ABOUT THE STRATEGY GURU
THE MAN BEHIND THE TITLE
Sitting within the four walls of my office, I conceptualised a company that could become the largest company in the world. This has been copyrighted by me in the USA.
The Strategy Guru is Aubert Fernandes, FCA – a strategic business leader and adviser with more than 35 years of extensive cross-industry experience spanning India, the USA, Canada, Europe, Middle East, China, Singapore and Australia with experience across finance, operations, strategy, transformation, turnaround, corporate leadership, entrepreneurship and international consulting.
The Strategy Guru is particularly effective when a business has the potential for a significant step-change in growth, profitability or strategic positioning, but needs an experienced external perspective to identify the opportunity, challenge conventional thinking and help management execute it.
Business owners and C-Suite leaders are understandably focused on managing operations, people, customers, capital and annual targets. This can leave limited time to step back and objectively examine the company’s longer-term strategy, growth opportunities, structural weaknesses and transformational possibilities.
This is where he can add value – by bringing an independent, experienced perspective to the issues that are important but not always urgent, and help execute the strategy.
THE STRATEGY GURU'S EXPERIENCE
THE EXPERIENCE BEHIND MY PERSPECTIVE
Hindustan Unilever Training
Big 4 Audit
Pharma Management Audit
MNC Turnaround
Group CFO
Proven Strategic Innovation
UHNW Advisor
CEO
International Advisor
Ground-Up Business Understanding – German Remedies
Conducted five rounds of management and internal audits across virtually every major function – including Finance, IT/MIS, Manufacturing, Production Planning, Procurement, Quality Control, Sales, Compliance, HR, Marketing, R&D and Stores – while reporting directly to Germany.
This gave me a comprehensive understanding of how different parts of an enterprise interact, and how operational and strategic decisions ultimately affect financial and business performance.
Turnaround & Transformation – Blue Dart Express
Joined Blue Dart Express when it was a loss-making Partnership Company and, together with the management team, helped transform it into a profitable Public Limited Company.
Led Finance and Administration across 110+ branches and 300+ accountants, while developing and implementing strategic financial, operational, systems, compliance and MIS improvements, including a customised ERP system.
Board-Level / Group CFO Perspective – Bombay Burmah / Nusli Wadia Group
Managed the corporate finance function of six multinational public companies across automotive, healthcare, precision engineering & telecom.
Six CEOs functionally reported to me for financial and capital matters.
Responsibilities included financial strategy, capital requirements, budgeting, risk management, treasury management, taxation, MIS, cost control, financial reporting and Board reporting. All finance, accounts and MIS functions reported centrally to me – six MNC public companies.
Hindustan Unilever Training
Big 4 Audit
Pharma Management Audit
MNC Turnaround
Group CFO
Proven Strategic Innovation
UHNW Advisor
CEO
International Advisor
Strategic Financial Innovation
Worked with a former Director of Sun Pharma to develop an innovative financing & tax shelter structure designed to generate substantial cash for an erstwhile low-credit-rated utility electricity company.
Through innovative strategic financial structuring, the solution elevated the company’s credit standing to blue-chip status, attracting substantial investment from major companies.
MD Representation – Binani Cement Ltd. – International Investment Approval
Client: Binani Cement Limited
Assignment: Joint-venture investment in a cement manufacturing project in Dubai.
Role: Managed/undertook the complete regulatory approval process in India from the Reserve Bank of India and Ministry of Commerce successfully.
Process: Personal appearance on behalf of the Managing Director before a high-level panel comprising RBI Governors, the Commerce Secretary and senior government officials.
CEO / Entrepreneur / International Advisor
Built and managed global businesses based in the Middle East and worked with major companies, multinationals & airlines.
Ultra High Net Worth Clients: Advised UHNW clients on private jet businesses, financing & other consulting needs.
North America, Europe & Far East Experience: International consulting experience covering the USA, Canada, Europe, Middle East, India, Singapore, China & Australia, providing exposure to different business cultures, markets and management approaches.
Big 4 Experience / Hindustan Unilever Trained / Qualified CA
Big 4 experience with PwC.
Trained at Hindustan Unilever. Rotated through various departments. Co-authored a book report on “International Financing for Indian Companies” for Mr. Keki Dadiseth, former Chairman.
Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Commerce graduate from the University of Mumbai.