” The firm’s internal culture focuses on being clientcentric with customers being at the heart of everything it does. Its team plays a large part in this and ultimately its success. Steve tells us that, when recruiting, RANE seeks passionate people to help realise its goal of becoming the ‘must have’ communityenabled platform for risk and security professionals. “We’re collaborative and community-focused connectors, who are inclusive, and relationship-oriented,” he enthuses. “We’re also curious and passionate in the way we approach a challenge. Doing the right thing is our compass, and all this whilst having some fun along the way!” One hallmark of the firm’s approach is its focus on community and, as Steve likes to say, “shared risks require shared solutions”; all companies share the same set of risks and can benefit from knowing how others have approached or mitigated a particular risk. “We have a unique point of view sitting between clients, analysts, and our global network of experts that allows us to share perspectives and solutions that work,” he continues. “Network Intelligence is the insights we derive from the collective wisdom of this community of risk professionals.” There is, however, another aspect of community spirit that Steve wishes to highlight. Through its Corporate Social Responsibility Committee (CSR), the RANE team enjoys giving back to the community in which it is based. The CSR through a next-generation web-based platform.” Steve is an accomplished business leader with over 20 years of operating experience that ranges from launching start-ups to running multi-billion dollar global enterprises. Earlier in his career, Steve led the sales and commercial efforts for CCBN, a pioneering network-based financial information and technology company. After seven years of rapid growth, CCBN was successfully sold to Thomson Reuters and became part of its Corporate Services division. Over the next eight years, Steve led this division serving as the Global Managing Director. Steve then went on to lead the day-to-day operations of inVentiv Health Commercial, a diversified information, technology, and services company serving the global life sciences and healthcare sectors. He currently serves as a senior advisor and board member at Financial Recovery Technologies and Smarsh Inc, and is a graduate from Stonehill College with a BS in Business Administration. With core values of being connected, trusted, and integrated, RANE views risk across four main risk categories, these being safety and security, cybersecurity, geopolitical, and legal and compliance, and assesses what the Jan23146 RANE Network Inc is a global risk intelligence company that provides solutions for risk and security professionals with critical insights, analysis, and support that enables them to more effectively anticipate, monitor, and respond to emerging risks and threats. RANE works with more than 400 leading corporations, government agencies, and academic institutions, with its main clients being risk and security professionals, both at the c-suite and analyst levels. These clients benefit from improved situational awareness, more efficient access to relevant intelligence and expertise, and better risk management outcomes. The company offers a risk intelligence platform and a range of services backed by knowledgeable analysts that drive more improved decision-making. “Our risk intelligence services include risk screening, due diligence, assessments, training, and support,” explains Steve Roycroft, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. “Whilst our risk intelligence products provide actionable insights, analysis, and forecasts to enable situational awareness and help clients anticipate where risks are likely to head. These include intelligence briefs, core intelligence, geopolitical intelligence, threat intelligence, and cyber intelligence delivered Risk professionals require informed insights to successfully navigate an ever-changing and complicated global environment. RANE Network Inc (RANE) delivers trusted information and analytical tools to enable members to proactively stay ahead of emerging risks. We find out more from CEO, Steve Roycroft, as he is named in the CEO of the Year Awards. group is open to every staff member as a route to support and nurture employees as individuals and offers weekly lunch meetings to learn more about topics ranging from diversity, equality, and inclusion, to social justice, mental health, safety during protests. and other public events. RANE also hosts regular charity events and opportunities, such as park clean-ups, meal deliveries, winter coat drives, and more. Recently, for his commitment and dedication to the organisation, its employees, and the wider community, Steve was named Leading Risk Intelligence CEO of the Year 2022 - Northeastern USA in the CEO of the Year Awards 2022. Understandably delighted by this accolade, he is now looking forward to a bright future with plans for further expansion and a new Cyber Intelligence product launch. “Everyone – not just those working in cybersecurity – has a vested interest in understanding the cyber landscape and how these threats impact their area of business,” states Steve. “There are plenty of tactical intelligence solutions that provide detailed technical information and deliver data on the number and type of incidents, but what’s missing is the strategic cyber intelligence that enables companies to be more proactive in combating cyber threats.” Contact: Steve Roycroft Company: RANE Network Inc. Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.ranenetwork.com Running the Risk
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