Fact sheet - Luiz Kaufmann
Name: Luiz Kaufmann
Company: L. Kaufmann Consultores Associados
Career at ADL
Started: 1977
Left: 1984
Last career stage: Managing Director
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo
Career:
- 2001 - 2003: VASPER telecom, President and CEO
- 1998 - 2001: G.P. INVESTIMENTOS, Private Equity, Partner
- 1993 - 1998: ARACRUZ CELULOSE, President and CEO
- 1990 - 1993: PETROPAR S.A., Member of the Board and Executive Vice President
- 1985 - 1990: MULTIPLIC S.A.,CEO of the Multiplic Group and Vice President of the Board of Directors of Banco Multiplic S.A.
- 1974 - 1977: Prosed S.A. Engenharia, partner and director
- 1968 - 1974: Serete S.A. Engenharia, Director of Finance & Control, started as project engineer
- Masters in Industrial Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology
- 1968: Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Parana
Interview with Luiz Kaufmann - Ex-Managing Director of Arthur D. Little Brazil
Why did you start working for Arthur D. Little?
In 1977 I was a partner in a small engineering company and was approached by a head hunter. I had read a lot about Arthur D. Little, since my college days. The company was always described as one of the most creative "think tanks" in the world. At that time Arthur D. Little was based in Rio de Janeiro, and was working mostly in government projects. Local private companies were starting to look for international consultants and Arthur D. Little had decided to start an office in S. Paulo to go after this new market.
I joined Arthur D. Little as Managing Director and worked for seven years in Brazil. In the beginning we were three senior consultants but quickly grew to more than 40 staff. The Brazilian office would also handle projects in Argentina.
What did you learn from Arthur D. Little?
Arthur D. Little was my main management school. The projects were usually large and interesting. We were working with the most advanced Brazilian companies in many industries including, petrochemicals, banking, textiles, construction, and others and for each project we were able to bring experts from abroad. I also had the chance to work in Mexico and Venezuela.
What was your most exciting project or experience at ADL?
The most interesting project was Multiplic, a diversified Brazilian financial conglomerate, well positioned in the market and with a large potential to grow. The project was challenging and very successful, and as a result of our consulting work I was invited to join the company as CEO, and left Arthur D. Little.
What have been the main highlights of your career after leaving Arthur D. Little?
My first two assignments after leaving Arthur D.Little, were as CEO for ex-Arthur D. Little clients: Multiplic, Petropar and Aracruz. Petropar was a petrochemicals and plastics transformation company, located in the deep south of Brazil. Petropar was a turn-around challenge, including restructuring the business portfolio and assisting in family generation transitioning. Aracruz, a vertically integrated pulp producing company, was also a major turn-around project; the company was in a difficult financial situation and under my leadership became the most efficient in the world. It was also the first Brazilian company to be traded at NYSE with ADRs level 3.
On one of my trips to the US, I was asked by the immigration agent for whom did I work; when I answered Aracruz, he came from behind the counter, and gave me a hug, saying: "I am a shareholder of Aracruz and you made me make a lot of money!".
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
In 2004, I started my own company a "boutique investment bank and strategy consulting company" working in corporate finance, M&A and turnarounds. We have already conducted several turn-arounds followed by sale. Today, I also enjoy to work on Boards of local companies.
What advice would you give to a young consultant at ADL?
What makes the difference in a consulting company is the calibre of the professionals.