Lester Bernard is an accomplished finance professional with extensive experience in leadership roles across various industries. Currently serving as Chief Financial Officer at Bridge since September 2024, Lester previously held the same position at BOXY, where responsibilities included managing accounting, financial, legal, and human resources activities while coordinating fundraising efforts. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Octopus Advisory, Lester directed M&A, private capital raises, and corporate finance advisory services. Earlier roles included serving as Chief Financial Officer at Replika Software Inc. and Director of Mergers & Acquisitions for the Americas at Crédit Agricole CIB, where Lester led transaction processes and financial modeling. Educational qualifications include a Program for Leadership Development from Harvard Business School and specialized master's degrees in Business Performance Management and Industrial Economics from ESCP Business School and the University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne, respectively.