(*) As a measure of confidentiality, the identity of the interim manager and the client are changed
1. BACKGROUND
The client is a specialised distribution group, the European leader in the sale of equipment for industry, which has a turnover of around €2 billion.
The company is made up of a large network of BtoB points of sale in branches and franchises in France and throughout Europe. Owned by a private equity fund, the Finance Department is structured around an Internal Audit and Compliance Department, responsible for promoting the company and anticipating all types of risks that could arise.
The company called on WAYDEN following the desire of its director to be transferred quickly to another strategic position. It must urgently provide a replacement, whose role will also be to propose an improvement approach to a function that had changed too little internally in recent years while the size of the group has grown sharply.
2. DISPOSITION
Thanks to a solid network of managers from the WAYDEN pool, Benoit DURAND-TISNES, Director, organizes a meeting with the client’s general management, in order to introduce Christophe BOIRE, recently available, whose solid career in large international groups as Director of Internal Audit and Compliance, is a good match for the technical and human skills sought.
Christophe BOIRE has more than 25 years of experience in the Audit function, both in France and internationally. A specialist in risk management and compliance, he knows how to lead and coordinate internal and external teams, train and pass on his skills.
3. MISSION
Reporting to the Group Chief Financial Officer, who is himself a member of the Management Committee, Christophe BOIRE’s overall role is to:
- Take charge of the entire Internal Audit scope and compliance
- Carry out the control and validation of internal processes
- Manage the team of 4 people
- Implement the necessary improvement plans for the function
- Report to the Group Audit Committee
4. ASSESSMENT
The criticality of this mission was largely based on the resumption of control of the perimeter and its ability to make the organization evolve towards a structuring and business-oriented audit.
Christophe BOIRE has a natural leadership, and knows how to impose his ideas gently and constructively. Beyond his experience and his great professionalism, it is certainly this quality that made the mission a success.
The success of the mission allowed the hiring of the future incumbent who took over a situation where both the network and the management understood and benefited from an Internal Audit and Compliance department seen as a Business Partner at the service of performance improvement and not as a control body only.