EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

With over 20 years experience as a Senior International Executive Ms Labaye has successfully grown and commercialized some of America's most recognized Fortune 500 companies. Her global business expertise covers a wide range of industries including technology, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, process equipment and aluminum power cable products, automotive and packaging for the cosmetics industry.
Marie-Jo has distinguished herself as a strong P&L C level executive with substantive strengths and accomplishments in prominent startup, emerging, turnaround and business consolidations for industrial, commercial and consumer service businesses, including large global corporations and medium & small size companies including new business ventures. Through strong operations and financial background she has grown several major corporations through internal growth strategies (including products re-alignments and new products developments) and over several strategic alliances and major acquisitions, resulting in increased market share, revenues, profits, and shareholder value.

EXPERIENCE

Keystone Strategy Consulting Group LLC., Atlanta, GA 2006 - Present

CEO & Managing Director - Founded consulting firm to evaluate investment vehicles and consult within multinational companies to address global market position, turnaround, strategy for growth, merger and acquisitions and their integration, and development of organization for industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biopharma/biotech, technology (software for medical devices and Homeland Security applications), high tech, Packaging, CPG (in particular food & beverage; Cosmetics, Luxury Goods with a strong brand equity) and retail industries. Keystone Strategy is also helping foreign companies mainly European to start, develop and grow business in the US and US companies to establish a presence in Europe, India, South East Asia and China. Keystone Strategy has been involved in several global projects including acquisitions in consumer goods in Europe and technology (new software for Homeland Security and Medical Devices companies), and business development in Western & Central Europe and Turkey for a new medical product.

Alcan Inc., New York, NY 1998 - 2005
$24.8 billion company ranking second worldwide as producer and manufacturer of aluminum and related fabricated products.

Vice President Strategic Planning & Business Development and CEO & General Manager 2004 - 2005
of Ventures - Global Beauty Sector

Reporting to the Sector President of a $1.2 billion Global Beauty Sector.

As Vice President Strategic Planning & Business Development:
• Led planning, marketing and development of growth strategies for newly created business sector.
• Set-up partnerships/strategic alliances with a licensee (an Israeli Kibbutz) in Russia in order to support Avon new markets opportunities in Russia and Central Europe.
• Engineered a new supply metal shell agreement with Decorpart (subsidiary of 3i and now part of Endless LLP) for the lipstick market in China to support customers like Boots, LVMH, L’Oreal and Estee Lauder.
• Together with Marketing and Technology Centers developed relationship to improve product innovations with global customers such as LVMH, Estee Lauder, and L’Oreal.
• With Business Unit Leaders prepared and developed Value Proposition regarding bottles, mascara and lipstick businesses in Brazil to be negotiated with major Brazilian customers (Natura and O Boticario).
She also signed a co-marketing alliance with Unilever, and Natura in Brazil. These efforts resulted in an increase in revenues 33% from $150 million to 200 million and turned around a negative profit of $17 million to breakeven in a year.
• Orchestrated and implemented acquisitions and divestments of three non-core and unprofitable businesses in Europe (aluminum tubes, plastic bottles, and compact products). These restructurings involved negotiations and presentations to European Working Council and discussions with local authorities.

• Successfully negotiated the sale of Alcan Global Beauty 50/50 interest in a Joint Venture with a competitor Aptar (net cash favorable impact $17 million).

As CEO & General Manager of the Ventures Businesses ($10M to $300M Revenues):
• Full P & L responsibility and management of businesses “held for sale” until the date of closing. P & L responsibilities of start-up companies (brown field and/or green field) including the operations in emerging and low-cost countries, i.e. Joint Venture in Russia and start-up of a new operation in China. To date, successfully achieved:
• Implemented new operations in China for mascara and lipstick businesses involving in-depth negotiation with the Chinese government at province and regional levels (tax exemption for 5 years and signature of a
very favorable lease agreement). Recruited operational and sales skilled individuals. Developed key customers and partner relationships. Generated $2.7M savings in year one.
• Negotiated with partner for set-up of legal and tax structure, lease of building, recruitment and training of local skilled individuals in order to rapidly fulfill customer (Avon) requirements.

Vice President Finance and Controller 1998 - 2004

Reporting to Business Units President of a $500M Cable Division (power cables) and to the President of $250M Automotive Division.
Primary role included consolidation, budgeting, strategic planning, transfer pricing, customer relations, I.T, foreign exchange and tax. Reported to Audit and Finance Committee to ensure compliance with SEC & U.S. GAAP and Sarbannes Oxley Act (SOX). Reported to Information Technology Steering Committee to prepare and review company and Division business strategies related to Information Systems and Technology.
• Catalyst for corporate culture change by creating a communication bridge among departments, breaking the isolation of the Finance Department. Developed and mentored staff and involved them interdepartmentally.
• Monitored and implemented several process and people changes resulting in a turnaround for the Finance organization.
• As Finance and Operational Team Leader for Alcan, led the integration of newly acquired company $4.3 billion unsolicited takeover - Pechiney, a $13 billion revenue business.


