Alain Lebreton

Seasoned and highly motivated Financial Services Professional (Corporate Banking, Credit Risk Management, and Financial Advisory) with a strong experience within the industry across the Middle East and Europe. Client focused, committed and creative with a proven track record in building strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, assessing the creditworthiness of commercial transactions, and delivering sound risk management solutions. Skilled in the origination of high standard financing transactions for corporates to support sustainable and profitable portfolio growth and in achieving business aspirations (Syndicated Loans, Export Credit Agency & Cash Flow backed financing, Debt Capital Markets, Working Capital & Transaction Banking financing, Debt Restructuring, etc.). Trilingual (English, French & Arabic), mobile, with solid interpersonal, communication and organizational skills, positioning for the next level success with well-reputed organizations.

Founder & Manager – Corporate Financial Advisory / Market Research & Analysis

Alain Paul Yves Lebreton – DDA (DMC) 

Mar 2019 - Present (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Main Responsibilities

- Deliver strategic advice across a variety of financial products and services (debt & cash management, investments, M&A, loans etc.)

- Assess and advise on overall financial picture, understand the needs, and develop solid financial plans and solutions

- Conduct cost and benchmarking analysis - Guide clients towards profitable and secure financial decisions

- Keep abreast of new industry’s trends and research market to back up financial consulting

Key Achievements

- Provided a full study on the 5 years expansion plan of a regional local services provider with a network increasing from 20 to 50 locations

- Counselled private investors from USA & the GCC on the sovereign debt, the fiscal/political dynamics of governments in the Levant 

- Advised on a Private Equity deal for the expansion of a regional confectionary factory through a $35 million capital increase

- Led discussions for the assets’ acquisition of a Middle Eastern plastic utensils production company by UAE investors for $20 million

- Defined the comprehensive business plans (strategy, finance, platforms & marketing) for the launch of 3 start-up applications

- Configured the UAE based financial unit of a Swiss oil & gas company as per their trade and project finance activities

- Structured the business plan, CRM setup, KYC/KYB/AML structure, Legal & regulatory frame, and the cash management services requirements for a for a new Fintech/e-banking services startup.

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Head of Unit – Senior Credit Risk Manager (Corporate & Commercial Banking)

Bank Audi Sal                                                                                                                                                         Sep 2016 - Dec 2018 (Beirut, Lebanon & Paris, France)

Main Responsibilities

• Credit Risk Assessment (France, Jordan, Qatar, and Egypt Desks)

- Timely delivered circa 5 daily Credit Risk Opinions assessing credit proposals submitted by the regional entities’ desks

- Led a team of 8 Senior Associates & Portfolio Managers to produce analysis related to the final Risk Opinions in timeframes of 48 hours 

- Evaluated impacts of explicit events in regular stress testing (4 per year) or targeted assessments, on portfolios or specific clients  

• Group Credit Policies and Procedures:

- Successfully designed & wrote the bank’s new Credit Policies & Procedures with substantial additions and amendments 

- Tailored strategic solutions to the challenges facing the prompt implementation of the new policies and resolved complex issues

- Planned field visits to Group entities to train more than 200 colleagues for a successful rollout of the updated policies

• Credit Portfolio Maintenance, Business Development & Quality Management:

- Enhanced & efficiently designed credit risk management workflows, scorecard analytics and credit approval processes

- Developed 5 templates for detailed credit proposals as per economic sector & TM/RACs and enhanced existing ones 

- Monitored and analyzed results of KPIs & reports outcome while enhancing internal controls to preserve governance frameworks

- Identified and accurately implemented early risk indicators reporting (portfolios concentrations sector, industry, economy & credit quality)

• Team Management (Training, Support, Coaching & Supervision) 

- Supervised the tasks of the Senior Associates & Portfolio Managers. Coached, guided, and motivated the team members

- Provided all necessary support and training, fostering the credit analysis, a culture of risk acumen, organizational & management skills

Key Achievements

- Increased the productivity of the assigned team of Senior Associates & Portfolio Managers by an outstanding 30% in a span of 9 months

- Developed and rolled out a structure for more than 15 thorough Target Market & Risk Acceptance Criteria and early warning signals/ratios

- Improved the quality and accuracy of the risk ratings for the covered portfolio of clients by roughly 85% in just 1.5 years

- Delivered a fully revamped Group Credit Policies & Procedures in a timeframe of 6 months 

- Selected among my peers as the Interim Head of Credit Risk with Bank Audi France SA from March until August 2018

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Vice President – Senior Relationship Manager (Corporate & Investment Banking)

Citibank N.A.                                                                                                                                                          Jan 2008 - Sep 2016 (Beirut, Lebanon)

