Nicolas Leest

Professional Background

• Nicolas has worked for 15 years in privately owned companies in sales, purchasing, supply chain, logistics and finance before migrating to consultancy at Ernst & Young (EY) in 2007
• At EY he was active in the global Operational Transaction Services business line with a focus on providing support to global companies in terms of post-merger integration, carve-out, operational and commercial due diligence resulting acquisitions and divestitures, and business performance optimization
• Nicolas holds master degrees in languages from Antwerp University, economics (Brussels University)and an MBA (Maastricht University) and is a certified business analysis professional
• Fluent in Dutch, English, French and German, with notions of Greek and Italian

M&A Skills & Expertise

• To date Nicolas has over 25 years of executive experience in the areas of business transformation, M&A, integrations and divestments, business process optimization and –reengineering, strategy, restructuring, and change management. He has solid expertise in the functional business areas of sales, purchasing, logistics and supply chain, finance & accounting, business development and expansion
• Prior to migrating to consultancy, Nicolas was global sales director for a European leading manufacturer of office furniture with a global distribution footprint
• His other industry roles include: (i) operational excellence director for a European wholesale group, (ii) business development director retail for a company within the Kingfisher Electrical (KESA) group of companies, (iii) Sales Manager Belgium for a car leasing company in Belgium

Project Highlights

• ExxonMobil: global carve-out of BOPP (bi-axial oriented poly propylene) as acquired by Jindal Poly Films India
• ExxonMobil: European carve-out of Esso Fuel Cards business as acquired by WEX Europe Services
• Chevron Phillips: integration in the EuAfMe region of the PAO (poly alpha olefin) activities from Nesté Chemicals as acquired by CP Chemicals
• Capio Group: European integration of Capio Diagnostics and Unilabs following the acquisition of the latter + carve-out support related to the stand-alone migration of Capio Diagnostics and Capio Hospitals from within Capio Group
• Owens-Corning: global integration of Vetrotex as acquired from Saint-Gobain by Owens-Corning
• Platform Specialty Products (PSP): integration of Arysta, Agriphar and Chemtura into Arysta Life Sciences following the simultaneous acquisition by PSP
• Scott’s: global carve-out of the Scott’s Miracle Gro business line from Scott’s as acquired by ICL (Israel Corporation Limited)
• Pfizer: global carve-out of PAH (Pfizer Animal Health Care) business line into the new Zoetis and simultaneous support to the IPO of Zoetis