CEOs Choose the Le Veneur Method for Thoughtful, In-Depth, Company-Wide Impact
Robert A. Le Veneur founded his first company in 2001, at just 22, while studying psychology and political science at university. Since 1999 he had run a nonprofit that published one of the region’s earliest online magazines—work that drew the attention of entrepreneur Mr. Loder.
Loder’s import firm, which supplied Asian goods to independent retailers, was facing mounting pressure as chain stores reshaped the market. In spring 2001, he turned to Robert to develop a bespoke e-commerce platform and lead a full-scale transformation of the business.
Le Veneur’s brief was end-to-end: craft a unique market position, build the brand, design the logistics network, engineer breakthrough pricing, secure offices and staff, and launch the marketing engine.
Google Ads was only months old, and Europe’s users were still hopping between search engines, making SEO a moving target. Le Veneur therefore combined early Google Ads with word-of-mouth, affiliate, and email campaigns—an integrated mix that set the new online store apart.
That first turnaround—validated in the 24 years since with hundreds of clients—proved one thing: a company can’t win by excelling in just one area. It must master dozens, and the same crucial disciplines surface every time. Le Veneur now refers to these recurring essentials as the natural laws of business.
Four Principles of the Natural Laws of Business
A company grounded in natural laws follows scientifically proven, repeatable rules that generate fair, long-term profit.
Honest, Long-Term Profit
Nature teaches us that the desire to grow and thrive is entirely natural. Yet it also imposes limits—on what can grow, where, when, and under what conditions. Nature places constraints on how fast healing can happen—or whether it’s even possible. And while science allows us to push the boundaries of what is considered “natural,” we must always ask: will this alteration, over time, harm the very entity we seek to improve—or its environment?
The Le Veneur Method therefore guides companies toward a form of growth that is healthy in both the short and long term. It deliberately rejects practices such as short-term target chasing when such pursuits erode the company’s long-term capacity to grow profitably for decades. Robert Le Veneur’s first client, from 2001, is still in business and thriving.
Surprisingly to some, morality is also part of nature. Game theory has scientifically shown that sustained profit between two or more players depends on one thing above all: keeping the rules.
Because long-term profit is one of the foundations of the Le Veneur Method, we rigorously and objectively calculate the return on invested capital (ROIC), also known as return on capital (ROC), for every project. This also means we decline reckless financial experiments or investments with lower ROIC than alternative uses of capital. We also teach directors how to view their company’s finances with intelligence, discipline, and accountability.
Scientific Foundations
Just as medicine seeks to discover principles that work consistently, so too do we in management, finance, and marketing.
The scientific method requires us to stay rooted in facts and data (evidence-based), to investigate whether someone has already solved the problem, and to conduct our own experiments and research. Our research adheres to proper methodology, even when such rigor comes at a higher cost than running “just some test to get some result.”
But because the Le Veneur Method is committed to the most profitable use of company resources, we research only what brings genuine value. We won’t present you with answers to 40 questions if your business truly needs only ten.
Science also means that opinions—no matter whose—are irrelevant without test results. In marketing, we conduct A/B or multivariate (MV) testing whenever it makes sense. Testing is expensive, but so is nature’s testing: it ran evolutionary experiments on 14 different Homo species, and only one proved successful.
The scientific method also includes relentless skepticism. We understand that all knowledge is limited—and that deeper knowledge will inevitably come. This process of discovery cannot be rushed. It requires patience and accepts that many trials will lead nowhere.
Scientific thinking also involves structured knowledge management. Le Veneur maintains an internal wiki database containing the entirety of our accumulated expertise to date.
Smart Innovation
Because every company is part of nature—and nature evolves—every company must continuously move to higher stages of development. Over time, most companies will transform entirely. In rare cases, the exterior may remain the same, but the DNA always changes. Latimeria chalumnae (the coelacanth) has looked the same for 400 million years, yet its DNA has evolved.
