Jean-Marie Van der Elst is a managing director in BRG’s Latin American Global Investigations + Strategic Intelligence, Corporate Finance, and Construction practices and is based in Miami, Florida.
He has significant financial management, treasury, accounting, and corporate management experience. Dr. Van der Elst has provided international mediation services and expert testimony on commercial, financial, economic, and socioeconomic matters. His industry experience includes automotive, pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging and distribution, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and retail in Europe, South America, Africa, the US, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
Dr. Van der Elst has more than thirty-five years of experience, which includes mediation services, forensic finance experience in domestic and international arbitrations (ICC, ICSID, CPA), valuations, financial fraud, contract disputes, business and consequential losses, economic and loss of earnings/profits claims, and other matters involving financial conflict or anticipated litigation. He has significant experience in the financial services and construction sectors, leading economic analyses and market research projects in developing countries. His track record of successfully mediating and negotiating pre-litigation settlements outside of the formal mediation process has delivered significant value to clients.
Dr. Van der Elst has experience in structuring and financing successful public–private partnerships, trade agreements, implementing financial and commercial risk management policies, international trade and transfer pricing, free trade zone structures, developing shared services centers, and successfully leading strategic planning initiatives, including business renewal plans for a pharmaceutical company.
Dr. Van der Elst has led teams responsible for multiple benchmarking projects, including supply chain logistics as well as brand and business development redesigns for multinational pharmaceutical, beverage, and tobacco companies. In the packaging and FMCG industries, as a CFO and GM, he has experience in supervising finance, treasury, internal audit, and information technology.
Dr. Van der Elst holds a doctorate (summa cum laude) in international economics and business from the Nathan Bisk College of Business at the Florida Institute of Technology. He holds a master’s degree in economics and finance from University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where he was a lecturer in the faculty of economic sciences, before completing the SEP program at Columbia University.
Dr. Van der Elst’s roles have included treasurer and finance director. He founded TAS Forensics, developing a niche market for international financial forensic services, and opened TAS Forensics LLC, Florida in 2015. He joined BRG as an IC in March 2016. He continues to teach as a visiting lecturer on economics and finance at international universities.
Dr. Van der Elst is a licensed member of the American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFE), American Bar Association (ABA), Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DBRF), and the Florida Council for Public Private Partnerships (FCP3).
Employment History
TAS Forensic Services
2009 – 2016
Grahams Pharmaceuticals
Managing and executive director
2006 – 2008
Business Sculptors Management Consultants
Partner and director
2003 – 2006
Coca-Cola Sabco
Group manager
2001 – 2003
Dar es Salaam Tanzania
General manager
1999 – 2000
RJ Reynolds Russia
CFO
1998
Int. Distillers & Vinters
Finance and commercial director
1996 – 1997
Tetra Pak Russia
Director of finance
1994 – 1996
Tetra Laval
Director of finance, Russia
1993 – 1994
Manager of product and trade
1992 – 1993
Manager of international leasing
1992
Financial projects manager
1990 – 1991
Professional Affiliations
American College of Forensic Examiners Institute