Main Responsibilities

- Delivered full-fledged banking products & services to corporate clients in Lebanon, UAE, other GCC countries, Europe, and Africa

- Oversaw a portfolio of leading groups in diverse sectors with BAU facilities of over USD 300 MM for projects, trade & working capital financing

- Implemented corporate finance, investment banking, trade & treasury & project finance structures through the bank’s worldwide footprint

- Deployed & matched the bank’s services through its network in 4 geographies: Levant, UAE & other GCC countries, Europe & Africa

- Organized & financed the cross-border expansion of clients in the IT, energy, distribution, FMCG, waste management & real estate sectors

- Structured several regional supplier financing solutions out of Citibank’s DIFC hub in the UAE

- Mentored & coached a team of 5 Associates & Analysts, providing senior leadership in managing corporate relationships & credit risks controls

Key Achievements

- Grew the portfolio’s revenues, returns & share of wallet with a sound CAGR of 15%

- Slashed portfolio’s costs of fund by safeguarding an optimal capital deployment (RORAC of 65% vs. threshold of 25%)

- Engaged M&A negotiations for a total USD 5.8 Bn in the IT, Energy, Real Estate and FMCG sectors in Europe, UAE the GCC & Africa

- Involved in discussions for IPO deals for USD 5.0 Bn in the IT & Real Estate sectors in UAE & Africa

- Funded the construction of several power plants with the IMF for USD 800 MM in Senegal, Kenya & Ghana

- Negotiated USD 400 MM ECA financing of new aircrafts with the national airline carrier

- Designed and executed a USD 40 MM fuel hedging deal and a USD 20 MM carbon emissions/credits agreement with the same carrier

- Initiated discussions for a USD 200 MM permanent fuel hedging structure with the Ministry of Energy

- Led the discussions for a club deal debt restructuring of a major distribution group in the UAE & MENA for USD 175 MM

- Refinanced the debt of a UAE private equity firm’s subsidiary for USD 150 MM

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Senior Relationship Manager (Corporate Banking)

Société Générale (SGBL)                                                                                                                                                       Jun 2004 - Jan 2008 (Beirut, Lebanon)

Main Responsibilities

- Steered business development activities and client servicing as trusted key point of contact

- Upheld and enhanced a diversified portfolio of 83 groups/corporates with total facilities of over USD 250 MM within bank’s risk appetite

- Identified opportunities for products cross selling, structured transactions, prepared & negotiated indicative term sheets/proposals

- Led a team of 10 Credit Analyst to issue Credit Proposals, while nurturing a spirit of excellence, exemplarity, and ownership

Key Achievements

- Organized a large-scale syndicated financing for the setup of the biggest plant for construction materials in the Levant area

- Involved in the execution of the merger deal between 2 leading local cement manufacturers

- Structured the financing of several major real estate projects in Beirut

- Financed the construction / expansion of one of the leading hospitals in Beirut

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Relationship Manager – Risk Manager – Corporate Credit Analyst (Corporate & Commercial Banking)

BNP Paribas                                                                                                                                                                           May 1998 - Jun 2004 (Beirut, Lebanon)

Main Responsibilities & Key Achievements

• Relationship Manager (Jan 2003 - Jun 2004)

- Oversaw existing relationships, protected existing revenues, identified prospects & selling opportunities to improve revenues & returns

- Maximized cross-selling opportunities by promoting the full suite of products & services while coordinating activities & global strategies

- Increased portfolio’s revenues by 35%, ensuring growth of bank’s balance sheet met predefined cost of funding requirements

- Defined & upheld a global account plan and business pipeline, identified short and long-term objectives & strategies by product & locations

• Risk Manager (Jan 2000 - Jan 2003) 

- Assessed Corporate, Commercial & Private/Personal Banking’s credits proposals as per the credit risk management and control framework

- Reviewed credit risks evolutions, operations & profitability as per conditions granted and recommended adjustments accordingly

- Analyzed the risks of various sectors of the economy, sovereign debt performances & foreign exchange threats

- Ensured compliance of the approved limits & engagements with the capital adequacy rules and the Paris HQ delegated approval authorities

- Prepared and actively participated in the risk committees, debating proposals, recommendations, and final decisions

• Corporate Credit Analyst (May 1998 - Jan 2000) 

- Issued credit proposals and analyzed decision parameters by assessing clients’ financial, legal and market risks performances and soundness

- Maintained daily follow-ups and client contact on corporate and commercial relationships within assigned portfolio 

- Insured adherence of all proposed facilities with the regulatory policies and the internal guidelines

Master’s In Management (MIM) / Finance

ESSEC Business School - Paris, France (1996 - 1998)

Master of Engineering (Meng) / Civil 

Saint Joseph University (USJ) - ESIB School of Engineering (1991 -1996)