Klaas Postema, the former CEO of Sicomed Bucuresti drug company (currently Zentiva), founded consultant Genesis Capital at the beginning of this year together with Didier Lepoutre and Lucian Tudose.
Formerly, Klaas Postema was responsible for restructuring Sicomed (one of the largest drug manufacturers in Romania) during the industry's most difficult period (2002-2004), and was also responsible for integrating the company's operations with Zentiva in 2006, before leaving his CEO position to start his own business.
Postema has switched to M&A consultancy and primarily targets medium-sized companies.
"Romanian companies' shareholders do not know what to change. When a company becomes insolvent, this is a clear signal there's something wrong with its management. Romanian companies are still investing a lot in fixed assets, in large plots of land or in equipment. Companies take out long-term loans and are not concerned about establishing a constant cash flow, when this should be the main target of any business," explains Klaas Postema, a partner at Genesis Capital.
He believes there is still a great deal of interest in Romanian players in fields such as the pharmaceutical industry, FMCG and financial services.
At present, Genesis Capital has six customers. Postema believes consultancy should progress in two directions. "Firstly, a potential buyer must be found and, after the deal is completed, we must provide consultancy for the integration. Secondly, if a business decides to sell, the consultant's main role is to prepare for this possibility," he says. At present, Postema is also involved in the development of software company Qbis, which he wants to help expand on international markets.
Regarding his former involvement at Sicomed, he considers the sale was probably the most important project during his mandate. "My activity at Sicomed was tailored in such a way that I could prepare the company for sale," says Postema.
The manager came to the helm of the Bucharest plant in September 2002, after holding the position of regional manager for Australia, Asia and Africa with Japan's Yamanouchi Europe BV pharmaceutical firm.
At Sicomed, Postema took the position previously held by Vassilis Alexakos of Greece. Between 1996-1997 he was a regional manager for Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and the former states of Yugoslavian at the same company.
His stint with the drug producer ended last year, when Sicomed was completely integrated into Zentiva.
"I had an agreement with Zentiva management not to work with a rival company for a period after the contract was sealed. However, now I am able to work in the pharmaceutical industry," says Postema.
Following the takeover, Sicomed took over the name of its majority stakeholder, Zentiva.
Klaas Postema
1996-1997: regional manager for Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and former Yugoslavian states at the same company
n 1997-2002: regional manager for Australia, Asia and Africa with Japan's Yamanouchi Europe BV pharmaceutical company
2002-2006: CEO at drug manufacturer Sicomed
2006: left as CEO of Sicomed Bucuresti (currently Zentiva)
2007: a partner at Genesis Capital consultancy, which he set up together with Didier Lepoutre and Lucian Tudose
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