Les Nemethy is the founder and CEO of Euro-Phoenix, a financial advisory firm focused on emerging markets. In a career spanning 25 years, Les has been involved in the sale of hundreds of businesses, and has worked as a senior advisor to numerous governments and world banker. After obtaining degrees... Read more
Les Nemethy is the founder and CEO of Euro-Phoenix, a financial advisory firm focused on emerging markets. In a career spanning 25 years, Les has been involved in the sale of hundreds of businesses, and has worked as a senior advisor to numerous governments and world banker.
After obtaining degrees in economics, law, international relations, and business administration from leading Canadian universities, Les worked with McMillion Binoch, one of the Canada’s leading law firms. He then worked for the Canadian investment bank, McLeod Young Weir (today ScotiaMcLeod), and in early 1992 he was named head of the Transactions Department of the Hungarian Privatization Agency.
Les work with the Hungarian Privatization Agency marked a turning point in his career: leading a team of 150, he contributed to the ramping up of the privatization program, with over 6000 companies sold during his tenure. He led the privatization of the telecom incumbent, of gas distribution companies, numerous breweries, hotels, cement companies, etc. He also led a number of IPOs on the Budapest Stock Exchange.
After his work in Hungary, Les moved to Washington DC, where he worked with the World Bank, assisting governments in 23 countries to privatize companies and attract investment. For example, he assisted the Kuwait Investment Authority devise a programme to sell approximately US$6 billion of assets on the Kuwait Stock Exchange; he advised the governments of Cote d’Ivoire, Sri Lanka, and Albania on managing their national privatization programmes; and he was part of a team assisting the Russian Privatisation Centre with a US$277 million loan.
In 1997, Nemethy became CEO of MaTel, the second-largest telecom operator in Hungary (today Invitel). In this capacity he also worked on a number of acquisitions and doubled revenues and increased EBITDA from 19% to 29% over a two year period. During this time he also evolved the corporate culture from incumbent to competitor. He moved on to founding Euro-Phoenix in 2000.
Les Nemethy is also the author of international bestseller “Business Exit Planning,” which has been translated into 9 languages.
Currently Les frequently lectures and speaks on the subject of negotiations, change management, performance, organizational change and transformation, competitiveness, and investment. He advocates competition, transparency and changing paradigms in public and private sector, so that economies and companies can successfully take advantage of the opportunities that emerge in a truly global economy.
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You can book Les Nemethy through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Les's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Les Nemethy's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Les tailored to your event.
Les Nemethy speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Les to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Les Nemethy for events worldwide, subject to Les's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Les Nemethy is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Les can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Les Nemethy on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Les can offer.
Les Nemethy delivers keynotes in Spanish. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Les Nemethy's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Les's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Les Nemethy can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Les's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Les Nemethy is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Les Nemethy, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Les's current availability for your dates.