Alessandro is available for hire
Hire AlessandroAlessandro Cozzi
Verified Expert in Finance
Management Consulting Expert
Location
Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Toptal Member Since
October 21, 2022
Alessandro is a financial expert who delivered over $6 billion in growth for startups and Fortune 500 corporations. He identified, pursued, negotiated, and integrated several M&A deals and demonstrated a high level of operations, sales, finance, IT, HR, legal, and cultural understanding to manage national and international growth projects. Alessandro has a background in economics, holds an executive MBA in corporate finance, and is certified in disruptive strategy by Harvard University.
Career Highlights
Group Director of Acquisitions and Integration
AKKA Benelux
Education Highlights
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Istituto di Studi Bancari (ISB)
Master's Degree
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Certification Highlights
Disruptive Strategy
Harvard Business School
Case Studies
Expertise
Work Experience
Mentor
2022 - PRESENT
Newchip
- Helped startups with fundraising pitch decks to secure Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds.
- Introduced strategies to boost growth and scale businesses.
- Provided consultation on potential exit strategies and valuations.
Focus areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Autonomous Navigation, Big Data, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Digital Health, Fintech, Industrials, Internet of Things (IoT), Mortgages, SaaS, Exit Strategy, Analytics, Business Development, Idea Validation, Marketplaces, Negotiation, Operations, Pitch Decks, Project Management, Market Research, Opportunity Identification, Product-market Fit, Financial Services, Finance Process Improvement, Card Payments, Early-stage Startups, Business Validation, Technology, Investor Presentations, Valuation, M&A Due Diligence (Financial)
Corporate Development | Strategic Director
2021 - PRESENT
MX
- Defined the MX's long-term strategy alongside the executive team and the client, product, sales, and marketing divisions. Evaluated and proposed alternative strategies and potential outputs.
- Analyzed and prioritized market expansion regarding products, verticals, and geography, aligned with the company's strategic direction.
- Scouted and executed five strategic partnerships, investments, and M&A that led to the: (i) acceleration of the company's product strategy, (ii) access to new data points that led to sales growth, (iii) opening of new verticals, (iv) tech innovation.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships, Investments, Strategy, Expansion, Internationalization, Fundraising, M&A Strategy, Financing, Negotiation, Economics, Finance, Financial Modeling, Post-merger Integration, Business Operations, Market Assessment, Pitch Decks, Business Development, Budgeting, Business Analysis, Business Models, Business Plan Consulting, Cash Flow, Data Analysis, Due Diligence, Exit Strategy, Financial Analysis, Forecasting, Fintech, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Growth Strategy, Market Research & Analysis, Market Sizing, Pitch Deck Consultant, Private Equity, DCF Valuation, Business Planning, Startups, Expansion Strategy, Sales Growth, Go-to-market Strategy, International Expansion, Buy-side, M&A (Buy-side), Market Research, Opportunity Identification, Product-market Fit, Financial Services, Finance Process Improvement, Card Payments, Early-stage Startups, Business Validation, Technology, Investor Presentations, Valuation, M&A Due Diligence (Financial)
Group Director of Acquisitions and Integration
2019 - 2021
AKKA Benelux
- Championed the integration of PDS Tech, leading global M&A stakeholders—internal and external—through all transactions and post-merger integration activities and overseeing SPA negotiations.
- Tripled the US company's year-over-year EBITDA by focusing on KPIs, increased performance transparency, budgets, and targets at the business and branch levels, and improved talent acquisition, IT simplification, and workforce restructuring.
- Surpassed revenue targets, increasing year-over-year by 15% against a 10% goal, partly through reorganization of commission structures, integration of AKKA and PDS offers, and optimization of technologies for requisition assignment.
- Acted as a temporary chief operating officer (COO) for PDS Tech.
Focus areas: Post-merger Integration, Deal Flow Origination, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Business Operations, Negotiation, Market Assessment, Project Management, Financial Modeling, Process Improvement, Business Evaluation, Budgeting, Business Planning, Strategy, M&A Strategy, Financing, Finance, Expansion, Internationalization, Pitch Decks, Business Development, Working Capital Management, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Business Process Optimization, Business Analysis, New Business Development, Business Plan Consulting, Market Opportunity Analysis, Market Sizing, Cash Flow Analysis, Cash Flow Modeling, Corporate Finance, Cost Reduction & Optimization, Data Analysis, Due Diligence, Exit Strategy, Finance Strategy, Fintech Consultant, Growth Strategy, Industry Analysis, PMI, Profitability Analysis, Investments, Startups, Expansion Strategy, Go-to-market Strategy, International Expansion, Buy-side, M&A (Buy-side), Market Research, Opportunity Identification, Business Validation, Technology, Investor Presentations, Valuation, M&A Due Diligence (Financial)
M&A Leader
2016 - 2019
AKKA Benelux
- Scouted, negotiated, and executed several deals ranging from $2 million to $350 million, leading AKKA Technologies from $1 billion in revenue to $2 billion in three years.
