Dhruvil Dru Soni

630-***-**** Round Lake Beach, IL 60073 ad48pu@r.postjobfree.com

OBJECTIVE

Content and Category Manager with over 15 years of experience in the Automotive Aftermarket industry, specializing in Taxology, Data Governance, ACES/PIES Standards, and Data Syndication. I have a background in Retail and Manufacturing, and I am committed to achieving excellence in everything I do. Driven by my field's constantly evolving nature, I always strive to stay ahead of the curve.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Old World Industries Northbrook, IL

Sr. Product Content Manager / Project Manager / Category Manager

Oct 2017 - Present

As an accomplished Subject Matter Expert in the automotive industry, I am proficient in conducting exhaustive research and syndicating data for multiple product lines in compliance with the stringent Auto Care Association's ACES and PIES standards. My expertise enables me to collaborate with various departments, including Sales and Marketing, Engineering, Legal, Supply Chain, and IT, to seamlessly distribute National and Private Branded products directly to customers, retailers, and data warehouses such as Epicor, WHI, Opticat, and more. With my unwavering commitment to excellence, I oversee the entire process from inception to completion with utmost professionalism and competence.

Serving as a Category Manager to the Auto Care Association (ACA) on the Category Management Committees dedicated to crafting category hierarchies, establishing best practices, providing education, and devising implementation plans for catalog management for the automotive industry. This initiative aims to enhance business operations and elevate customer satisfaction while trailblazing among fellow catalog professionals to apply the ACA standards to promote company products.

Spearhead category strategy development, including product assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies, resulting in a 45% increase in category sales

Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and threats, leading to informed decision-making.

Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and supply chain teams to execute category initiatives and ensure alignment with overall business objectives.

Applying dynamic standards published by the Auto Care Association (ACA) to all OWI's product lines and building Award Winning Fitment Data (ACES) and Product Data (PIES) while managing current cross reference files, technical documents, analyzing market trends, understanding supplier capabilities, developing sourcing strategies, negotiating contracts, and managing supplier relationships.

As an SME/Category Manager leading New Product Development (NPD) and Product Launch Process (PLP) Projects, driving these initiatives on a 90-day to 11-month cadence with confidence. I use a combination of Agile and waterfall Project Management methodologies to maximize efficiency and work cross-functionally to create detailed analyses using PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technology) and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). These analyses help me build a comprehensive GATE Review that ensures seamless product life cycle management from start to finish. Manage data upstream and downstream to ensure data consistency.

Implement Intellect QMS system for the company to manage product quality concerns, new product launches, New Product Development, Safety issues and opportunities, and more.

Conducted in-depth assessments of product portfolios, ensuring compliance with packaging regulations.

Collaborated with cross-functional teams to create Technical specification documents and product labels that validate marketing claims and technical facts for National and Private Label Brands.

Implemented a streamlined documentation process that reduced time spent on document creation by 40% and reduced errors by 95% with constant data content, resulting in a 50% increase in efficiency and a 98% customer satisfaction rating.

Spearheaded the assessment of product portfolios to ensure compliance with packaging regulations.

Led a cross-functional team of 8 to develop and launch comprehensive user guides and tutorials for new product releases, resulting in a 30% decrease in customer support tickets related to product usage.

Developed and executed a comprehensive product analysis plan and launch strategy, resulting in a 20% increase in sales within the first quarter and identifying critical areas for improvement to increase customer satisfaction by 15% and get the company recognized by the industry for the best content award in 2023.

Encompassing product design, development, testing, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution activities. Focused on ensuring a smooth transition from development to commercial production while considering time-to-market, quality control, cost optimization, and customer satisfaction.

Federal Mogul / Affinia McHenry, IL

Product Manager / Product Marketing Manager / Category Manager

July 2012 - Oct 2017

Revolutionize the Automotive Aftermarket industry for under-car suspension components by creating and implementing an innovative product roadmap. As a Category leader with experience and innovative research, led the product line growth across 20+ brands, National and Private, and over 100,000 SKUs. Cross-functional with R&D/Engineering, the Content Development/Cataloging Management Team and the Sales and Supply Chain worked tirelessly to ensure that the company achieved the goal of becoming the undisputed leader in the industry.

Conducted market research and competitive analysis on the top-performing brands to identify opportunities for improvement, resulting in a successful rebranding campaign that increased customer retention by 20%. Achieve sales revenue exceeding $10 million while ensuring product differentiation, sustainable competitive advantages, and analyzing product performance, customer feedback, and satisfaction throughout the product lifecycle using the GATE process.

