Confidential retained search for a Group CFO and Executive Committee member based in Milan with global scope and 25%–30% international travel. Lead global finance, capital allocation, M&A, governance and transformation for an advanced manufacturing group with revenues exceeding EUR 14 billion. Reports to the CEO and Board. Base salary EUR 750,000–850,000 plus bonus and long-term incentives.
TalentBridge Executive Search — Retained Search Division
Confidential Executive Mandate. Global Leadership Appointment — Strategic Finance & Governance.
Confidentiality Notice
This document contains strictly confidential executive-search information and is intended exclusively for the selected executive recipient. It is provided solely for evaluating this executive mandate and must not be copied, reproduced, distributed, forwarded, published, or disclosed to any third party without prior written authorization from TalentBridge Executive Search.
Search & Application Context
This is a confidential retained-search mandate and is not being presented as a publicly advertised vacancy on the company's website. This mandate is handled exclusively through TalentBridge Executive Search's headhunting channel. Any subsequent expression of interest, application, representation, or candidate submission must be coordinated directly through TalentBridge Executive Search as the retained search intermediary.
Company Profile
- Company: Prysmian Group / Industrial Sector Peer (Global Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Infrastructure).
- Industry: Advanced Manufacturing / Electrical & Industrial Equipment.
- Headquarters: Milan, Italy / Global Footprint.
- Geographic Footprint: EMEA, North America, APAC, Latin America.
A global leader in energy and telecom cable systems operating manufacturing facilities across dozens of countries. Revenue exceeding EUR 14 billion; global workforce of 30,000+ employees.
Position Details
- Position: Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Executive Committee Member.
- Function: Executive Leadership / Financial Strategy & Corporate Development.
- Location & Scope: Milan, Italy (with international travel); Global Scope.
- Reporting Line: Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors (Audit & Risk Committee).
Executive Mandate & Business Reason for Appointment
The appointment follows a period of accelerated international expansion and portfolio repositioning within advanced industrial manufacturing. The organization requires a seasoned financial leader to instill rigorous capital discipline across large-scale greenfield investments, optimize global capital allocation, navigate complex cross-border regulatory environments, and drive ongoing post-merger integration of recent strategic acquisitions. The incoming CFO will lead the global finance organization to support long-term sustainable margin expansion while maintaining transparent engagement with institutional investors and credit rating agencies.
Strategic Priorities
- Global Finance Direction: Direct the global finance, controlling, treasury, tax, and investor relations functions across all regional operating hubs.
- Capital Allocation: Oversee capital allocation strategy, prioritizing investments in digital infrastructure, manufacturing automation, and operational efficiency.
- M&A Execution: Lead the financial evaluation and execution of strategic mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures to expand global market share.
- Board Partnership: Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to shape long-term strategic planning, financial forecasting, and enterprise risk management.
- Governance & Compliance: Enhance governance, internal controls, and compliance standards across international operations to align with evolving regulatory frameworks.
- Capital Markets: Manage banking relationships, liquidity, and debt capital market issuances to maintain a resilient balance sheet.
Key Responsibilities
- Accountability for global P&L, balance sheet integrity, financial reporting, and statutory compliance.
- Presentation of financial performance, strategic plans, and capital deployment initiatives to the Board of Directors and institutional shareholders.
- Leadership of global transformation initiatives aimed at modernizing enterprise financial systems and shared service centers.
- Mentorship and talent development across the international finance organization, ensuring robust succession planning.
Leadership Scope
Direct leadership of global functional heads (Treasury, Tax, Investor Relations, Group Controlling, M&A Finance) and dotted-line oversight of regional finance directors. Comprehensive financial accountability for global group revenues exceeding EUR 14 billion. Executive Committee member and regular attendee at Board Audit, Remuneration, and Risk Committee meetings.
Key Stakeholders & Required Experience
Key Stakeholders: CEO, Board of Directors & Audit Committee Chairs, Business Unit Presidents & Regional Managing Directors, General Counsel, CHRO, External Auditors, Institutional Investors, and Rating Agencies.
