Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

60 MILLENNIUM-SECOND EDITION A s one of the so-called Big Four, KPMG is a global auditing, tax and advisory firm committed to delivering quality services that help clients execute their visions across geographic and cultural boundaries. In total, the firm has 155,000 professionals working together to provide value in 155 countries. Valerie Besson is a partner whose two decades of experience with the company include six years working in its Bucharest, Short Hills and New York offices, though she mainly deals with French-listed clients in the present. Having joined the firm in 1994, she served as a senior manager in New York prior to assuming her current role. She worked in the industrial product, communications, consumer markets and entertainment business lines before focusing on the energy and utilities sector, where she is currently leading KPMG’s activities in France. Though her expertise is in auditing and governance advising, she is also extremely skilled in the areas of corporate finance, consolidation, financial analysis, and mergers and acquisitions, and has been involved in several initial public offerings. While she has always enjoyed advising clients and counts that as one of her strengths, she also attributes her success to her international exposure and globalized approach to business. Ms. Besson received a Master of Science in finance and accounting from the Université de Lyon, as well as an INSEAD executive program certification from KPMG. She looks forward to continued professional growth in the years to come and would like to one day become a chief officer. In recognition of her success, she has accrued several accolades. She was named a VIP Member of Worldwide Branding in 2014 and a Top Female Executive in 2015. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, horseback riding and attending the opera. VALERIE BESSON HEAD OF ENERGY AND UTILITIES SECTOR, PARTNER KPMG, S.A. La Défense, France