The Interview: Jeff Schmidt/Thierry Gibert talk about new position

Recently the CDI Global BV Board of Directors met and approved two resolutions. The first resolution creates the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the second appoints Thierry Gibert to this new position.

Thierry Gibert sat down for an interview with Schmidt: to discuss the position, his career with CDI Global and future of CDI Global.

Jeff Schmidt:

Thierry, before we discuss your new roll as Chief Administrative Officer, please introduce yourself to our followers.

Thierry Gibert:

I have been with CDI since 1998, so almost 30 years. I've started as an associate in the Vienna office of CDI Global that at that time was linked to Erste Bank and I was covering M&A in the German speaking countries in the DACH region and central and Eastern Europe. And I stayed there for eight years, got to know CDI, got to participate in the AGM, got to know the old guys, the old network. And then after eight years, for personal reason, I moved back to France.

And I was asked to open a CDI Global France I joined two people, Aline and Philippe and we created CDI France and slowly expanded the office to now include about 15 people on board.

Schmidt:

How should people think about CDI Global?

Gibert:

CDI Global is in the Merger and Acquisition advisory business. In the M&A business, we are not simply a provider of financial services, but rather a professional and personal service company to our clients. As Bo Hjelt, our Founder, used to say, we're not there to manage processes. We're here to solve clients' problems and capture new opportunities, to consider all aspects and options available to our clients when either acquiring a business or selling their business. We're there to help our clients find actionable solutions.

That's what makes CDI Global different from other advisory companies. It's important for people to understand CDI Global was created in 1973 by Bo because he was frustrated by the services he was getting from traditional M&A bankers. Bo wanted to have an approach to growth and diversification that wasn't based on finance, but rather based on strategy and people. And for more than five decades we have remained true to this “DNA”. We will continue to be different from other advisory firms because we don't manage financial processes. We bring solutions to our clients.

Schmidt:

You are taking on the new position as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for our firm. What is your perspective on the role and the impact you can make.

Gibert:

Yes, it's a new position and I’m excited for the opportunity. It's important to have a CAO when a firm grows and what used to be done people-to-people, face-to-face and on an informal basis needs to be more structured. We are more than 40 offices around the world right now.  With the addition of new member firms, we sometimes assume people know and understand our ways of administering the business, but they don't.

We recently conducted a strategic review of our business which showed that we need more information flow to all the teams globally, we need a more systematic information flow. I see my position as a troubleshooter and “binder” for our members, somebody who can share information, create systems to help formation information be more fluid so that people are confident they know what they need to know about CDI Global methods and practices.

I can be a resource when our teams have questions. And when new members come on board, I can help ensure their onboarding is “360 degrees”. And as quickly as possible, I can help them fit seamlessly into CDI Global’s ways of doing business, and to appreciate our legacy and unique business model.

Schmidt:

How do you envision the Chief Administrative Officer position interacting with team members?

Gibert:

I am the person making sure that decisions are implemented, that things happen, that our people work in harmony, in a coordinated manner. In other words, it's to pull, to push, to help. I don't decide anything. I just champion whatever the Board and the Management Committee decide.

Schmidt:

What should we expect from the CAO over the next 5 to 10 years?

Gibert:

Well, we should expect better communication, better information sharing, and the confidence that there is a central point where all the information is and can be found and shared. When we make a pitch, answer clients, etc., we are used to working through email, asking around. Our objective is to know if you go to the SharePoint, you're going to get 80% of the information you need, and you will know whom to call to get the 20% missing.

Schmidt:

What does creating the CAO position mean for CDI's customers?

Gibert:

I will never be in contact with the clients, just the CDI Global team member that need support. So, our customers will see is a better flow of information, better quality information, quicker answers, because the information is more easily accessible. Because of the history and structure of CDI Global, we're the M&A firm operating truly as “one firm” around the world. People are very surprised by how well we know each other, how well we communicate, how quickly we react. And my goal as the CAO is to make this become even more effective and more real.

Schmidt:

 By creating the CAO position, where do you think CDI will see the most growth?

Gibert:

The goal, and I think I'm confident that what I'm doing is contributing to it, will be to generate more and wider cross-border transactions. Our cross-border transactions have tended to be from one country to another. We aspire to have increasing transactions that cover a continent or several continents. I hope improved communication and the better coordination between the members will bring us more truly international mandates.

Schmidt:

How do you see this new position affecting you?

Gibert:

It's a very time-consuming job that I've taken on. Because I've been in this business for 30 years, and seen so many things, I know the entire CDI team will be involved and will be instrumental in making this new role succeed. If I can contribute to building on the rich history of CDI Global, I'll be happy! The vision Bo set for the firm was absolutely amazing in its audacity. Time proved him true. We have a great legacy.

We are 50 years in business, so it's the equivalent of two generations. If we can stay the strategic course we are following, welcome new people, younger people, we will celebrate another 50 years of success. That's going to be quite an achievement!

Schmidt:

Thank you, Thierry, for your perspectives. With committed leaders like you, the future of CDI Global is in great hands.  Thank you for your time today.

Gibert:

Thank you Jeff, I’m excited for the future of our firm.