Francesco Profili
Co-Founder of Merum (AI-native importing tool)
Salary / Daily rate
Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy
Mobility: Paris, London
Freelance, open to permanent contract
Can come onsite
Skills
Languages
About me
Intro
🚀 Innovating Across Borders and Industries 🌍 Hi, I’m Francesco. A problem-solver, innovator, and entrepreneur passionate about creating meaningful change. I’ve had the privilege of working in several countries, where I developed a global perspective and the ability to adapt and thrive in diverse cultures. 💡 My Journey in Innovation: From my early years in Accenture to Gi Group, AB InBev, and now building my startup, Merum, innovation has always been the cornerstone of my career. Whether it’s reimagining processes, driving transformation, or building something entirely new, I’m motivated by the challenge of turning ideas into impactful and sustainable solutions. 🌱 What I’m Building: At Merum, we're bringing innovation to the import/export industry, starting with wines and spirits. It’s a chance to blend my passion for entrepreneurship with my commitment to creating value for both businesses and consumers. 🤝 Why I’m Here: I believe innovation thrives on collaboration. If you’re looking to exchange ideas, explore partnerships, or connect over shared passions for entrepreneurship and growth, let’s connect.
Work experience
Co-Founder & COO
Merum Inc.
Jun 2023 - Present
3 years 5 months
United States
Merum is an AI-native importing platform helping producers enter the US market, starting with wines and spirits. We built the company from the ground up, including designing the business model, setting up U.S. importing operations, and overseeing growth across producer onboarding, logistics, and partnerships. My role spans strategy, product, and execution, with a focus on creating a lean, profitable business in a highly regulated industry.
Co-Founder
Matilde Prosecco
Jan 2016 - Present
10 years 10 months
Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
* Co-founded an organic Prosecco Superiore DOCG brand with a focus on sustainability and artisanal production. * Took on all key roles — from vineyard operations to brand strategy, compliance, packaging, and distribution. * Built the brand’s go-to-market and export strategy across Europe and the U.S., while embedding sustainability at every step of the value chain.
Business Development Lead Italy
Hive
Apr 2022 - Jan 2023
10 months
Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy
* Market Entry: Launched Hive’s operations in Italy, defining the target customer profile and sales playbook for the region. * Customer Acquisition: Signed Dreamin* 101 as anchor client to validate market fit. * Partnerships: Built strategic alliances with DTC agencies and integrators to accelerate market penetration. * Voice of Customer: Gathered market intelligence and competitor analysis to refine the value proposition for the Italian audience.
AB InBev
Sep 2019 - Mar 2022
2 years 7 months
Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy
Expansion Manager Europe
Jan 2021 - Mar 2022
1 year 3 months
Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy
Responsible for growing the brand Goose Island in continental Europe leveraging all available channels (off trade, on trade, e-commerce, last mile delivery, strategic partnerships, etc.). Total achievement Europe 2021: 52% growth YoY *BOOST 2021* graduate: AB InBev's internal program for selected future leaders.
Zx Ventures Manager Italy (Corporate VC)
Sep 2019 - Jan 2021
1 year 5 months
Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy
Responsible for Zx Ventures in Italy. Tasks included: * Commercial development of Specialties brands in Italy (Birra del Borgo, Goose Island, Tripel Karmeliet, Kwak and Deus) * Owner of the full Zx P&L in Italy (from top line Volumes and Net Revenues, to bottom line Sales & Marketing investments) * Manager of a 1M$/Year budget to improve performance through commercial initiatives and trade marketing activations
Innovation & Change Manager
Gi Group Holding
Feb 2017 - Aug 2019
2 years 7 months
Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy
In-house consultant reporting directly to the CIO: Responsible for supporting the business in defining and executing its digital transformation agenda through efficient processes and open innovation. Projects Delivered: * Candidate Management: Digitalization and improvement of both the candidate's and recruiter's processes, and implementation of a new Applicant Tracking System (ATS) * Learning & Development: Definition of a group-level Corporate University strategy and implementation of a best in class Learning Management System (LMS) * Digital Workplace: Strategy definition, process management, and implementation of an innovative intranet solution at global level (25+ countries / 3500+ employees) * Consulting work: Project Manager for several HR-oriented projects for Gi Group clients
Accenture
Sep 2010 - Jan 2017
6 years 5 months
Brussels, Belgium
Senior Consultant
May 2015 - Jan 2017
1 year 9 months
Brussels, Belgium
* Took on an expert role in the global implementation of sustainability-focused industrial tools, supporting clients in oil & gas, chemicals, and mining with ESG strategy execution at scale. * Acted as the bridge between client business teams and internal tech experts, translating sustainability requirements into functional digital tools. * Recognized as a go-to expert for training and mentoring junior consultants, shaping the development of new team members and building sustainability capabilities across teams. * Took an active role in business development, co-leading proposal creation and shaping go-to-market offers in the sustainability space.
Consultant
Sep 2012 - May 2015
2 years 9 months
Norway, Qatar, UK
* Evolved into a consultant role, leading delivery on high-impact sustainability projects across oil & gas, chemicals, and mining sectors. * Focused on the implementation of enterprise-level sustainability tech tools (Enablon, IHS, SAP EHS) to support and scale clients’ sustainability agendas. * Acted as the key interface between business stakeholders and internal tech teams, translating strategic ESG requirements into product specifications and functional solutions. * Led cross-country teams (Norway, Qatar, UK), coordinated diagnostics and stakeholder interviews, and ensured successful delivery of digital solutions. * Mentored analysts and contributed to internal capability building on Sustainability innovation and tech-enabled transformation. * Managed entire Proposal processes (RFI, RFP) for multinational projects
Analyst
Sep 2010 - Aug 2012
2 years
Brussels & Paris
* Joined Accenture as a top graduate hire, working on large-scale transformation projects for multinational clients. * Developed a strong foundation in project management methodologies (PMO), helping coordinate timelines, resources, and stakeholder communications. * Supported senior consultants with status reporting, issue tracking, and risk mitigation across multiple workstreams. * Gained hands-on experience in working within cross-functional teams, learning how to deliver in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. * Built early exposure to client-facing interactions, contributing to deliverables that shaped key decisions.
Education
Università Bocconi
Bachelor, Business Administration
Final Thesis: "From the Kyoto Protocol to the EU-ETS: The evolution of the European battle against CO2 emissions and its impact on the energy-intensive industry. Particular focus on the aluminium sector."
University of St Andrews
Masters, Management
Activities and societies: Microfinance, management, whisky tasting
Final Thesis: "The importance of internal communication in a period of financial crisis: Policies, procedures and tools used by eight multinationals from very diverse sectors."
International School of Brussels
International Baccalaureate (IB), Subjects: French A1, Italian A1, English B, Maths Methods, Chemistry, History
Activities and societies: Rugby team, Free Thinkers Club, Modern History Club
Extended Essay: "The march on Rome by Benito Mussolini: A truly revolutionary event or just a myth?"