Essential Experience: Minimum 15 to 20 years of progressive financial leadership experience, with significant tenure operating as CFO or senior finance executive within a multinational industrial, manufacturing, or engineering enterprise. Demonstrated expertise in capital markets, debt structuring, M&A execution, and board-level corporate governance. Fluent English required; additional European languages advantageous.
Preferred Experience: Professional experience within investment banking or corporate advisory prior to transitioning into senior corporate finance leadership. Experience managing investor relations for publicly listed corporations across European and international exchanges.
Leadership Expectations, Location & Compensation
Leadership: Exceptional strategic judgment and commercial acumen balancing near-term profitability against long-term investments. Rigorous decision-making under market volatility and complex regulatory scrutiny.
Location & Travel: Primary location in Milan, Italy. Approximately 25% to 30% international travel to key regional manufacturing hubs, investor meetings, and operational reviews.
Compensation Package
- Base Salary: EUR 750,000–850,000.
- Annual Bonus: 80%–120% tied to financial metrics (EBITDA, cash conversion, ROCE).
- Long-Term Incentive: Performance share units (PSUs) and stock options.
- Total Compensation: EUR 1.6M–2.2M+ dependent on performance.
First 12 to 18 Months Objectives & Measures of Success
First 12–18 Months: Complete a comprehensive audit of global working capital management to unlock cash flow; deliver the financial integration framework for pending international manufacturing acquisitions; rationalize treasury structures to optimize debt servicing costs across high-interest regional markets.
Measures of Success: Achievement of EBITDA and organic cash conversion targets approved by the Board; successful execution and integration of strategic M&A milestones without disruption to baseline manufacturing operations; maintenance of strong investment-grade credit ratings.
Executive Challenge
Balancing competing stakeholder interests across capital-intensive manufacturing expansions while maintaining strict cost discipline amidst macroeconomic volatility and currency fluctuations in emerging operational markets.
Responsibilities
- Direct global finance, controlling, treasury, tax and investor relations functions across all regional operating hubs.
- Oversee capital allocation, prioritizing digital infrastructure, manufacturing automation and operational efficiency.
- Lead financial evaluation and execution of strategic mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.
- Partner with the CEO and Board on long-term strategic planning, financial forecasting and enterprise risk management.
- Enhance governance, internal controls and compliance across international operations.
- Manage banking relationships, liquidity and debt capital market issuances.
- Maintain accountability for global P&L, balance sheet integrity, financial reporting and statutory compliance.
- Present financial performance, strategic plans and capital deployment initiatives to the Board and institutional shareholders.
- Lead global transformation of enterprise financial systems and shared service centers.
- Mentor and develop the international finance organization and ensure robust succession planning.
- Direct global functional heads and provide dotted-line oversight of regional finance directors.
- Serve on the Executive Committee and regularly attend Board Audit, Remuneration and Risk Committee meetings.
- Audit global working capital management to unlock cash flow within the first 12–18 months.
- Deliver the financial integration framework for pending international manufacturing acquisitions.
- Rationalize treasury structures to optimize debt servicing costs across high-interest regional markets.
- Achieve Board-approved EBITDA and organic cash conversion targets, execute and integrate strategic M&A milestones without disrupting manufacturing operations, and maintain strong investment-grade credit ratings.
Requirements
- Minimum 15 to 20 years of progressive financial leadership experience.
- Significant tenure as CFO or senior finance executive within a multinational industrial, manufacturing or engineering enterprise.
- Demonstrated expertise in capital markets, debt structuring, M&A execution and board-level corporate governance.
- Fluent English required; additional European languages advantageous.
- Exceptional strategic judgment and commercial acumen balancing near-term profitability against long-term investments.
- Rigorous decision-making under market volatility and complex regulatory scrutiny.
- Primary location in Milan, Italy, with approximately 25%–30% international travel.
- Prior professional experience in investment banking or corporate advisory before senior corporate finance leadership preferred.
- Experience managing investor relations for publicly listed corporations across European and international exchanges preferred.
Benefits
- Annual bonus of 80%–120% tied to EBITDA, cash conversion and ROCE.
- Long-term incentives comprising performance share units (PSUs) and stock options.
- Total compensation of EUR 1.6M–2.2M+ dependent on performance.