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THERESA ADUNDO-SALVATORI
GROUP COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR – WPP SCANGROUP
Theresa Adundo-Salvatori is a prominent figure in the finance world, holding the position of Group Commercial Director at WPP Scangroup as of April 2024. Her career trajectory exemplifies resilience, leadership, and expertise in navigating complex financial landscapes.
Her journey in finance began after completing her Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Business Administration from USIU-Africa (USIU-A) in 2000. Eager to deepen her expertise, Theresa pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Finance and Strategy at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington DC USA, graduating in 2005. Armed with a solid academic foundation, she entered the corporate world and embarked on a career defined by excellence and a commitment to fostering both business and societal growth.
Theresa’s first significant role was with Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey USA, where she spent over a decade building a strong financial leadership portfolio. She joined the company as a Finance MBA Leadership Development Program (LDP) Associate at Titotec Therapeutics in 2005, shortly after completing her MBA. This program offered her invaluable exposure to the complexities of corporate finance, including budgeting, strategic planning, and financial analysis.
Her proficiency and diligence earned her a new role as Finance Lead for J&J Ortho Biotech by 2008, where, among other things, she managed a USD 72 million expense budget for the Strategic Customers Group and led detailed variance analysis. It was in this role that she began honing her leadership skills and delivering significant savings through a thorough review of budget assumptions.
Her tenure at Johnson & Johnson saw her grow in various roles, eventually assuming the position of Domestic Treasury Lead from 2011 to 2013. In this capacity, she was responsible for overseeing cash management, debt, and interest expenses across global affiliates. Theresa led the North America domestic treasury integration efforts for J&J’s acquisition of Synthes Inc., identifying over USD 1 million in potential savings and presenting a compelling business case for accelerating treasury merger plans for credit card acquisition operations.
Her leadership extended globally when she was tasked with coordinating a treasury team across Ireland, Belgium, Brazil, Singapore, and the USA, managing the financial planning and cash flow forecasting for over USD 30 billion in cash and USD 15 billion in debt. This role not only expanded her technical expertise but also deepened her ability to navigate diverse cultural and organisational dynamics, a skill that would prove invaluable in her subsequent roles.
In 2014, Theresa transitioned to the position of Finance Manager at Ethicon Inc., another subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, where she oversaw the successful roll out of the newly created supply chain centre of excellence.
Theresa relocated back to Kenya in 2016. Her expertise caught the attention of Aspera, where she served as Finance Director from 2016 to 2017. Here, she played a pivotal role in setting up the accounting system and implementing strong financial controls that ensured compliance with local regulations. She leveraged her strategic acumen to drive business planning, budgeting, and financial reporting, laying the foundation for sustainable business growth.
Her next major career milestone came with KONE East Africa, where she assumed the role of Finance Director from 2017 to 2023. Theresa’s leadership was instrumental in building a finance organisation in line with KONE Corporation’s strategic roadmap. She led the implementation and migration to a new SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, ensuring accurate compliance with both corporate and local regulations.
Her leadership during the post-COVID-19 recovery process further underscored her resilience and ability to guide organisations through challenging times. Theresa collaborated with business leads to review key contracts and optimise pricing strategies, while mitigating currency exposure risk to position the company for profitable growth in a tough economic environment. Her efforts proved critical in the COVID-19 period when local currency depreciation against major currencies exerted pressure on existing contracts’ profitability.
Theresa’s extensive work experience is complemented by her professional certifications, notably her Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K), which underscores her technical prowess and commitment to financial integrity.
Beyond her professional achievements, Theresa is deeply committed to giving back to the community. She has volunteered for various corporate initiatives, including serving as a brand ambassador for Johnson & Johnson’s public health fundraising platform, ‘Caring Crowd.’ In this role, she helped raise awareness and support for global public health initiatives, exemplifying her dedication to improving lives beyond the boardroom. She is a devoted Sunday school teacher at her local church and loves to swim and hike.
As Theresa continues to pave the way for future leaders, her impact on both the corporate world and society remains profound and enduring.
