Project Management Office

Raluca Gherghe

****.*******@*****.*** / +31-62-722-****

Fregelaan 85, 1062 KM, Amsterdam

My expertise lies in the areas of project and program management, organizational transformation and process

management. My previous assignment was to set-up and lead the Project Management Office (PMO) function in

Central and Eastern Europe for Avon Cosmetics, a global leading beauty company with nearly $11 billion in

annual revenue. As a member of the CEE Executive Committee, I was responsible for promoting excellence in

execution through a centralized and top down approach to managing projects and resources across the region and

increase their overall efficiency. In March 2012, I decided to take a sabbatical time and focus on my personal

development. I travelled and volunteered in non-profit organizations in South East Asia.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Manager, PMO CSE (11/2009 – 03/2011) and CEE (03/2011 – 03/2012)

Avon Cosmetics, Warsaw, Poland

CEE Executive Committee member

Set-up the PMO organization and processes

• Designed the PMO’s scope of work, structure and processes to support the execution of company’s

strategic and operational plans.

• Implemented PMO function at CEE level and in 7 leading markets of the region (Russia, Ukraine,

Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Nordic countries).

• Designed and launched the Project Management framework (standards, tools and templates, roles

and responsibilities) and agreed the service levels with key matrix partners: Strategy, Finance,

Supply Chain, IT and Human Resources.

Project and Portfolio Management

• Drove the execution the 2009-2012 regional projects portfolios, which contributed to the successful

turnaround of the CSE business in less than 2 years.

• Governed the project management processes as part of the CEE Executive Committee (portfolio

pipeline, resourcing, reporting system, decision making, change management, communication)

• Acted as an integration point between Regional Matrix functions and Local Management teams in

regards to the alignment and implementation of the regional priorities at local level.

• Provided project management support to project leaders and project teams in the use and application

of the project management best practices.

“Process Excellence” project in CEE (05/ 2011 – 03/ 2012).

• Offered project and process expertise in the optimization of critical regional and local operational

processes that aimed delivery of cost, service and inventory objectives. Ensured alignment of the

operational processes to the business planning processes.

• In scope: business strategy and financial planning processes, gross margin management, S&OP

(focus on demand, supply and distribution), sales activation and brochure merchandising.

• Organized belief audit interviews to collect data, mapped processes, coordinated change management

workshops and supervised the implementation of the changes at region and sub-region levels.

• Built regional management calendar and redesigned the decision-making processes supporting the

new CEE Operating Model.

Central and South Eastern Europe restructuring (11/2009 – 06/2010).

• Coordinated the regional efforts for aligning the CSE core processes to the newly launched matrix

organizational structure and operating model. Functions in scope: Commercial Marketing,

Commercial Activation, Sales, Sales Support, Customer Service, Finance and HR

• Involved in the scope definition of a new regional function that aimed the integration of the sales and

marketing merchandising strategies in order to drive highest value proposition for Representatives

and Customers.

• Responsible for the stakeholders’ management and ensured communication between cluster

functional teams and geography teams.

PMO Lead (03/2005 – 11/2009)

Avon Cosmetics, Bucharest, Romania

Global Team Leader for “Hello Green Tomorrow” project (Apr 2008 – Dec 2008)

• Led a global team to assess the company’s paper consumption at global level and identify

opportunities for reduction and sustainable sourcing while educating Avon employees and more than

6 million Sales Representatives worldwide. The proposal was presented to Avon CEO and was

implemented in the following years.

Project Leader for Co-branded Credit Card and MyAvon Exclusive telecom service

• Implemented strategic alliances with GE Bank and Orange Telecom Romania in order to offer

exclusive services to Avon Representatives. Led the project team through the scoping of the projects,

negotiating the contracts, financial assessments, implementation, communication and sales.

PMO Leader in Avon Romania

• Defined and managed the project portfolios for the years 2005-2009. Responsible for project

initiation, resource allocation, monitoring and controlling, inventory of documents and project

closing.

• Created a PM knowledge database (project documentation, lessons learned, articles and training

materials) and organized regular meetings with project managers to share their experience, best

practices and lessons learned.

AWARDS

Avon CEE Presidents Award for implementation of Co-Branded Credit Card

Avon CEE Presidents Individual Award for implementation of Avon Romania Goes Green

Global Performance Award for implementation of Hello Green Tomorrow project

EDUCATION

Bachelor in Economics – International Affairs (2002 – 2006)

Academy of Economics, Bucharest, Romania

TECHNICAL SKILLS

MS Office, MS Project, MS Visio, Clarity

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Romanian – native language

English - full professional proficiency

REFERENCES

References are available upon request

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