Guillaume Jest
Summary
Strategic Group CFO with international experience driving financial leadership and transformation across energy, industrials (Koch Industries), FMCG (Nestlé), and pharmaceuticals. Proven track record in portfolio companies' value creation, IPO readiness, carve-outs, capital raising, and post-merger delivery. Skilled at building finance organisations to support global growth, transformation, and complex cross-border operations.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Group CFO
Yinson Holdings Berhad
2020.01 - 2025.01
- Designed and executed a global finance transformation, including a decentralised model and shared services centre.
- Led USD 2B external financing strategy (risk analysis, structuring, execution).
- Directed board-level communications, quarterly earnings, and investor strategy.
- Strengthened governance and internal controls across operations in 8 countries.
- Energy Infrastructure, Renewables, GreenTech - Role creation.
Regional Finance Director - MEA & Asia
Guardian Glass
2017.01 - 2020.01
- Built and led finance teams across 7 countries, aligning performance and culture.
- Delivered USD 30M profit improvement through FP&A and operational analytics.
- Streamlined finance operations, achieving USD 8M cost savings via centralisation.
- Oversaw strategic JV finance in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and South Africa.
- Post-Acquisition Delivery
Director Asia- Europe Internal Advisory
Koch Industries
Singapore
2008.01 - 2017.01
- Founded and led Koch's Asian internal consulting practise for finance.
- Designed financial risk controls for a USD 1B capex project in China.
- Supported M&A due diligence across multiple Asian markets.
- In-house Consulting
Controller
Nestlé Waters Indonesia
Jakarta
2004.01 - 2007.01
- Turned around finance function to clean audit status post-rejection.
- Built ERP-enabled finance team in under 18 months.
- Supported USD 35M investment case for Nestlé Pure Life launch.
- Post-Acquisition Delivery
Controller
Nestlé Waters China
Shanghai
2001.01 - 2004.01
- Reached breakeven from -20% EBITA in 2 years via SKU optimisation and KPI-led management.
- Cut USD 7M operational losses.
- Post-Acquisition Delivery
International Finance Controller
Servier Pharmaceuticals
1994.01 - 2000.01
- Managed finance for Asia, Latin America, and Southern Europe.
- Led investment and acquisition due diligence in Korea, Pakistan, and Mexico.
- Control - External growth
Education
General Management Program - undefined
Harvard Business School
Skills
- PE portfolio company transformation
- Exit strategies
- Finance function build
- Shared services
- Digitalisation
- Turnarounds
- Carve-outs
- Post-merger integration
- IPO readiness
- Capital raise readiness
- Global team leadership
- Multicultural environments
- Board relations
- Investor relations
- Governance
- Risk management
Languages
French
English
Chinese
Spanish
Personal Information
- Available: Available across Europe
- Title: Group CFO | Interim | Transformation & Growth Specialist
- Availability: Available across Europe, Based in France
Core Expertise
- PE portfolio company transformation & exit strategies.
- Finance function build, shared services & digitalisation.
- Turnarounds, carve-outs & post-merger integration.
- IPO & capital raise readiness.
- Global team leadership across multicultural environments.
- Board and investor relations, governance and risk management in both private and publicly traded enterprises.
Timeline
Group CFO
Yinson Holdings Berhad
2020.01 - 2025.01
Regional Finance Director - MEA & Asia
Guardian Glass
2017.01 - 2020.01
Director Asia- Europe Internal Advisory
Koch Industries
2008.01 - 2017.01
Controller
Nestlé Waters Indonesia
2004.01 - 2007.01
Controller
Nestlé Waters China
2001.01 - 2004.01
International Finance Controller
Servier Pharmaceuticals
1994.01 - 2000.01
General Management Program - undefined
Harvard Business School