Expert of the Week

Ilona Ciausoiu – Innovative management consultant and corporate visionary

Jun 25th 2025

Ilona Ciausoiu, a seasoned management consultant with over 25 years of experience, has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the business world. Her career combines entrepreneurial drive with senior executive roles in Fortune 500 companies, including Unilever, Tropicana, Philips, and IKEA. Ilona’s track record is defined by her ability to challenge conventional approaches and deliver innovative, successful results.

Ilona Ciausoiu
Ilona Ciausoiu

Throughout her career, Ilona has spearheaded groundbreaking projects that showcase her versatility and strategic insight:

1. Startup ventures: She played a key role in setting up Unilever’s sales and distribution system and developing Tropicana’s business model. Ilona also initiated the Philips DAP startup operation in Romania – demonstrating her expertise in business development.

2. Pioneering business models and technological solutions: Ilona led the 2013 Shopbag pilot project, a mobile supermarket concept, and the 2014 LG RED Eye initiative, which involved CRM and product/category management.

3. Commercial and post-merger integrations: Her integration work with Avent, Saeco, and Massive Lighting underscores her strength in aligning operations and strategy post-acquisition.

4. Turnaround/transformation projects: Ilona’s expertise extends to leading transformative projects for SMEs, where her strategic interventions have resulted in significant turnarounds.

Ilona is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and managers formulate and execute effective strategies. She addresses various challenges and opportunities, helping accelerate results and secure business performance.

Her expertise spans a wide range of areas: startup operations, go-to-market models, business development, omnichannel marketing, turnaround management, change management, business and operational strategy, performance optimization, post-merger commercial integration, digital business process transformation, and organizational change.

Ilona’s work has earned widespread recognition. She was nominated at the 2011 Gala Business Woman by Business Woman Magazine, received the Most Creative Leadership award in 2010 from Business Arena Magazine, and was listed among the Most Admired Business Women by BBW Magazine in 2008 — along with numerous other accolades.

Ilona Ciausoiu is a trailblazer in leadership, business, and marketing management. Her career reflects creativity, innovation, and a profound understanding of market dynamics and organizational success.


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