Flowserve Corporation (formerly Durco International Inc.), Dayton, OH 1995 - 1998
$1.1 billion manufacturer of pumps, seals, valves, and control valves for the chemical industry

Vice President Finance and Administration

Reporting to the Business Unit President, responsible for worldwide Finance for the Rotating Equipment Group including consolidations, budget and business strategic plans preparation, cash management, tax forecasting and planning, and transfer pricing, in conjunction with the Treasury department foreign exchange, financing, customer and bank relations. I.T. responsibility for the B.U. Reported to the Audit and Finance Committee.
• Negotiated and assisted in the establishment of a joint venture in India ($20 million) in order to fulfill a low cost manufacturing strategy.
• Integrated $130M acquisition of Durametallic, including restructuring in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK.
• Improved profitability through Kaizen and Lean Manufacturing process.


TycoToys Company, Brussels, Belgium 1995
A manufacturer of toys

Vice President Operations/ COO Europe reporting to the European President
Reorganized and restructured European operations in both manufacturing and sales and marketing; improved cost, leverage on the margin, and distribution expenses in order to optimize European operations in France, Germany, Spain and Benelux markets. Together with the President negotiated the Matchbox Company acquisition and prepared the business plan, foreseeing the divesture of the business to Mattel Inc.

Warner Lambert Company, Brussels, Belgium 1992 - 1994
A leading manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, OTC products, and consumer products

Regional Finance Director (CFO Europe)
Reported to Regional President, responsible for Western European countries and leadership and management of Finance, I.T., Logistics and Distribution, and Quality Control departments.
• Planned, implemented, and supervised joint venture ($240M) of Warner Lambert, Wellcome, and Glaxo for the Pharmaceutical Division (OTC products or reimbursable Rx products switching to OTC).
• Conducted due diligence and integrated operations within the region for acquisition of Wilkinson Sword ($130M) and Cachou Lajaunie ($2M).
• In conjunction with Sales and Marketing, led the Consumer Division of Eastern/Central Europe project, including distributor contract negotiations for product launches.

Motorola Inc. U.S., Schaumburg, IL 1984 - 1992
Manufacturer of telecommunication and semiconductor products

European Manager, Internal Controls and Legal Entities Consolidation, Geneva, Switzerland (1989-1992)
Responsible for European consolidation, external and internal audits, capital expenditures, budgeting and forecasting, strategic planning for four European design centers, and due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. Leader for Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing Task forces.

Corporate Internal Audit Manager, Phoenix, AZ (1987-1989)
• Collaborated with Corporate and set-up Asian headquarters in Hong-Kong.
• Participated on the legal and financial due diligence team for joint venture with Toshiba in Tokyo, Japan. Conducted internal and operational audits primarily in U.S., Europe, Asia, and Japan.

Assistant Controller, Toulouse, France (1984-1987)
Responsible for U.S. and legal financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and planning.

Cabinet Mathelié, C.P.A. Firm, Bordeaux, France 1980 - 1984
Audit Manager in-charge of statutory accounts preparation and review.

University Bordeaux I, Bordeaux, France 1976 - 1984
Professor in high school and college; taught Finance, Business & Tax Law.

EDUCATION
Qualified Chartered Accountant, Paris University I, Paris, France (Expert Comptable & Commissaires aux Comptes)
PhD in International Business and Tax Laws, Paris University I, Paris France
Master’s Degree in Business and Tax Law, Finance and Management, Computer and Data Processing,
Paris University I, Paris, France
Fluent in English and French

American and French Citizen

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Mentor in the Georgia 100 Mentoring Program for Executive Women
National Association of Corporate Directors; Board of Directors Network (Mission is to increase number of women serving on Boards); Financial Executives Institute; Association for Corporate Growth (Director of the Board at Atlanta Chapter until 2005); UNICEF US (Executive Member of the Marketing Committee for Southeast until 2005);Rotary Club; Board Member of the American/Turkish Society Board of Trustees; Board Advisor of Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Board Member for the Global Soap Project which purpose is to recycle soap bars from American Hotels and distribute them to refugees camps in Africa to improve sanitization, French Foreign Trade Advisor appointed by the French Government

Published article for the French Trade Economic Mission on M&A transaction for French Companies interested in penetrating the US Market