May 7th, 2013 – Vienna, Austria – Richard Joly’s interview about the most efficient behavior of Board Directors has echoed in an article in Semanaeconómica’s web bulletin in Perú (April 30th, 2013).

In Semanaeconómica, one of the top weekly business magazines in Perú, Richard Joly is refered to when it comes to the question of how to become a member of a Board of Directors.

Ready for the Board of Directors? (translation by AIMS International)
Find the original article here.

I am 47 years old and I have nearly 20 years of experience in executive positions. I feel ready to be part of a Board of Directors. How do they realize that I am ready?

Feeling ready is important, but sometimes not enough. The Boards of Directors of the largest private companies usually require experience and / or general management positions or high severity.

However, all Boards of Directors usually have at least a CFO and a lawyer, which represents an opportunity for those with specialized experience in these functions.

For the degree of accountability, a director must have an unblemished career, strategic clarity, ability to ask tough questions with great tact, make critical decisions, to be comfortable with different viewpoints and build on what others say. This video of AIMS International can be illustrative.

In addition, you must have time. While each company is different, a board meeting can last 2-3 hours a month to a morning. Often, one must integrate a committee, which can carry 1 or 2 additional hours per month.

There are several steps you can take to improve your chances:

Do a reality check! Validate if you are really ready for the task, consult friends or acquaintances of high level, including directors and general managers. Talk about your interests, ask for their opinion and ask them what you should do to improve your chances. Also familiarize yourself with some of the questions you must answer as a director.

Go in steps! The Board of Directors of nonprofit organizations, associations, committees in the chambers of commerce and small and medium enterprises, are often an excellent stepping stone to learn how a Board of Directors works and to make yourself known. These positions can be pro bono, but learning paid for itself and you can include the experience on your resume.

Be visible! Susana Eléspuru, former VP and General Manager of Procter & Gamble and member of several renowned Boards of Directors, recommended to assume an active role and to make yourself known in the business community. She suggests you offer to be a speaker or panelist at forums or conferences, as this “gives great visibility and can compensate for someone to listen, invite you to be part of their Board of Directors or to refer you.”

Inform your network! Most positions on Boards of Directors are given for reference. Make sure your friends, former bosses, and, above all, business leaders know of your interest and your abilities. They could have fresh data, and recommend you to get to the decision maker. Also, make sure that your profile on business networks such as Linkedin reflects your executive experience, including achievements, awards and any pro-bono participation in Boards.

Study! Research and sign up for a course in senior management, corporate governance or similar in an institution of local prestige. This will give more weight to your resume. You can also explore courses abroad.

Be visible for headhunters! Although headhunters often require previous experience in the position, sometimes they receive commissions from companies which are interested in adding diversity, dynamism and expertise to their Boards. Make sure that they have your resume.

Corporate Communications

Christian Schulte +49 178 2854744

About AIMS International (www.aims-international.net)

Incorporated in Vienna, Austria in 1992, AIMS International is an international executive search organization of independently owned and managed executive search firms who work collaboratively to execute executive search assignment for global clients around the world. AIMS International is represented by over 350 consultants in more than 90 offices in over 50 countries throughout all continents. It was ranked the largest executive search partnership in the world by Search-Consult Magazine.

For more information, please visit www.aims-international.net.

May 2nd, 2013 – Lima, Perú – Armando Cavero, Managing Director of AIMS Perú is going to present each month one newly appointed CEO in the leading business magazine “G de Gestion” in Perú.

Armando Cavero, Managing Partner – AIMS International Executive Search Perú, Ecuador, Bolivia has started in April 2013 to present his new column.

The intention of this column is to interview a newly appointed CEO or high profile “C” position, from the line of sight of an Executive Search Consultant and share with the readers insights of the person, his/her style and among other things, the reasons for him/her to get a new job. The column is called “RECIÉN CAZADO”, which means in English to the point “Just Hunted”.

The first interview was led with JIMMY SUNI MELGAR, the CEO of Gloria S.A.

About JIMMY SUNI MELGAR:

Current Position: CEO Gloria S.A.
Previous Position: CEO Molitalia
B.A. Administration at Universidad del Pacifico, MBA at ESAN
Personal Data: Age 51, married, two daughters
Hobbies: Cycling

Interview:

JIMMY SUNI MELGAR: “I came to Gloria to stay”

In which company did your career start and how has it developed?

My career is linked to Fast Moving Consumer Goods. I started at Pepsico, and then moved to Unique, Nicolini, Molitalia and finally to Gloria, where I expect to be until the end of my career, I want my job at Gloria to be the last one I have, I want to retire at Gloria.
Your longer-lasting job was at Molitalia. Can we say that this company could be considered as your professional “school”?
Molitalia is a company that I will always remember in a special way. I worked there for almost 16 years, and it has left its mark. It was my first time as General Manager, and if I must consider any company as such, it would absolutely be Molitalia.

What made you move from one company to another?

Challenges, without a doubt. Every time I moved to another job it was always because I found challenges that were attractive enough for me to take a chance. It is not very common to go after challenges that imply risks, but that has been a landmark in my career, especially at the beginning.

In the case of Gloria, what attracted you, was it only the challenge or was there any other consideration?

Gloria is a special challenge. I join a very successful company, a growing one that has and always had an entrepreneurial spirit; keeping that stance is something I deeply admire and most likely that is why Gloria is a different kind of challenge.

It is not your first time at a multinational company, but can Gloria also be different in that aspect?

Absolutely. I have had many jobs in subsidiaries of multinational companies but now I am at the epicenter. The constant interaction with the top corporate executives is very important to me and I am proud to see the company as a whole, from Peru outwards.

What could you say about your work style and leadership? How was it and how is it now?

I appreciate self-sufficient team members and that has not changed because I work on a full trust basis. I never step over them when I want to communicate to their subordinates, I think that is not acceptable. Regarding my style, I believe that I have become moderate, I was more impetuous and strict and this could have been clearer on my earlier positions in Finance and Administration, but since I had my first CEO position, I perceived different realities clearer. That made me mature, it helped me have a broader vision and modulate my style.

Regarding the areas in which you rely on the most now, would it be reasonable to think first about those that were not part of your F&A origins?

I believe so. The commercial and production areas are the ones that contribute the most to me. I feel closer to the logistics area, which would be like the third leg of an imaginary stool I rely on.

How do you see yourself in five years? What will Jimmy Suni be doing then?

I see myself in Perú. I see myself contributing, learning and I see myself in Gloria because I am here to stay.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Corporate Communications

Christian Schulte +49 178 2854744

About AIMS International (www.aims-international.net)

Incorporated in Vienna, Austria in 1992, AIMS International is an international executive search organization of independently owned and managed executive search firms who work collaboratively to execute executive search assignment for global clients around the world. AIMS International is represented by over 350 consultants in more than 90 offices in over 50 countries throughout all continents. It was ranked the largest executive search partnership in the world by Search-Consult Magazine.

For more information, please visit www.aims-international.net.