- Boosted the group's digital presence in IoT, automation, autonomous driving, AI, virtual reality and augmented reality, big data, and cybersecurity through acquisitions and alliances in Europe.
- Developed standard models, pitching, and execution materials like teasers, valuation models, CIM, and data packs.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Finance, Partnerships, Startups, Expansion Strategy, Sales Growth, Go-to-market Strategy, M&A Strategy, Financing, Negotiation, Economics, Strategy, Financial Modeling, Post-merger Integration, Business Operations, Market Assessment, Expansion, Internationalization, Pitch Decks, Business Development, International Expansion, Cross-border M&A, EMEA, North America, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Market Research & Analysis, Market Opportunity Analysis, New Business Development, Business Analysis, Cash Flow Analysis, Profitability Optimization, Finance Structures, Due Diligence, Investments, Deal Flow Origination, Project Management, Process Improvement, Business Evaluation, Budgeting, Business Planning, Buy-side, M&A (Buy-side), Market Research, Opportunity Identification, Business Validation, Technology, Valuation, M&A Due Diligence (Financial)
M&A Director | Board of Directors
2014 - 2016
LKQ | Rhiag Group
- Directed the deal flow from the start and created Rhiag's growth strategy.
- Chaired the divestment of Rhiag Group, $1 billion in revenue, to LKQ Corporation, a $10 billion US-based business. Subsequently became part of a more established global M&A practice and spent the last eight months of my tenure driving acquisitions.
- Expanded the aftermarket's branded automotive spare parts portfolio into two new sectors.
Focus areas: Market Assessment, Expansion Strategy, International Expansion, Finance, Financing, Initial Public Offerings, Sell-side, Buy-side, M&A Strategy, Negotiation, Economics, Strategy, Financial Modeling, Post-merger Integration, Business Operations, Expansion, Internationalization, Business Evaluation, Pitch Decks, Business Development, Market Fit, Growth Strategy, Market Opportunity Analysis, Business Partnerships, B2B Partnerships, Business Process Analysis, Corporate Development, Interim CFO, Cost Reduction & Optimization, Exit Strategy, Deal Flow Origination, Project Management, Budgeting, Business Planning, M&A (Buy-side), M&A (Sell-side), Market Research, Opportunity Identification, Business Validation, Valuation, M&A Due Diligence (Financial)
Manager | Corporate Transaction Services
2011 - 2014
Deloitte
- Provided senior counsel on more than $5 billion in transactions, redacting sales memorandum and leading 30+ due diligence processes.
- Worked on the buy and sell side of M&A transactions, fairness opinion, IPO, carve-outs, and restructuring for domestic and foreign entities.
- Performed financial analysis for private equity and corporate structures, including merger modeling, pro forma impact and profitability analysis, cash flow generation, working capital management, EBITDA, and net debt normalization.
- Helped private equities and strategic buyers and sellers achieve their goals.
Focus areas: Due Diligence, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), M&A (Buy-side), M&A (Sell-side), Finance, Initial Public Offerings, Carve-out Analysis, Carve-out Planning, Private Equity, M&A Strategy, Economics, Accounting, Financial Modeling, Business Evaluation, Pitch Decks, Budgeting, Business Analysis, Business Models, Business Planning, International Expansion, Cash Flow Management, Profitability Analysis, Corporate Governance, Data Analysis, Exit Strategy, P&L Forecasting, Industry Analysis, Pitch Presentations, Private Equity Consultant, Startup Consulting, Transaction Advisory, Corporate Transactions, Project Management, Sell-side, Buy-side, M&A Due Diligence (Financial)
Supervisor | Senior Audit
2006 - 2011
Deloitte
- Oversaw day-to-day operations of complex audit engagements.
- Audited firms across diverse industries such as automotive, construction, engineering, manufacturing, media, nonprofit, pharmaceutical, publishing, and telecommunications, including clients like Vodafone, Cairo Group, and Rhiag.
- Increased client satisfaction on the overall audit engagement.
Focus areas: Big 4 Accounting, Audits, SOX, Finance, Cash Flow, Profit & Loss (P&L), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Economics, Accounting, Project Management, Budgeting
Education
2009 - 2009
Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Corporate Finance
Istituto di Studi Bancari (ISB) - Lucca, Italy
2001 - 2006
Master's Degree in Economics
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart - Milan, Italy
Certifications
DECEMBER 2020 - PRESENT
Disruptive Strategy
Harvard Business School