objective

results-driven cfo / senior finance executive eager to contribute sharp business acumen, exceptional leadership skills, and depth of financial management knowledge toward actively supporting a successful organization in improving bottom-line performance

executive profile

offer numerous years of executive level financial experience, with expertise in budget preparation and administration, accounting and reporting, technological implementations and conversions, audit procedures, and resource allocations.  successfully develop and implement corporate financial strategies and policy; pioneer process improvements and automations, coordinate workflow and human resources for optimal coverage while containing labor costs, monitor expenditures to identify opportunities for savings.  extensive background in multi-billion m&a and demerger procedures for worldwide business units; demonstrated ability to effectively identify and capitalize on opportunities to penetrate and develop highly competitive markets.  dynamic communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.  native german speaker fluent in english with intermediate italian language proficiency.

~ career highlights ~

• pioneered restructuring project responsible for reducing bayer schering pharma costs by 500m and transitioned organizational culture from a clean earning to a cash flow orientation; aligned strategic, operating, and marketing processes to achieve an integrated planning framework
• developed highly effective risk management system for bsp; additionally overhauled financial controlling processes to improve data quality and forecast accuracy
• strategically outsourced select bayer spa accounting functions to a spain-based service provider and divested non-operational assets and financial transactions to maximize cash flow
• expertly directed acquisition of schering italy, with 400m in sales and 400 employees and divestment of bayer diagnostics italy with 100m in sales and 120 employees
• hand-picked to coordinate major expansion project and launch of new, publicly listed chemical activities spin-off, lanxess ag
• led lanxess project from inception phase through financial planning / investment process; invented and implemented 200m lanxess-issued mandatory convertible bond
• directed financial integration of aventis crop science, defined economic structure of newly created subsidiaries, cost-effectively oversaw purchase price adjustment, provided divestiture candidate analysis, and supported development of the financial strategy and organisation of the bayer group

employment progression

bayer                                                                                                                                        2002 c present

chief administration officer, bayer schering pharma ag, berlin, germany (2008 c present)

• in recognition of outstanding performance, steadily progressed within global company to attain position entrusted with oversight of global pharmaceutical business operations responsible for generating 10.5b and employing 25,000 personnel
• drive 500-member team in all controlling, financial operations, strategic planning, external market research, projects, accounting, law & patents, and it functions for the group

chief financial officer, bayer spa, milan, italy (2005 c 2008)

• selected to serve as a board member reporting directly to italian ceo of 1.6b subsidiary specializing in health care, industrial supplies, and crop protection
• played integral role on cross-functional team managing accounting, treasury, tax, m&a, audit, procurement, human resources, facility management, and all other corporate administrative platform functions in italy
• coordinated major implementations and process improvements/standardizations

 

continued...

bernd metzner                                                                                                                                                                                        page 2

 

head of coordination of lanxess demerger project, bayer ag, leverkusen, germany (2003 c 2005)

• led project planning and execution efforts for division with 6b in sales, 400m cebitda, and 20,000 employees; defined project scope, strategic purpose, exit-path, and timeline
• worked closely with external resources including deutsche bank, morgan stanley, boston consulting, and legal advisors to ensure completion of due diligence, prepare prospectus, and develop demerger documentation

head of m&a-integration / executive assistant to cfo, bayer ag, leverkusen, germany (2002 c 2003)

• performed multiple concurrent executive-level functions during key corporate growth period including bayer s 7b acquisition of aventis crop science and transformation into a management holding company

 

flick, gocke, schaumburg, bonn, germany                                                                                1999 c 2001

tax consultant

• provided expert tax advice for multi-billion dollar mergers and acquisitions, financings, and corporate restructurings for high-profile clients of this leading german tax firm
• major transactions included hoechst and rhône poulenc to aventis ($50b), veba and viag to e.on ($40b), powergen by e.on ($10b) and voicestream by telekom ($50b).

 

~ internships ~

summer intern, kpmg peat marwick, new york, ny                                                                  1995

spring intern, bmw of north america, finance and tax department, insert city, nj                     1995

education

university of siegen     

phd in economics                                                                                                                   1998

• thesis: tax planning of us-export
• rigorosum: general management, financing, and taxes

master of business administration (diplom-kaufmann)                                                            1996

• focus on financing, taxes and commercial law

 

gymnasium hohenschwangau     

insert degree                                                                                                                            1991

 

~ professional development & certifications ~

high potential leadership program, harvard business school                                                  2008

 

german certified tax advisor examination (steuerberater)                                                      2003