Malt Hires new CFO and CPO to Drive Global Market Growth

Freelance management platform Malt has appointed Caroline Barbery-Mebrouk as Chief Finance Officer and Sébastien Bardin as Chief Product Officer. 

The executive hires signal a focused push by the business to scale its international operations while steering its financial trajectory towards sustainable growth.

Both executives bring extensive experience in managing complex, multi-market platforms. Incoming CFO Caroline joins Malt after 13 years at digital advertising marketplace Teads. 

During her tenure, she managed finance functions across operations spanning more than 30 countries, supporting the company’s evolution into a double-sided global platform.

Her experience managing cross-border marketplace finances directly aligns with Malt’s core operating model and commercial ambitions.

Speaking to Finance Chief exclusively, Caroline Barbery-Mebrouk, CFO of Malt, says: “My primary goal as CFO is to scale Malt’s financial infrastructure to support our expansion across Europe and globally. Achieving this requires moving beyond traditional governance to build a culture of trust and shared ownership.

“By leveraging AI-driven insights to streamline decision-making, I approach collaboration by breaking down silos, making financial data accessible and integrating our team into cross-functional projects early on.

“I foster a truly collaborative environment where teams are empowered to innovate while staying aligned with Malt’s long-term strategic goals.”

Capitalising on shifts in corporate hiring

The leadership shuffle comes at a time when corporate demand for specialised, flexible talent is rising. 

Companies across Europe are increasingly reliant on external expertise to manage technological shifts and bridge internal skill deficits.

Vincent Huguet, CEO of Malt, notes: “Caroline and Sébastien are fantastic additions to Malt. The freelance market continues to expand as businesses frequently lean on independent experts and consultants to accelerate technological transformation in the AI era and fill skill gaps as their organisations grow.”

For Malt, structuring its financial systems to manage international client flows and currency dynamics will be central to its next phase.

Caroline will oversee the corporate finance framework, capital allocation and long-term financial strategy to ensure operational expansion remains commercially viable.

Caroline adds: “I am delighted to be joining Malt and be a part of a team that is changing the future of work at a crucial time for many European businesses. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to steer Malt's financial strategy, enabling the company to scale sustainably and profitably.”

Enhancing marketplace product architecture

Alongside the financial leadership update, Bardin takes charge of Malt’s global product roadmap. He brings background from corporate travel marketplaces, having previously served as Vice President of Product at American Express Global Business Travel. 

He also held product leadership positions at Egencia, a former subsidiary of Expedia Group.

At Malt, Sébastien will oversee the international product team as the company refines its software capabilities for both corporate clients and independent talent.

Sébastien says: “It is a pleasure to be accelerating Malt as it pioneers the future of independent work. I welcome the opportunity to lead the product team as Malt pursues its global expansion, and to use my experience to drive its product strategy.”

The combined expertise in marketplace dynamics and international expansion is central to the company’s long-term business model. 

Vincent adds: “We are delighted to have two experienced and knowledgeable leaders join Malt, and look forward to drawing on their track record of scaling tech marketplaces 10x as we strengthen our finance and product capabilities and continue enhancing our platform, the home of independent work.”