VALERIE ROBERT
Geneva, Switzerland
Global C-suite HR leader with Business Experience
Certified Executive Coach (ICF ACC) passionate about helping talents grow
STRATEGY - TRANSFORMATION/CHANGE MANAGEMENT – CULTURE, LEADERSHIP & COACHING
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C-Suite executive with broad international experience and a record of delivering growth and innovation
whilst generating cash and improving bottom line results.
Proven track-record of coaching leadership teams and their members during change/transformation
Passionate about developing and coaching leaders and driving the talent agenda globally
Experienced leader driving strong focus for organization/HR strategic matters in partnership with
leaders
Recognized for best-in-class implementation of the people, organization, talent and culture strategy.
Deep understanding of business transformation with experience in leading several acquisitions,
divestiture and carve-out globally, co-owning the design of new business models, and shaping
organisation culture.
Experienced at influencing across boards and committees (e.g. Remuneration/Nomination)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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Certified ICF ACC Coach; certified in June 2011, renewed in 2015
Participate to local events of Swiss/Geneva ICF Chapter and virtual events from France and Belgium
ICF
Part of ICF volunteer engagement program/approved research studies
Certified Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) coach (2006) and LHH Master coach (2009)
In P&G, led the new Global Executive Coaching Practise, creating a coaching culture, developing a
training curriculum and leading/training 150 internal coaches and 10 master coaches globally.
Worked with Myles Downey and London School of Coaching to create the P&G global coaching
training curriculum for all employees (2005)
Worked with John Whitmore to build coaching capability for employees in P&G UK (2007)
Worked with Kinetic Consulting to create the Firmenich global coaching training curriculum (2012)
Part of the Meyler Campbell coaching network (1999-2002)
EDUCATION
MBA/Grande Ecole EDHEC Lille (Majors Strategy, Human/Behavioural Sciences and Law)
Women on Board (Harvard Business School)
(1985)
(Nov. 2016)
PSYCHOLOGY AND PERSONALITY TOOLS:
• British Psychologist Level A and Level B (2007)
• MBTI Step 1 and 2 (1997)
• Benchmark (2001), Firo-B (1999), SDI (1995), HBDI (1997), COI (Cultural Orientation Indicator/TMC)
(2000), KPI (innovation) (2008), HDI (2007), HDS (2009), Speed of Trust (CoveyLink) (2008), Insights
Discovery (2008)
UNIVERSITY LECTURER: created program and taught HR to 2nd year EDHEC MBA students (English Track,
90 students, 15 hours) in 2006, 2007, 2008. In 2009, taught 2nd year MBA students (250 students)
EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE in Switzerland, France and UK
P&G (FMCG), Firmenich (Family business), Archroma (PE business)
2013-Date
ARCHROMA – T/o $1.5bn, PE owned global leader in colour and specialty chemicals.
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) – based Switzerland
Leading Global HR, including Corporate Communications – 3,000 employees in 35 countries – 40 staff.
EBITDA has grown by 66% in 3 years.
• Built and led the HR organisation, during the carve-out phase from Clariant, now operating
independently
• Co-led the acquisition, and rapidly integrated the BASF textile business globally, delivering all KPIs.
• Shaped ‘New ACTS Culture’ Accountability for Performance, Customer/Market Focus, Teamwork and
Collaboration, Speed and Simplicity, leading culture initiatives globally and coaching top 100 leaders.
2009-2013
FIRMENICH – T/o $3bn, world’s largest family owned fragrance and flavour business.
HR VP – Global Commercial Divisions & Corporate Talent – based Switzerland
Recruited to a new role to create Talent Management and partner with global divisions to improve business
results – 6,000 employees globally.
• Co-led strategy development, creating a cultural transformation program with business leaders
• Created global talent management from strategy to execution and led Corporate staffing, including
senior positions, performance management, learning and development, calibration, succession
planning, high potential development and coaching
1986-2009
2006-09
PROCTER AND GAMBLE – T/o $80bn, leading Global FMCG company.
HR Director – Household Europe – based Switzerland
Created a cohesive Global Business Unit from 6 diverse Business Units – €8bn t/o, 9,000 people in EMEA.
Global Business Unit KPIs over-delivered by 20% pa.
HR Director – Family Health Europe – based Switzerland
Appointed to a new Global Business Unit of 6 businesses – 6,000 people.
Led and coached a team of HR managers, who partnered with European business leaders.
Global HR Director – Wella Acquisition/Integration Transition Leader– based Switzerland
Led the global HR transition team on acquisition of Wella (18,000 people globally) and led global
organisational culture integration successfully.
EARLY CAREER
HR Associate Director – Western Europe Health Care – based UK
Integration/Transition Manager – IAMS Europe – based UK
Co-led Iams integration, building on the Iams success model whilst leveraging P&G resources/capabilities.
HR Associate Director – UK/Ireland Subsidiary – based UK. Headed HR for 3 UK & European divisions.
HR Associate Director – European Health & Beauty Care HQ and European R&D Health/Beauty Care
Technical Centres – based UK
Led transformation of R&D from Regional Reapplication to Global Innovation and developed cultural
interventions to increase collaboration.
European Recruiting Manager – based UK
Training/Organisational Effectiveness Manager – based France
Assistant Brand Manager – based France, re-launched a product and analysed promotional spend.
Corporate Recruiting Manager – based France
Sales Representative – based France
Plant Warehouse Team Manager – based France, led a team of 15-20 warehouse/logistics technicians.
2004-06
2003-04
2002-03
2000-02
1998-00
1993-98
1992-93
1991-92
1990-91
1987-90
1987
1986-87
EXPERIENCE WITH NON PROFIT BOARD/GOVERNANCE
2016- Date
C-TALK, Switzerland, Geneva, CXO Romandie Chapter
C-Talk is a Swiss independent trust-based peer-to-peer community for C-Level executives (i.e.
selected executives of the 300 largest companies of Switzerland)
Founding Board Member, creating a new regional chapter
1994-1998
MAGNA CARTE SCHOOL, UK: Elected Governor- Representing companies in the
community
Member of the governing body as well as the strategic and the staff development committees.
2008-2013
Tennis Club Bernex, Switzerland: Secretaire General
Selected member for the following women board associations/network:
Global Board Ready Women (UK), Women on board (UK), Membre du Cercle des Administrateurs au Féminin
du G16+ (France), Cercle des Administratrices (Switzerland), Board2win (Switzerland)
PERSONAL
Swiss and French. Married – Lived 28 years in Fr., 12 years in the UK and 13 years in CH- 2 adult
children.
HOBBY
Fluent English & French. Basic German.
Diving (275 dives), Hiking, Triathlon, Marathon, Cycle race (180Km around the lac leman)