Deborah Switzen
About Deborah Switzen
Deborah Switzen serves as the Director of Finance and M&E at Breakthru Beverage Group, where she has worked since 2014. She has a strong background in finance, having held various roles at Diageo and other companies, and holds a Master's degree in International Business from the University of Miami.
Work at Breakthru Beverage Group
Deborah Switzen has served as the Director of Finance and M&E at Breakthru Beverage Group since 2014. In this role, she has managed financial analysis to maintain year-over-year flat General & Administrative expenses, despite increases in staff costs. She has also strengthened relationships with key supplier partners by developing standard processes for data sharing. Her leadership has contributed to the overall financial health of the organization.
Previous Experience at Diageo
Prior to her current position, Deborah Switzen held various roles at Diageo from 2002 to 2014. She started as a Senior Reporting Analyst and progressed to Finance Director for the East Control Division of U.S. Spirits. Her responsibilities included implementing vendor managed inventory processes, which led to a significant reduction in Days Sales Inventory, and developing a comprehensive process to connect commercial forecasting with supplier production.
Education and Expertise
Deborah Switzen earned a Master's degree in International Business from the University of Miami, where she studied from 2006 to 2007. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Connecticut School of Business, completed from 1994 to 1998. Her educational background has provided her with a solid foundation in finance and international business practices.
Background in Finance
Deborah Switzen began her finance career as a Finance Analyst at Pratt & Whitney from 1998 to 2000. She later worked as an Internal Auditor at United Technologies from 2000 to 2002. Over the years, she has developed expertise in financial planning, reporting, and analysis, which she has applied in various roles within the beverage and spirits industries.
Team Development and Leadership
In her roles, Deborah Switzen has focused on developing team members through career planning and adjusting their scope of work as their skill sets increased. This approach has fostered a collaborative environment and enhanced the capabilities of her teams, contributing to the overall success of the finance departments she has managed.