THE REASON FOR THE SEARCH

Valensa International has been experiencing rapid growth, with the top-line expected to double from $25M to $50M within three years. The CFO—“Algy”—has been operating as a one-man army, owning all accounting, reporting, month-end, compliance, banking, forecasting, and strategic work.

While passionate and deeply committed, Algy’s bandwidth is fully maxed out. Daily accounting tasks are preventing him from focusing on strategic initiatives such as new product launches, expansion of core categories, and strategic planning across hair health, joint health, and prostate health.

To unlock the next stage of growth, Valensa required a hands-on finance leader who could:

• Own all day-to-day accounting

• Manage audits, tax, and reporting

• Strengthen internal controls

• Support inventory oversight and cost analysis

• Partner closely with the CFO as his right hand

• Help prepare the business for a future ERP implementation

The search had been ongoing for months with limited success, and local Florida talent had not yet been tapped meaningfully. Cultural fit and hands-on capability were critical—many candidates were too siloed or unwilling to relocate.

Mamdouh met every requirement.

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THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM

Valensa is a subsidiary of EID Parry, part of the multi-billion-dollar Murugappa Group, one of India’s most respected and historic conglomerates. The group emphasizes:

• operational excellence

• sustainable growth

• science-driven innovation

• strong governance and financial discipline

With Valensa’s rapid growth trajectory and market expansion ambitions, the parent group required a finance function capable of supporting both day-to-day discipline and future operational scale.

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THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY

Valensa International, headquartered in Eustis, Florida, is a science-based innovator and manufacturer of clinically validated nutraceutical ingredients and finished products.

The company’s strategic pillars include:

• Hair Health

• Men’s Prostate Health

• Joint Health & Mobility

• Gut Health with Organic Greens

Valensa manufactures the industry-leading USPlus® saw palmetto extract, the only USP-verified saw palmetto ingredient, and continues to innovate with patented technologies such as Deep Extract™ supercritical CO₂ extraction.

With:

• 35% U.S. market share

• A vertically integrated supply chain

• A new product pipeline with strong consumer demand

• A top-line doubling target

Valensa required a finance leader who could maintain operational excellence while supporting rapid growth.

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THE SEARCH REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate needed:

• 5–10 years’ accounting & finance experience

• Strong U.S. GAAP knowledge

• Hands-on month-end close, audit, and reporting experience

• Manufacturing, nutraceutical, pharma, or contract manufacturing background

• Proficiency in Excel and accounting tools (PeachTree/QB preferred)

• Experience working in lean finance teams

• ERP implementation exposure

• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional communication skills

• Ability to manage both detailed accounting tasks and strategic analysis

This role demanded someone who could “own the books,” partner with the CFO daily, and integrate into a long-tenured, tight-knit team.

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THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATE

Mamdouh is an outstanding fit for Valensa International and exceeded the expectations for this critical hire.

We were particularly impressed by:

• 1.7x EBITDA improvement delivered in his last role

• Extensive manufacturing and pharmaceutical experience

• Depth across revenue cycle management, reporting, cost analysis, and inventory

• Four ERP implementations—a rare and highly relevant background

• A hands-on approach that matches the company’s lean finance structure

• Strong analytical skills paired with humility and exceptional interpersonal ability

Culturally, he is an excellent counterpart to CFO Alagappan “Algy” Ma. Both are purpose-driven, collaborative, and deeply aligned with Valensa’s mission of improving consumer health through science-backed nutraceuticals. Mamdouh naturally reflects Valensa’s principles—respect, curiosity, and results.

We are incredibly confident in the impact Mamdouh will make. He is positioned to:

• Strengthen the finance function

• Improve reporting accuracy and timeliness

• Enhance inventory oversight and cost control

• Support audits and compliance

• Enable Algy to focus on strategy and product expansion

• Contribute to Valensa’s top-line doubling objective

• Play a key role in future ERP implementation and financial transformation

A high-confidence appointment, at the perfect time, for a company on a strong growth curve.

Haleema Hussain, Vice President, Raw Selection

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THOUGHTS FROM THE CANDIDATE

Client Testimonial
“Haleema, thank you for all your support throughout this process. It’s been a pleasure working with you, and we truly appreciate your partnership. If anything comes up in the future, we’ll be sure to reach out.”

Alagappan MA, CFO