William J. McNamara

Chicago, Illinois *****

Phone: 312-***-****

Email: acqitm@r.postjobfree.com

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/pub/bill-mcnamara/8/296/447/

An International Sales & Business Development Specialist…

…who assesses the situation, writes a strategic plan for international markets, then executes the plan while building a sales network and increasing sales. Seeks an opportunity to drive global growth by applying my skills, experience, and knowledge in sales, international business development and distribution channels. Manages with a focus on structure and process, positions for the future while maximizing current opportunities.

Qualifications Summary

Strong international business background and successful sales track record in all regions. Results driven performer with global experience and reach: Asia Pacific, Europe, Mideast / Africa and Latin America.

Proven ability to grow international sales: from strategy creation, to market entry, with strength in building & managing international sales & distribution channels, to further development via licensing and / or acquisition.

Key contributor to companies’ strategic planning; including development of planning process, creating situation, market & competitive analysis, plan creation, through to implementation. Strategic orientation.

Worked in various cross cultural & cross functional teams in executing corporate strategic initiatives, and managed high performance international teams in US, Latin America, Europe, Mideast and Asia.

Career with an International, not Product, focus. Success in commercial, industrial, government and institutional markets worldwide in various industries: financial services, telecom, safety, electrical, environmental, electronics and construction. Have regularly taken on new product / segment / division responsibilities. Each time, learned new industries & products and applied international / distribution expertise to create a Plan, a structure, and grow sales.

Culturally literate, with extensive travel to more than 60 countries. Lived overseas for five years in Europe, Asia, Australia. Hold both US and European Union passports. Earned graduate degree (MBA) in Europe. Understanding of global affairs and comfortable operating in various cultures and markets.

Aalberts Industries USA: Conbraco Industries / Elkhart Products Corp., Director of International Sales, Charlotte NC., 2009 – Current.

Tasked to build a global business for US subsidiaries of Dutch conglomerate. Created strategic plan for international markets to build successful global sales and distribution network. Segmented markets, identified & analyzed opportunities, performed research, prioritized activities, and implementing strategic plan. Product portfolio runs from commodity offerings to engineered goods to highly specified products. Over time, responsibilities have grown to include Industrial, Commercial, OEM, Plumbing, and Refrigeration markets.

-Manage direct international sales force and rep / distributor network across all world regions. Focus has been on expanding sales channels to effectively cover geography, markets and segments that hold most opportunity. Established new representation and / or channel structure for various product lines in UK, Latam, Mideast, Asia and Australia. Reorganized business from a direct to a distribution model. Leveraged various products into single channel offering as possible. Brought new product categories to global markets. Developed Distribution Training Programs to strengthen local sales knowledge and capabilities. Work with Customer Service, Tech Support and Finance to streamline and standardize internal, international related processes. Worked with European sister companies to cross sell and synergize across product categories.

Grayhill Co., Director of International Sales, LaGrange, IL., 2007–2008.

Managed global sales of electronics component manufacturer, selling to 40+ countries via distribution. Sold custom engineered products into medical, aero / aviation, automotive, and other commercial & industrial markets. Strategic Plan for International Sales, included revamp of internal operation and building an international team, while growing business via overseas distributors. Streamlined and revised internal processes, policies and pricing for higher productivity and profitability. Re-directed activities of international network. Added new distribution, increased product offering, broadened segment coverage, and pursued new product applications, resulting in 20% international sales growth.

Minuteman International Inc., Director of International Sales, Addison, IL., 1998 – 2007.

Responsible for international business development, directing salesforce & distribution network, in over 50 countries. International was fastest growing segment of company over time, with 20%+ annual growth 2004 through 2007. Regularly given additional responsibility, including strategic planning process, additional product lines, and developing synergies across global organization.

-Managed sales in existing markets, developing entry strategies to penetrate new geographic markets and segments. Built effective, close knit team to drive current and foster continued sales growth. Created and implemented sales programs and policies, administered international department including Customer Service, and managed relationships with clients and partners. Consulted with local partners to develop plan for effective market penetration with particular success in Mexico, Japan, Korea, UK, Netherlands, Indonesia and Australia. Company role expanded to responsibilities for all four company divisions.

