Luca Grillo

Finance executive with more than 20 years of experience in the automotive, mobility and retail industry with strong communications and multi-culture skills.

Managing teams in Latin America as a Business Partner with multiple stakeholders, executing financial process, financial systems, financial controls, revenue growth, cash management and robust decision-making process, data driven and result oriented.

Multitask, proactive and analytical mindset profile with solid Financial / Audit background, with vast knowledge of Controlling, Taxes, Treasury, Sales and MKT, strategic planning as well as Product Management, with several successful initiatives implemented.

Extensive experience in financial planning (FP&A), and OPEX / CAPEX and KPIs management following compliance policies.

Member of IBEF (Brazilian Institute of Finance Executives).

Mechanical Engineer IMT and MBA in Finance from IBMEC.

Native speaker of Portuguese, fluent English, Italian and French and advanced Spanish.

Brazilian/Italian citizenship.

DIA BRASIL 05/19-05/20

FINANCE DIRECTOR

• Responsible for Controlling and Treasury managing a team of 10 Heads
• Accountable for the qualitative development of controlling with technological / big data processes (Hyperion, qlick) on reports and BI/dashboards with results by region, by activity/category and by store, presenting the actuals and their deviations in a transparent way, being widely used to evaluate store closings and action plans;
• Led the financial planning (FP&A, Budget, Forecast, strategic planning, sales, KPIs, P&L, BS) and major accounting processes, including month closing and actuals, according to IFRS and BR GAAP and company policies, involving intense discussions internally and with headquarters (HQ) as well as external auditing;
• Implemented and led the control and evaluation of Headcount/OPEX/CAPEX(investment) with financial support for structured project approvals with ROI, leading to a complete review of the CAPEX/OPEX expansion strategy and reduction of R$ 10 million/year;
• Accountable for treasury developing daily cash flow, credit and working capital management according to group treasury policies and compliance
• Executed constant liquidity actions through an increase in credit lines with main banks and tier 2 banks by R$ 50 million.

VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AMERICA

SENIOR MANAGER – HEAD OF SALES AND MKT CONTROLLING SOUTH AMERICA AND BRAZIL 10/15-08/18

• Managing a team of 24 members, accountable for the financial consolidation, as well as full support in the region growth strategy through constant financial evaluations and recommendations with a focus on product and profit / volume sensitivity analyzes, considering the main drivers of the business.
• Constant Revenue and margin Management, strategic Pricing grounded in analytical/technological support and tax/profitability ;
• Led the development of sales and financial planning (FP&A, Budget, Forecast, OPEX), and responsible for the major accounting accruals and month closing in the company according to IFRS and BR GAAP, company policies and compliance, including main incentive compensation campaigns and always acting as a business partner with Sales & Marketing division
• Optimizing and understanding commercial agreements through transfer prices, according to risk management and always considering exchange rate volatility and ensuring tax optimization based on local and international Transfer Price rules, culminating in the elimination of a government fine of US$ 100 million.
• Identified and implemented synergies in the region for several fixed cost, including manufacturing positions with reductions of R$ 50 million/ year and high ROI.
• Evaluate and Approve actions for all sales channels (direct and indirect) including marketing investment (annual values above R$ 1 billion) supported by financial modelling, business cases always considering risk and opportunities;
• Developed several products, together with Financial Services, for external and internal customers (e.g.: Leasing, special financing programs and prepaid programs), successfully implemented with penetration rates above 40%.
• Participated in complexity reduction in the region by optimizing the product line with effects on margin and inventory of R$ 40 million/year.

VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AMERICA - HEAD OF SALES AND MKT CONTROLLING BRASIL 08/13-10/15

• Responsible for FP&A, Budget, Forecast, sales and financial planning for Sales / After sales / Expansion / Export / Import and product warranty and major accounting accruals and month closing in the company always acting as a business partner with Sales & Marketing division
• Constant Revenue/margin Management and strategic Pricing grounded in analytical support and tax / profitability;
• Prepared the Restructuring Plan to reduce fixed costs in Headcount and OPEX/CAPEX, through priorities and project return per area, reaching R$ 40 million/year in 2 years.
• Participated in sales negotiations and understanding business with rental companies, making a long-term and sustainable agreement financially feasible always following compliance rules.
• Liaised with the Dealers network for contributions and support on retail programs, media and events, raising more than R$ 300 million/year.
• Participated in the restructuring of the Dealers network through a program with budget of more than R$ 40 million in order to create a professional and sustainable network.
• Evaluate and Approve actions for all sales channels (direct and indirect) including marketing spent (annual values above R$ 1 billion) supported by financial modelling, business cases always aligned to company strategic indicators;

VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AMERICA - PRODUCT CONTROLLER 11/07-08/13

• Financial management on new products and structures projects with detailed P&L, KPI, ROI, bringing transparency to all areas of their contributions to the Project. Responsible for FP&A, Budget, Forecast, strategic planning, KPIs, Stress Analysis and sensitivity scenarios for decision making. Defined goals by investment area and variable/fixed cost, aimed at an acceptable minimum return on investment and operating profit. Participated in product development, Polo/Gol and Up! Family, influencing manufacturing costs as well as all other relates costs/revenues, making the project as a whole feasible.
• Participated in a multifunctional group for Greenfield evaluation (new factory), involving external consultancy and visits to several states, as well as State/Federal Tax incentive analysis and negotiation with Government Finance teams seeking tax optimization.

VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AMERICA - HEAD OF CONTROLLING AFTER SALES 06/05 - 11/07 

Grow strategies

VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AMERICA - PRICING SUPERVISOR 01/01 - 06/05 

Pricing Strategy

VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AMERICA - PRICING ANALYST  09/09 - 01/01

ARTHUR ANDERSEN 01/98-09/98

AUDITING TRAINEE – Accounting auditing according to main known policies

MBA IN FINANCE – IBMEC, 2002

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING – IMT, 1997

TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP: LAB TO MARKET – HARVARD, 2020

RISK MANAGEMENT AND CREDIT PRINCIPLES – NYIF, 2020

LÍDER DO FUTURO – CRESCIMENTUM, 2011

PDE – FUNDAÇÃO DOM CABRAL, 2009

PRICING STRATEGIES – DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, 2001