Success story · November 2025
Interim CFO as the driving force behind restructuring and a successful sale in the food sector
A 7-month project to lead the financial restructuring and prepare the company for a successful sale
Client and Sector:
Our client, a leading company in the food sector (frozen foods) with operations in Spain (Castile and León), was at a crucial strategic juncture: preparing the company for a corporate sale.
The Situation / Need (The Pain):
The organisation faced a critical challenge: the need to professionalise its financial structure and optimise costs to maximise value ahead of the imminent sale. It required immediate, objective executive leadership, free from internal organisational inertia. They needed a leader with proven experience (Accountability), in-depth financial knowledge and an understanding of the regional environment, capable of making decisions and implementing a rapid-response plan from day one.
The EPUNTO Approach and Solution (The Methodology): Within less than two weeks, EPUNTO deployed an interim manager from our pool of executive talent to take on the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the company.
For seven months, the executive joined the management committee with clear objectives: to lead cost optimisation and renegotiate bank debt in order to stabilise the financial position.
Under the supervision and mentorship of Emilio del Prado, a Partner at EPUNTO, the project focused on implementing the necessary restructuring and preparing the organisation for the due diligence process. The success of his management and the trust he built were such that, following the successful acquisition by a leading business group in the sector, our executive was promoted and appointed Managing Director by the new owners.
Frequently asked questions
What was the main challenge in this project?
The challenge was to prepare the company for a sale by restructuring its finance department and optimising costs, in a complex environment with no time for a learning curve. A ‘plug-and-play’ executive was needed to deliver immediate solutions.
Why was an interim manager chosen rather than a traditional recruitment process?
Speed and objectivity were crucial. The company needed a leader free from historical baggage to implement complex changes and could not afford to wait the 6–9 months required by a recruitment process. It needed top-tier talent, overqualified for the role, who could guarantee measurable results in the short term (7 months).
What was the most significant impact during the first 90 days?
In the first quarter, our Interim Manager succeeded in renegotiating the bank debt and establishing a clear cost-optimisation plan, thereby stabilising the financial situation and ensuring the company was in a sound financial position for the sale process.
How did EPUNTO ensure the transfer of knowledge at the end of the mission?
Our methodology includes a structured exit plan. In this case, it was a complete success: the Interim Manager led the transition during the sale and, thanks to the trust he had built up and the results he had delivered, was appointed by the new owners as permanent Managing Director, thereby ensuring that the improvements would be fully sustainable.
What unique feature did EPUNTO bring to this solution?
The speed of onboarding (less than two weeks) and the precision in selecting the executive. We provided an interim CFO who not only had proven technical expertise in finance and restructuring, but also a deep understanding of the regional context (Castile and León) and the soft skills required to navigate the company’s culture and build trust, even with the new buyers.
