GCBR Expert

Vita Merlotti

GCBR role:

Member, GCBR Expert Network

Job title:

Chief Transformation Officer, President

Organisation:

Avalon LLC

Geographic focus:

North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Global

Languages: English

ADVISOR, GLOBAL LEADER, PROVEN OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY EXPERT *Proven change agent, team builder, mentor, and advisor across diverse cultures, global teams, industry leading models and high-volume organizations. *Understanding the big picture, finding simple solutions and executing the smallest detail to close the deal, drive profitability and mitigate risk. *Keen ability to partner with every role in the organization, from the CEO to the CIO to interns. *Ability to ‘move’ colleagues through change who do not want to be ‘moved.’ *Client service excellence, effective operations and an environment that supports passion and innovation are the priority. *Giving back - Advisor to start-ups across community, university and incubator programs. Investor/advisor in women-owned start-ups through the Michigan Women’s Foundation, Power of 100 Women. AVALON LLC, Privately Consultancy President Detroit, MI; New York, NY 2008 - Present Avalon helps clients identify, implement and improve business performance in key areas of the front and back office, including strategic planning, operational frameworks and organizational design. We help clients achieve near and long-term investments in technology-based assets, as well as the delivery o of effective operating models. Recent client successes (a sampling): A. Advisor to a Private Equity firm with material investments in the Linear, Digital and OTT verticals: 1) assessment of technology assets, executive staff and existing business models; 2) delivery of a 5-year roadmap: *Optimization of immediate net revenue & profit *Growth path to capitalize on linear addressable, direct sales and programmatic formats *Required technology investments B. Partner to the management team of a creative & technology driven agency, driving the design and build-out of a $100 Million+ global, client dedicated service unit (digital, content, branding, production, data and analytics, automotive sector) – interim leadership role, global operations and technology. *12 primary markets,16 support markets are now operational and mature. *Development of end-to-end organization model, processes and policies, inclusive of critical client interfaces and strict contractual obligations and deadlines. *1,500 colleagues, partners and clients on-boarded and trained against defined processes and policies. *Matrix governance model with clients, agency holding company, and agency partners. *Designed, deployed and delivered adoption of a three-year change management program and associated technology road map – enterprise solutions across six continents. *Client engagement lead for the deployment of the client’s enterprise global asset management system, spanning 10,000 users, 300+ countries and 500,000 assets with complex country specific requirements. *Integration of Sarbanes-Oxley, SSAE16, SAS70, COBIT and client specific security standards as part of daily operations, tools and technical infrastructure. C. Partner to the CFO, General Counsel, and Real Estate Director of one of the largest urban Universities in the U.S., in the work out of a 33+year old commercial real estate partnership with complex partner, tax and historical debt structures. *Designed and delivered the primary negotiation team, inclusive of specialized legal, tax and partnership attorneys and CPAs. *Lead strategist and negotiator, in partnership with outside counsel, in the structuring of a deal will result in millions of dollars returned to the University and the elimination of operating risk. *Led the turn-around of day-to-day commercial building operations, driving a 600% improvement in cash position, a 30% improvement in tenancy & retention, and the transition to a positive P&L. D. Advisor, mentor and coach to 30+ entrepreneurial teams within a top urban start-up and mid growth incubator. Advisory and execution support for the incubator’s executive management team. *Funding success rate of 25% plus for companies across diverse industries, inclusive of start-up support for underserved groups (ex: returning citizens). *Designed and delivered the National Kidney Foundation’s bio-repository road map as part of a long-term plan to tackle broader research and disease solutions. The plan sponsors and collaborators include the Chief Academic & Scientific Officer for St. John Providence Health Systems (chair of the National Kidney Board at the time); DMC University Laboratories; and Wayne State University Endowed Chair and Director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, School of Medicine. *Interim management of operating teams – real estate, facilities, lab disaster recovery, security, IT, external legal counsel. THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES (IPG) Vice President, Director of Global Business Transformation New York, NY 2006 – 2007 Re-aligned and delivered a business-based SAP strategy to support business growth, operating margin targets and overall effectiveness for participating operating units (operations management & financial management systems). *Reduced the program cost structure 30% over 12-months, insuring monies invested were directed to business unit requirements and measurable gains for clients and the organization. *Designed and executed a 24-month plan with assigned profit & loss accountability for the deployment team and the benefiting operating units. *Executed a revised global staffing model, optimizing existing talent and reducing the need for new requisitions. *Responsible for the conversion