Manufacturing
Active

Teresa Abecasis Burnay

Throughout my career, I have developed a keen understanding of organisational strategy, risk management, and corporate governance. I have served on several boards, where I have contributed to robust decision-making, effective oversight, and the cultivation of a positive organisational culture. A seasoned business leader with extensive local and international experience across different companies, categories, and geographies, combining strategic vision with operational excellence. With a strong analytical mindset and a proven ability to lead teams, manage full P&Ls, and influence senior stakeholders, I bring a results-driven yet humble leadership style. My global tenure at Unilever Headquarters, coupled with hands-on management of multiple business units in a complex European market, has honed my capacity to drive growth, transformation, and sustainable performance. Passionate about people and consumers, I excel in finding strategic opportunities, developing scalable business models, and leading cross-functional initiatives that deliver measurable impact. Notable achievements include setting up Unilever’s Category Management in Portugal, developing global Perfect Store Solutions, delivering 25% complexity reduction under Fuel 4 Growth, and leading a major media transformation achieving consistent CPR reductions. An active industry leader, I keep strong networks across customer, media, and regulatory landscapes, and chair multiple trade associations. I now bring this breadth of strategic, commercial, and governance ability to Board Advisory roles focused on growth, transformation, and responsible brand leadership.

About Me

An action - oriented executive, with strong strategic thinking, having worked in different companies, categories, functions, and geographies (local / global). Excels at leading teams, managing entire business P&Ls, negotiating with several interfaces (internal / external), with the right combination of seniority, humbleness, and strategic influencing to connect with key stakeholders and get things done. Presents a powerful balance of analytical and critical thinking skills, with obsession for consumer and shopper, identifying opportunities to support companies / markets on their business development. Passionate about people, having demonstrated throughout the years consistent team leadership and talent catalyst competencies, leveraging the best of each one to maximize outcomes. Never take things for granted, adapting quickly to change, and driving transformation whilst inspiring others. A believer that leading is serving.

Jurisdiction

Portugal

Experience

Seniority LevelC-Suite
Years of Experience20+ years
Current StatusActive
Product Manager | Category Manager | Field Sales Manager
1998 - 2000

Mkt and Trade Mkt manager
2000 - 2001

Category and Customer Mkt Lead
2001 - 2007

Head of Marketing
2008 - 2013

Global Customer Development Director
2013 - 2017

Member of Global Category Leadership Teams (2 years Ice Cream | 3 years Home Care), business partnering the Presidents as the voice of Sales/Markets. Member of the Global Customer Development Board, reporting to the Global CD EVP. Job Mission: create global customer facing Category Strategies, Channel Blueprints and Perfect Store guidelines, cascading them around the world, co-develop customer marketing models with top 10 markets and train teams, own and roll out Hypers+Supers Channel strategy, educate Brand Development teams ensuring trade thinking into Marketing.

Businet Unit Director | Media Director | Chairperson of Advertising Self-Regulatory Association and President of Joint Industry Committee
2018 - Present

Portuguese Executive board member (+€330M) reporting to CEO, leading three of the five divisions (40% of business: Home Care, Personal Care and Beauty & Wellbeing) as well as Media across company (€15M budget). As General Manager of Grupo Aliança (major media buying consortium in PT), holds the group investment strategy, leads annual negotiations, finds and drives development opportunities, and updates the several companies on market dynamics. Serves the Portuguese market as vice-president of APAN (Advertisers), chairperson of ARP (Advertising Self-regulation), President of Joint Industry Committee, president of Detergents Association and Marketeer magazine editorial council’s member.

Education

Masters of EconomicsNova School of Business Education
1993 - 1998

Certification

Total Certifications1

Proficiency in English (Cambridge)

Skills

Core skills0
Languages3

Languages

English
Polish
Spanish