Nick Read
Finance Guide
Business Partner
mobile phone: +1 313 903 4088
email: nick.read@readnright.com
Purchase, New York;
Vila Nova Conceicão, São Paulo
Experience
Consultant
Read & Right LLC
2019 – present | New York, NY/São Paulo, Brazil
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Fractional CFO and investigations/re-build of books and records.
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Capital transactions: sale of agencies – marketing to completion.
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Special projects in Brazil – media rebates/company set ups.
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Financial due diligence support and advisory.
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Board director/consultant to growth companies.
Worldwide CFO
Mirum LLC (the roll-up of all JWT digital assets worldwide)
2016 – 2019 | New York, NY/San Diego, CA/São Paulo, Brazil
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Responsible with CEO for building the group to $200 million with 18% margin - drove efficiencies and process improvements.
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Forefront of acquisition identification, due diligence and negotiation of key terms with owners.
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Offering insight and oversight for all critical financial issues providing independent commentary for entrepreneurs acquired by Mirum - develop consistent approach to systems/controls, pricing and operations.
Regional CFO/COO
J. Walter Thompson Americas
2006 – 2019 | New York, NY
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Responsible for all operational matters working alongside CEO covering margin and profit oversight for 35 distinct businesses.
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Lead the financial community of 150 people for $600 million of revenue (2018); responsible for all reporting and forecasting, billables and payables, tax and treasury, and expense control.
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Oversight/counsel to partners of acquired businesses, developing their successful integration into the family.
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Commercial Lead for two WPP Team models (Newell and Rolex) developing key client relationship on all commercial matters.
J. Walter Thompson Latin America
1999 – 2006 | Mexico City, Mexico/ São Paulo, Brazil
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Turned a dysfunctional, disparate group that was struggling to make single digit margins to a regional powerhouse growing 100% with margins in mid-20% - lived in Mexico and Brazil for 8 years.
Head of Internal Audit
WPP plc
1996 – 1999 | London, UK
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Reporting to Audit Committee, led the audit team on adherence to best practice risk management techniques, corporate governance assessment, fraud – with heavy focus on fast growing Asia region.
Corporate Assurance – Senior Manager
Deloitte Haskins & Sells/PwC
London/Liverpool, UK
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Practice Leader of the Liverpool office (15 managers and 100 staff) following an eight-year career in London rising to Senior Manager. Assisted in closing “cash” books for the Liverpool office.
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Annual audit roles across the UK of public companies, developed a skill in training and learning practices, marketing to auto retail industry and oversaw successful launch of new audit group.
Proven Financial Leader with significant experience creating value and building confidence in financials with Business Leaders. Have lived and worked on three continents, solving problems in all sorts of environments. An approach that confirms high integrity drawn from a strong investigative background, enhanced by operational and business strategy experiences over the past twenty-five years.
Successes
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Leadership: providing the key advice to business leaders on a quarterly basis in presentational format, imparting knowledge and creative solutions for industry issues – setting financial targets.
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Transformation: being the spearhead for the successful re-positioning of JWT LatAm from a business that lacked any drive or focus to one which embraced change and forged ahead with creative spirit and a winning mentality: starting with business plan.
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Results driven successfully secured the acquisition of 5 agencies and gained confidence in the selling of 3 agencies.
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Talent development: creating an environment that encourages the best people to achieve their best work in all locations.
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Creative: regularly found creative solutions to many financial problems – built a completely new approach to performance assessment with focus on client, not locational, profitability.
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Growth: leading the development of Mirum - a new business stream created from the roll-up of acquisitions: advising and implementing where to invest capital and resources.
Directorship & Board Experience
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20 years’ director of offshore-based captive insurance company for WPP – effective tax management program.
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Was part of JWT Americas board and regularly presented to the JWT Worldwide ExCo and WPP.
Education
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Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
1983 – 1984 (ACA: 1985; FCA 1996).
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London Business School
2003: SEP 52, Senior Executive Programme - Strategic Planning.
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University of Portsmouth (nee Portsmouth Polytechnic)
1980 – 1981 | Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK
Foundations in Accounting and Business Administration
Languages
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English
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Portuguese
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Spanish
Personal
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Keen sports spectator and participant
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British Citizen, US Green Card holder; married with three children