Value creation, from strategy to execution

For companies facing a turnaround, a transformation, or a step change in growth. Delivered as your advisor, or as your interim CEO.

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Portrait of Jan V. Luescher

Why work with me

I have sat on both sides of the table: as the advisor, and as the CEO who has to deliver.

Strategist and operator

Ten years at Bain, eight as CEO of a listed company.

The owner's perspective

Interim CEO for private-equity owners. I know what sponsors need.

Pragmatic

The critical few levers, built to be executed.

Senior attention

You work with me directly. No junior team.

How I can help

Each mandate is led by me personally, from diagnosis to delivery.

Turnaround & Transformation

When performance is off track.

  • Turnaround and restructuring
  • Cost transformation
  • Operating model redesign

Interim Executive Leadership

When you need a leader in the seat, fast.

  • Interim CEO mandates
  • Stabilisation and financial control
  • Handover to a permanent successor

Private Equity Value Creation

For sponsors and portfolio companies.

  • Commercial due diligence
  • Value-creation and 100-day plans
  • Buy-and-build and integration

Strategy & Growth

When direction or growth is the question.

  • Corporate and business unit strategy
  • New growth lines
  • Customer-led growth

Commercial Excellence

When the offer or sales engine holds growth back.

  • Value proposition and positioning
  • Sales effectiveness
  • Customer experience and loyalty

Industry expertise:Healthcare and MedTech, consumer, technology, luxury and travel, financial services, industrials

Selected mandates

Client names are kept confidential.

Interim CEO

PE-owned healthcare group

Stabilised and restructured two portfolio companies for their private-equity owner.

Full P&L responsibility

Advisory mandate

Multi-billion-euro biotech

Led the corporate-functions cost transformation. Engagement extended twice.

EUR 160m identified, 60% delivered in year one

As CEO

ASMALLWORLD, SIX-listed

Turned a loss-making social network into a profitable luxury travel group.

Revenue CHF 5.0m to 21.2m

At Bain & Company

Selected projects

  • Operating model redesign, USD 10bn medtech
  • Investment strategy, emerging-market PE fund
  • Commercial due diligence, top-3 global brewer

Testimonials

I can say with great sincerity that he was the best CEO I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Jan’s clarity of vision, thought, and strategic focus, along with exceptional leadership skills and team building were the cornerstone of building the organisation.
Grant HolmesCommercial Director
He led with trust, clarity and integrity, which is evident in the company culture he helped to create and which remains. … His ambitions led the corporate expansion, his creativity led to new products, his vision led to high-level strategic partnerships.
Elspeth DayVP Member Services
In my 25 years in the industry, I have never come across a CEO who cared about the business, the product and the technology as deeply as Jan.
Rory SinclairHead of Technology

Read all recommendations on LinkedIn

About Jan

Ten years at Bain & Company in Zurich, Johannesburg and New York. Then eight years as CEO of ASMALLWORLD, turning a loss-making social network into a profitable luxury travel group, with three acquisitions and a direct listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Today I work independently through JVL Consulting, as an advisor or interim CEO, on select mandates where I can create real value.

I work for owners, boards and leadership teams. Based in Zurich, having lived on four continents.

Bain & Company10 years, from Associate to Associate Partner
Board seatGlobal Hotel Alliance, the world’s largest independent hotel loyalty programme
EducationMBA Nanyang, Singapore
M.A. in Strategy & International Management, HSG St. Gallen
LanguagesGerman and English

Let's talk

Tell me about your situation in confidence, and I will get back to you personally to discuss how I can best help.