Clemente Cohen’s finance career began in the early 1990s inside the Munich offices of Silicon Graphics, approximately 6,500 miles from the Silicon Valley company’s headquarters and some 7,500 miles from his birthplace in Argentina. This transcontinental start marked the beginning of a career defined by global problem-solving, adaptability, and generous helpings of M&A experience.
Cohen, who grew up in Germany after having moved from South America, originally joined Silicon Graphics as an accountant, a role that quickly enabled him to demonstrate to others an innate curiosity and willingness to go the extra mile. Frequently, his contributions went beyond traditional accounting, delving into financial analysis and supporting the company’s rapid growth. This foundational experience in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment would shape his understanding of finance operations on a global scale.
Read MoreOver the ensuing decade, Cohen’s career with Silicon Graphics expanded to include positions not only in Germany but also in the UK. Ultimately, he became the firm’s international CFO, overseeing all finance and business operations outside the U.S. After a dozen years with Silicon Graphics, Cohen then joined the London office of CA Technologies, where he played a pivotal role in M&A activities and helped to drive the company’s transition from hardware to software.
After having spent much of his career in large, global companies, Cohen then made the deliberate decision to pursue CFO opportunities at smaller, private equity–backed firms. This shift allowed him to be more hands-on in driving business transformation and growth in a more direct way. Making such a move was not done without more than a little hesitation, though, as smaller companies often come with greater challenges and fewer resources. Still, Cohen ultimately embraced the opportunity to apply his experience in ever more entrepreneurial settings.
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CFOTL: Tell us about PG Forsta … what does this company do, and what are its offerings today?
Cohen: To understand PG Forsta, you need to go back some 25 years, when it was simply Press Ganey, a company that surveyed patients through paper. As you may remember, there was a time when you went to the doctor or hospital and would receive a questionnaire that asked you to say whether you were happy with the services provided, with the care, and so on—and then you would answer the question “What could we do better?”
Today, the company finds itself really evolved from dealing with such important information in paper form to being able to provide solutions suitable for phone and other newer technologies via our unified technology platform. Just as important, starting from this healthcare focus—through which we have supported both employees and patients—we now have expanded our expertise to helping non–health sector and commercial businesses as well by specializing in the customer experience and customer service.
Read MoreMaybe you make a new purchase today, say, from a big-box home improvement store. You then receive an email or text message with a questionnaire about how it went. These are the types of solutions that we provide to our customers. Over time, our CEO, Pat Ryan, has led Press Ganey through several transformations that have now positioned us to be a leading technology provider in the areas that I mentioned. There is an ever-growing customer experience opportunity these days, and now, thanks to our merger with Forsta—a company better known on the commercial, non-healthcare side that also brings along a strong tech capability—our new combination called PG Forsta is poised for an exciting future.
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PG Forsta | www.pgforsta.com | Stamford CT