Christian Ciliberto
Executive Operator  |  US & Europe

Turning Decisions
Into Outcomes

Ownership TransitionsTurnaroundsGrowth

Organizations rarely fail because of a lack of strategy. They fail when execution breaks down during growth, restructuring, ownership transitions or periods of change. I work at those inflection points.

Selected Experience

Where enterprise value was at stake — and what was delivered.

Astound GroupCFO & Head of Special Projects
US & Canada · ~$60M
Challenge

A project-driven group facing operational complexity, margin pressure and significant losses across US and Canadian entities.

Action

Took direct control of finance, operations and contracts. Cut operating costs, restored project margin discipline, and restructured the Canadian facility without disrupting live projects.

Outcome
  • EBITDA improved from ~1% to ~18%, with US operations reaching ~26%
  • Gross margins increased from ~31% to ~45% through restructuring, project discipline and process optimization
  • 30%+ operating cost reduction achieved through structural organizational changes
  • Recovered ~$6M in revenue and structural cost during restructuring — including a full facility shutdown executed without disrupting live projects
Frener & ReiferHead of Admin → CFO → CEO
Germany · ~€80M · 13 years
Challenge

A specialized façade group undergoing rapid international expansion and a complex cross-border ownership transition, requiring organizational transformation, capital restructuring and stronger governance across multiple markets.

Action

Progressed from Head of Administration to CFO and later CEO. Led the management buyout, capital restructuring, operational transformation and US market development while strengthening governance, project controls and financial discipline.

Outcome
  • Revenue growth from €25M to €80M
  • US business expansion from $2M to $15M
  • Cross-border management buyout successfully initiated and executed
  • International expansion across the US, UK, France, Israel, Canada and the Far East
  • Capital structure repositioned through bond issuance and equity recapitalization supporting long-term growth
Representative Brands & Projects

Apple · Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) · LVMH · Audemars Piguet · BMW

Solarday EuropeInterim COO & CFO
Milan, Italy
Challenge

A capital-intensive solar manufacturing and PV-development business (~€67M revenue) in financial distress, within a contracting European solar market — requiring operational and financial control under significant market and capital pressure.

Action

Brought in as Interim COO & CFO to take operational and financial control — owning corporate operations, financial restructuring, treasury and fundraising, and leading the assessment of strategic options, while supporting international photovoltaic development.

Outcome
  • Operational and financial control established under distress
  • Project and operations controlling built; core processes stabilized
  • Restructuring, treasury and fundraising led under market and capital pressure
  • Strategic options assessed; international PV development supported
CCBusiness Building
& Strategic Investments
US & Europe
Mandate

Executive operator supporting owners, investors and management teams through ownership transitions, capital formation, growth initiatives and special situations — engaged for execution, alignment and outcomes.

Focus

Building businesses, supporting ownership transitions, facilitating capital and strategic opportunities, and creating situations where ownership, execution and long-term value creation are closely connected.

Selected Ventures

Velato — a consumer products venture focused on innovative frozen dessert solutions.

Activities

Where I operate.

01

Ownership Transitions

Leading businesses through succession, sale and change of control.

02

Business Building

Building the operating structure, teams and discipline that durable growth depends on.

03

Strategic Investments

Engaging selectively where ownership, execution and value creation are closely connected.

04

Capital Raising

Positioning businesses and securing the capital to execute their next phase.

05

Cross-Border Growth

Operating across the US and Europe — and connecting the two.

Execution
creates value.

Perspectives

How I think about value, execution and change.

01

Execution creates value — strategy only points to it.

Most businesses don’t fail on strategy. They fail when execution breaks down under change.

02

Growth without operational discipline is fragile.

Scale that outruns control doesn’t compound value — it compounds risk.

03

Ownership transitions require leadership, not advice.

Someone has to own the decisions when control changes hands. That’s an operator’s job.

04

AI as an executive force multiplier.

The operators who fold it into how they run a business will move faster than those who don’t.

Contact

Let’s talk about the decision in front of you.