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Strategy and international development consulting

Growing your markets abroad — in defence, aerospace and space

As an independent consultant, I help mid-sized companies set up in new markets abroad: Europe, APAC, MENA.

Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur de la France (CCE) · Member of EuroDéfense-France · Former IHEDN auditor

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Key figures

Since 2019

ACE-Essig founded

20+

Assignments completed

+30%

International market share

Marc Essig

An international career and a dual civil/military background

I support mid-sized defence, aerospace and space companies as they grow beyond France. My international career, my dual civil/military background and my in-depth knowledge of these three sectors allow me to work across Europe, APAC and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as in France.

For over thirty years I have worked in defence, aerospace and space, across Europe, the Nordic countries, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. I ran programmes and subsidiaries before founding ACE-Essig: I know from the inside the constraints of a company looking to establish itself abroad, and I help you address them in practical terms.

More about my background
Portrait of Marc Essig

Services

Three services, one method

One service per sector, with the same method and the same deliverables.

Defence

Export controls, offsets, local partner: opening a foreign defence market for a mid-sized or small company.

Aerospace

Supplier listing, certifications, supply chain: earning a place with foreign aerospace buyers.

Space

Agencies, primes, consortia: reaching foreign space programmes for a mid-sized or small company.

Explore the services

Method

A four-step method

The same approach for all three services, adjusted to each company’s size and products.

Outreach and identification

Identifying the target mid-sized companies and the markets to open.

Defining the strategy

Defining the strategy and the stages of the move abroad.

Introductions and delivery

Making introductions and carrying out the plan on the ground.

Follow-up and adjustments

Following the assignment and adjusting according to results.

Typical assignment length: from 2 months to 2 years.

Frequently asked questions

How can a mid-sized defence company sell abroad?
The approach has four stages: outreach and identification of the companies and markets to open, definition of the strategy and the stages of the international set-up, introductions and on-the-ground implementation, then monitoring and adjustments based on results. It is tailored to the size and products of your company. Deliverables include a report on potential markets, identified partners, a business plan and support with setup and integration.
How do you establish a lasting presence in a foreign market?
A lasting presence rests on a strategy and set-up stages defined from the outset, followed by monitoring of the assignment with adjustments based on results. Support with setup and integration is part of the deliverables. A typical assignment lasts from 2 months to 2 years.
How do you stand out from competitors already established locally?
The starting point is a report on potential markets and the identification of partners, from which a strategy is defined according to the size and products of your company. Introductions and on-the-ground implementation follow, with monitoring and adjustments throughout the assignment.
How long does an assignment last?
A typical assignment lasts from 2 months to 2 years. Pricing is on quotation.

Initial conversation

Let’s talk about your project abroad

Tell me about your market-entry or expansion project: I reply personally. For a first conversation, two formats are possible depending on your needs: a 30-minute call, or a full framing day.

Request an initial conversationBook a 30-minute call