J. Eric Knock
*** ******* ****** ( Covington, Kentucky 41011 719-***-**** (
**********@***.***
EXECUTIVE Management-Healthcare Sales
Growing revenue, market share, and profit margins by creating collaborative
approaches
to increase customer demand in highly matrixed environments.
Strategic leader and growth catalyst with 20 years of success in healthcare
sales channel management, delivering go-to-market business strategies on
international, national, and regional levels. Immediate contributor with
exceptional industry knowledge and deep understanding of both internal and
external customer needs.
Expertise and proven performance in:
Revenue & Margin Growth Sales Force Effectiveness New Product/Program Launch
P&L Management Sales Compensation &
Cost Reduction & Avoidance Incentives Sales Metrics Development
Pricing Strategies & Team Building & Leadership
Integrated Healthcare Analysis
Delivery Forecasting & Demand Customer Orientation &
Network Contracts Planning Relations
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Hill-Rom, Batesville, IN (NYSE: HRC)
. Overview: Advanced rapidly through marketing, sales, and executive
leadership roles with $1.3B healthcare company that supplies medical
facilities worldwide with hospital beds and equipment, medical devices,
therapeutic products, and IT solutions through direct, distributor, and
GPO and government contract sales. Repeatedly recruited to tackle critical
challenges and drive strategic business objectives; promoted 9 times
throughout tenure.
Vice President of Sales Operations, Batesville, IN 2008-Present
Transformed culture, compensation, and sales training to build lean, high-
performing sales organization.
Recruited to improve operational effectiveness of $600M North American
division comprising 300 sales channel professionals and technical and
clinical market specialists. Reporting to President, drive strategy and
business planning and oversee customer service, operational marketing, and
sales force recruitment and training.
. Stemmed $9M annually in lost opportunity by launching innovative Sales
Acceleration Program - a company first - that developed bench of "ready
now" reps to step into any vacant territory or emerging market.
. Revamped compensation from excessive commissions to performance-based
model that rewards achievement of strategic goals. Revitalized sales
force, increasing gross margin 2% while reducing turnover 10%.
. Grew field sales force 27% to expand product penetration and
strategically position Hill-Rom for market resurgence. Concurrently,
streamlined new-hire training time and cost 25% without diminishing
effectiveness by introducing Web-based home-study curriculum to
supplement field and HQ training.
. Saved $300K+ in last few months via a new product evaluation model that
uses existing service centers rather than third-party providers.
. Improved product mix, quarterly revenues, and Area Managers'
effectiveness by developing dashboard metrics that mapped to company's
critical strategic objectives.
Vice President & General Manager, Critical Care, Batesville, IN 2007-
2008
Grew segment revenue 8%, gross profit 10% by accelerating launch of
strategic product advancement.
Brought in to interim position to lead $25M Critical Care Business Unit and
jump-start stalled product re-launch. Captained cross-functional product
and marketing teams, creating value for new higher-priced critical-care bed
and existing product lines. Reported to President of North American Acute
Care.
. Delivered rapid gains in 2 primary service areas:
Revenue '07 Revenue '08 Change Gross Margin '07 Gross Margin
'08 Change
Maternal Care $21M $25M +15.5% 64% 69% +7.8%
Critical Care $67M $81M +20% 73% 75% +2.7%
Divisional Vice President of Sales, Western Division, Colorado Springs, CO
2004-2007
Built the top-performing division in the country, outperforming revenue,
margin, and growth targets.
Promoted to field-based role to lead $160M US region; subsequently
inherited $300M Western division with leadership responsibility for half of
North America. Oversaw 6 Area VPs, 42 GMs, 40 Clinical Managers, and 16
Technical Market Specialists. Managed revenue/margin growth, discounts, and
overall sales channels for company's full Capital and Therapy portfolio (10
Business Units).
. Exceeded 15% CAGR in 3 consecutive years and consistently overachieved
revenue and margin goals.
. Led nation in overall revenue performance in 2005 and in year-to-year
growth (110% to plan) in 2006.
. Negotiated 7 lucrative Capital and Therapy IDN contracts in 1 year.
. Built $1M West Coast Customer Experience Center and increased visits
from Western US customers by +25%.
. Introduced top-grading initiative to turn over 10% of lowest sales
performers annually, driving market-share improvements and establishing
a practice that was adopted company-wide.
. Named to Master's Club for 4 successive years.
Area Vice President of Sales, Western Region, Colorado Springs, CO 2000-
2004
Recognized in top 10% sales performance company-wide - every year.
Progressed to executive role with full responsibility $54M California-
Arizona-Nevada region. Built and led a highly effective sales force of 15
account managers and technical specialists by recruiting, hiring, and
developing top-performing talent.
. Achieved 103% of revenue target and grew profitability by attaining
lower than targeted discount rates.
. Landed company's largest single order to date ($17.5M), signing
exclusive agreement with Intermountain HC.
. Won additional exclusive contracts with Centura Health Systems (~$24M/5
years) and Banner Health Systems (~$15M/3 years).
Director of Sales, Maternal & Infant Care, Central Atlantic Area,
Batesville, IN 1999-2000
Named "Specialist Director of the Year" and Master's Club Winner, 2000.
Drove sales for newly formed $80M business unit. Accountable for P&L as
well as 9 Software Specialists covering 10 Central Atlantic States.
Recruited, trained, and mentored field sales reps; devised strategy for
sales techniques and product launches; improved capital equipment selling
process.
Director of Sales, Frames & Equipment, Batesville, IN 1998-1999
Revolutionized selling methodology by transitioning sales force to value-
based model.
Hand-picked to lead sales force migration from cost-selling to product
value-selling strategy. Surpassed division's lofty targets for revenue,
discounts, and product mix. Reported directly to Vice President of $500M
business unit.
Marketing Director, Critical Care, Batesville, IN 1996-1998
Spurred explosive growth from $30M to $90M in first year and grew market
share from 35% to 92%.
Tapped to finalize product design and launch of TotalCare (innovative
critical care bed system) in US, Western Europe, Asia, Canada, and Mexico.
Held full P&L and product management responsibility for the segment.
PRIOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Hill-Rom: Senior Account Manager (1994-1996) / Merchandising & Promotions
Manager (1992-1994) / National Accounts Manager (1990-1992) . CTS
Corporation Microelectronic Division: Regional Sales Manager (1984-1990)
Professional Profile
Education: M.B.A., Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN (1990)
B.S., Morehead State University, Morehead, KY (1982)
Additional Training: Center for Creative Leadership, Leadership
Development Program (2008)
Harvard University / MIT, Executive Education Program (2007)
American College of Healthcare Executives, Corporate Forum
(2005)
Board Membership: As Member of Board of Directors of Covington
Scottish Rite Foundation, provide strategic,
fundraising, and operational support to RiteCare
clinics, centers, and special programs that help
children with speech and language disorders.