But innovation must always deliver profit—above all, long-term profit. The Le Veneur Method rejects innovation for its own sake, for fun, or because “everyone is doing it.” Innovation must serve long-term prosperity.
That’s why we lead in innovation—and at the same time, we rigorously assess whether a given innovation yields the highest return on invested capital (ROIC), also referred to as return on capital (ROC), compared to other possible investments. Too often, companies pursue innovation simply because someone in the organization finds it exciting—or because it’s trendy.
We focus on making innovation an integral part of the company’s “organism.” There’s no point in attending a workshop or installing a new IT system if it never truly integrates into the company’s structure—or if no one devotes the time and care needed to make that integration happen.
This is one of our key differentiators: our persistent care for the client—until the innovation becomes part of the company’s living system.
Necessary Transformation
Nature is in constant flux, and so must be all those who wish to remain part of it. Survival favors not the strongest, but the fastest and most adaptable.
That is why every company must undergo recurring cycles of transformation—where not only its operations change, but more importantly, the way it thinks. The Greek philosophers called this shift in thinking metanoia.
As we’ve already said, not every evolutionary path proves successful. You won’t see many Neanderthal descendants walking the streets of Zürich or Geneva today (though a few could perhaps be found around Cornavin). Nature invested in fourteen Homo species—and only one emerged as successful: Homo sapiens.
Timely transformation is essential because external changes often come quickly—and unexpectedly. A company may have once mastered a particular skill and prospered as a result. But as we know from the scientifically documented S-curve, the early stages of decline are often invisible. At the top of the S-curve, where gentle growth, stagnation, and mild decline alternate, companies often respond with measures that fail to trigger real transformation. The real solution is not to defy mathematics, but to “jump” to a new curve.
Such transformation is often painful. Waiting for external pressure only amplifies the later pain. But the pain of birth is something no higher-order animal escapes. Le Veneur exists to help you make that leap into your next life—as gracefully as possible.
Why CEOs Choose Us
Because we become their best advisors and implementers.
End-to-End Impact
We practice CEO-level thinking, spanning every facet of your business.
Science-Backed Rigor
Systematic, scientific approach—backed by rigorous research and hard data.
Results-Driven Approach
We don't just advise; we execute your transformation flawlessly.
Innovation Pioneers
Our digital heritage unleashes strategies that leapfrog your competition.
Prudent Capital Stewardship
Proven methods pinpoint investments to pursue or avoid.
Bravery
We unite courage with capability to deliver truly bold solutions.
Collective Intelligence
Our digitally pooled expertise delivers deeper, data-drive results for clients.
Honest Counsel
We speak hard truths guided by steadfast integrity.
Unbiased Action Advice
Our neutrality delivers tailored actions maximizing each client’s outcome.
Founder-Led. Team-Powered
Family-led stability and a lean, seasoned team drive agile action.
Swiss Ecellence
Family-led stability and a lean, seasoned team drive agile action.
Long-Term Vision
Family stewardship since 1616 guides our enduring perspective.
Leaders on Our Impact
We transform companies for better
“We liked that you focus on overall profitability and see things that others don't.
Everyone else keeps talking about market share and traffic and things like that.”
“Robert’s team is exceptionally proactive, consistently introducing fresh, forward-thinking ideas.
Their unwavering focus on measurable client value translates into truly comprehensive, end-to-end support. The engagement delivered results that exceeded our highest expectations.”
“Robert Le Veneur exemplifies the standard of client care I expect: impeccably professional, warmly human, and relentlessly committed to outstanding results
He is unafraid to pursue imaginative, unconventional avenues when they promise greater value—an unmistakable testament to his creativity and strategic acumen.”
.svg){kind=icon}
Ready to Strengthen Your Company?
Schedule your free, no-obligation strategy call with Robert A. Le Veneur, our Founder & Managing Partner.
We serve only seven clients per month—claim one of the limited slots before capacity is full.
Lead Smarter—Weekly
Every week, 21,545 leaders rely on our newsletter for actionable insights that strengthen their companies.
Read what others already trust.