of C-level executives and ongoing relationship management. Developed, validated and built an expanded shared financial services model and a revised ‘local office’ finance model. *Achieved net profit gains of 5-15% through optimized business models. Net gains returned to the benefiting operating unit(s) to fund growth initiatives. *Expansions delivered in the United States, United Kingdom, France and South Africa with preparations begun for Germany & Italy. FOOTE, CONE & BELDING (FCB) Global Chief Information Officer Operating Board FCB Management Board of IPG Global Information Services New York, NY (Unit of The Interpublic Group of Companies) 2003 – 2006 Led the global information service requirements of a multi-national advertising and communications agency. Was an active member of the company’s operating board, supporting global business strategies and growth targets. *Leadership and delivery of client engagement & support, development of competitive offerings, client security & privacy guidelines, and custom client tool kits. *Operating budget oversight for this position exceeded $40 million USD annually, supporting 6000 employees across 125 global locations and 7x24 operations. Lead executive in IPG’s creation of a Global Information Services organization (GIS), setting the strategy and standard for technology across the IPG organization. *Design, sell-in and delivery of new operating models for client facing teams and internal support teams. *Achieved cost reduction targets of over 21% on operating expenses and over 25% on capital expenditures through the realignment of funds against business priorities, re-engineering and targeted innovation. *Transition from a 4% to a 10-20% investment model in revenue generating solutions. *Cultural, policy and process change across a federated organization with a lack of integration across hundreds of acquired units. ~42,000 employees, 300+ markets, with capital expenditures ~$400 Million. INITIATIVE NORTH AMERICA Director of Operations & Chief Information Officer Management Board of IPG Global Information Services New York, NY (Unit of The Interpublic Group of Companies) 2001 – 2003 One of three lead architects that delivered the post-merger implementation and media restructuring of Initiative and True North Media. A lead architect in Initiative’s transition to a shared financial services environment, resulting in necessary financial controls and improved P&L position. *The transitioned operation represented over $3.0billion in billings, 46,000 annual client invoices, 420,000 annual vendor invoices, an improved cash collection position of roughly 30-days and a reduction of 120 problem calls per month to less than 20 calls per month during the first annual cycle. Designed and lead the operations and information service requirements of a multi-national media and research agency. Part of core management team responsible for the delivery of North America revenue & profit commitments. *Operating budget oversight for this position exceeded $15 million USD annually, supporting client services, ~1,500 employees and ~16 locations. *Critical partnership with Media, Research, Planning, HR, Real Estate, Facilities and Legal to ensure health of operating teams, 3rd party relationships and business solutions. *Integral member of team right sizing the North American real estate portfolio. CAMPBELL-EWALD COMPANIES Chief of Staff to the Vice Chairman Detroit, Michigan (Unit of The Interpublic Group of Companies) 1988 – 2000 Integral member of a management team that delivered revenue and profit growth of 50% year-over-year, while scaling operations to support expanded volumes. Direct client service to AC-Delco SPO & SPOI, Chevrolet, Continental Airlines, Exxon-Mobil, GM Corporate, GMAC, IBM and Princess Cruise Lines. Progressively senior positions with delivery across account services and operations, project management, business management and client contract negotiations. 1000+ programs delivered annually. EDUCATION & EXECUTIVE TRAINING *Wayne State University - Bachelor of Arts Business Administration o Magna Cum Laude Graduate; Alfred P. Sloan Award Recipient; Academic Scholar; Golden Key National Honor Society; Beta Gamma Sigma *PROSCI-ADKAR Executive Studies *Kaufman Foundation - Certified FastTrac Tech Facilitator *Stephen Covey Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – full management training series *Leadership Diamond Training – Fassforward Consulting Leadership Training Series *Executive Presentation Series – Foote, Cone & Belding *Northwood University - Advertising & Marketing Additional Discipline Studies - Certificate Program PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & COMMUNITY SUPPORT (past and present) *Impact 100 Detroit - collective financial giving to support local nonprofit organizations *Advisory Board, C-Sweet National Women’s Leadership Organization *Women’s Council of Realtors Greater Rochester – Sponsor and Partner of the Year 2024 *Michigan Women’s Foundation Power of 100 Women – Advisor, mentor and investor in women entrepreneurs and women executives *University of Michigan, Center for Entrepreneurship, Project Management and Consulting Panel (ENTR 560) – Panelist *Cook For Your LIFE – Board Member *Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship - Communications Chair *Detroit Regional Chamber – Small Business Advisory Board *Great Lakes Entrepreneurial Quest (GLEQ) – Mentor, advisor, business plan competition *Lego Robotics - Coach Utica Community Schools *TechTown (accelerator) – Advisor/mentor to start-up and mid-growth companies *Van Andel Global Trade Center - Doing Business in Brazil Advisory Series

Member of the GCBR Expert Network · Business Resilience Research · Paris Resilience Summit