-Hands-on manager of sales at European and China branches. Restructured European sales focus and activities, establishing new distribution, revising product mix and pricing policies, and improving customer support. In China, segmented market, developed in-country sales structure and targeted key market players.

-As member of Strategic Planning Group, helped facilitate process and was a major contributor to Plan. Group performed strategic analysis and developed best structure and activity system to achieve company goals. Assessed possible acquisitions and liased with corporate parent to create worldwide synergies. Authored Brand and Differentiation Strategies for maximum global coverage and penetration, with minimal channel risk.

-Lead Product Development Committee activities regarding international markets. Defined market needs and worked with key customers to test and evaluate. Developed “global” products for significant international sales growth. Assisted with compliance and sourcing of lower cost components / products in China. Moderator of Business Development Committee. Provided forum for discussion and assessment of company plans, activities, and challenges. Coordinated activities across products and channels.

Federal Signal Corporation, University Park, IL. 1992-1998.

Electrical Products Group, International Sales Manager. 1994 -1998.

Successfully launched and built new international sales organization for key product line. Analyzed and segmented market, wrote strategic plan to set priorities and resource allocation, then executed plan. Assessed competitive environment, defined international product mix and targeted major customers. Regularly took on additional responsibility as role grew into key international strategic activities, acquisitions, and planning initiatives across organizational boundaries.

-Managed international distribution organization of manufacturers’ reps and distributors. Worked with partners, government entities, OEM’s, and users to build global coverage while maintaining margins significantly above industry norm. Created marketing programs including advertising campaigns and trade show schedules. Completed private labeling agreements in Brazil to access new products and markets. Developed strategy for penetrating European market. Identified UK acquisition target as market entry vehicle. Did due diligence and initiated sales into Europe via this acquisition. Selected channels and support materials, and orchestrated sales. Worked with US-UK project team to develop products meeting European standards.

International Development Group. 1996 -1998.

Assigned to new cross-functional project team to develop integration between US and international subsidiaries. Developed international best practice benchmarks. Pursued and completed 3 international acquisitions. Responsible for development and implementation of international strategy, integration of sales / marketing activities, and market entry issues for new acquisitions.

Safety Products Group, Asia-Pacific Sales Manager. 1992-1993.

Located, evaluated, appointed, and managed Asian distribution network selling to government markets.

OTHER RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

Economist Group / Business International Inc., Singapore.

Assignments in tech, petrochem, agribusiness industries. Developed competitive intelligence & country reports, identified market opportunities, located business partners for licensing and contract manufacturing. Covered Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Dun & Bradstreet Ltd., Regional Sales Mgr., Perth, Australia.

Sold financial service contracts to local firms and government agencies. Set sales records for month, quarter, and year. At same time, played professional basketball with local team.

EDUCATION

MBA - International Business, Ecole Europeene des Affaires / European School of Business (ESCP), Paris, France.

Executive MBA program of leading French “grande ecole”. Global business focus. Extensive work in cross cultural teams. Included US Commerce Department posting in Paris to consult on French market entry.

Bachelor’s (Honors), Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.

Dual Major: Economics and Communication (non media) Studies. Recipient of Evans Scholarship.

ASSOCIATIONS, MEMBERSHIPS and SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Illinois District Export Council (DEC): U.S. Department of Commerce.

Federal Appointee of U.S. Secretary of Commerce to counsel U.S. companies on export activities.

International Trade Club of Chicago

International Trade Association of Greater Chicago.

Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

City of Chicago International Sister Cities Program.

Roosevelt University, Chicago: Dean’s Advisory Council – Heller School of Business, International Consultancy Project.

Speaking Engagements on International Business: International Trade Assoc. of Chicago, World Trade Center of Illinois, International Hardware Manufacturers Assoc., DePaul University MBA Program.

Northwestern University, Evans Scholar, Brother Rice H.S. Alumni Associations

Personal: Married, with 2 middle school aged children.

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