Developed and implemented category strategies to achieve sales and margin targets, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue within the first year.

Conducted regular market analysis to identify trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscape, leading to informed assortment decisions and improved market positioning.

Negotiated favorable terms with suppliers, resulting in cost savings of 10% while maintaining product quality and availability.

Collaborated cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and operations teams to execute promotional campaigns, drive product launches, and ensure seamless execution of category plans.

Driveline growth by identifying new market opportunities and sales trends, conducting market research, and analyzing customer feedback to inform product development decisions.

Utilize data analysis tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret product performance data, customer behavior, and market trends, providing insights to inform product improvements, identify areas of growth, and increase profitability by 30-45%

Collaborate with cross-functional teams: engineering, Sales, and marketing to define product requirements, prioritize features and benefits, enhance data content, and ensure timely and successful product launches.

Led cross-functional teams in the development and execution of packaging strategies aligned with company goals.

Managed the end-to-end product lifecycle, focusing on packaging and labeling enhancements.

Oversaw packaging design projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and consumer safety.

Conduct proactive research and analysis of market data, including OEM and competitor information. Performed competitive analysis, reviewed market share and size, and presented business case studies to senior management and the team.

Take the lead in managing the entire product life cycle, including R&D, strategic vendor selection, product development, cost negotiation, and price competitiveness.

Function as a project manager (PM) to champion New Product Development (NPD) initiatives through the Phase-Gates process.

Create and adjust timelines, meet project milestones, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders from various departments, and generate Gantt charts and other reports to inform management of work in progress (WIP).

Hyper Micro Systems Vernon Hills, IL

Sales & Procurement Manager / Assistant Category Manager

Sept 2009 - July 2012

Expertly procure end-of-life computer hardware, consumer electronics, components, and packaging material from significant retail store returns for online resale and wholesale sales.

Collaborate with management and internal stakeholders to manage inventory levels effectively, achieve high gross margins, and flawlessly fulfil customer orders and requirements both B2C and B2B2C in blind drop shipment and double-blind drop shipments. Managed eBay and B2B e-commerce channels.

Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and threats, leading to informed decision-making.

Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and supply chain teams to execute category initiatives and ensure alignment with overall business objectives.

Assisted in developing category strategies and product assortment plans based on consumer preferences, market trends, and sales data analysis.

Conducted regular market research and competitor analysis to identify emerging trends and capitalize on untapped opportunities.

Retail Store: Autozone / Carquest / Staples Greater Chicago Land area, IL

Store Manager

July 2003 - Sept 2009

Extensive experience managing retail stores ranging from 500 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft. Overseeing the daily operations of a store and ensuring that every aspect of the business runs smoothly. Expertise includes managing staff, maximizing sales and profits YoY, monitoring inventory levels, and providing exceptional customer service.

Creating and implementing effective store policies that align with the company's goals and values. Handling customer inquiries and complaints, analyzing sales data, and making informed business decisions that drive growth and profitability.

Recruited and trained new staff and created promotional displays to increase sales. Playing a crucial role in maintaining a smooth and profitable retail environment.

EDUCATION & AWARDS

●Computer Science TECHNOLOGY ITT TECHNICAL Institute Mt. Prospect, IL 2006

●Certifications: AutoCare Association ACES/PIES – Content Management Certification 2023

●Awards: Content Excellent Award Auto Care Association - Automotive Aftermarket 2023

●ACP (Automotive Content Professional)- 2024

●PMP Certification 2025

Service & Volunteer

●Auto Care Association - Category Manager Committee 2024-2026

●Feed My Starving Children - Volunteer Since 2017

SKILLS

Intellect QMS system, Forecasting, Demand Planning, Analytical, Data Management, Gap review, Line review, Technical Support and Document Management, Product content writing and delivery (PIES), Catalog management Fitment data (ACES), Vendor Management, Process Development, Inventory Management, Cross-functional teams’ leader, Life Cycle Management, Product and Technical training, Document control, Version controls, Document standards, Knowledge Management, Information Architecture, Stakeholder communication, Product Development, Compliance Standards, Content Management, Quality assurance, Sales and Marketing, Branding (National and Private Label), Brand Management, Packing Strategies, Data Distribution, Competitive Analysis, Product Development, Creating Partnership, Design and Development, Synthesizing Data, Time Management, Agile Software, Storytelling, Delegation, Research, SAP, MS Project, AllData, Product Management Systems, Lotus Notes, Everest, Gantt Chart, Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, Business Analysis, Requirements Gathering, Process Mapping, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Problem Solving, Tableau

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