Manager Sales

KEITH McROBERT

KEITH abnkeu@r.postjobfree.com

**** **** ****** ***** ****: 616-***-****

Hudsonville, MI 49426 Cell: 616-***-****

CAREER SUMMARY

A results-oriented General Manager with extensive business development, product marketing and new product

development experience. Leadership background includes the successful introduction of multiple, innovative

product lines that each increased market share, profitability and brand equity. Well developed interpersonal,

analytical, work team leadership and project management skills. Distinctive ability to envision, articulate and

drive profitable new product commercialization initiatives.

KNAPE & VOGT, INC.

A $225 million global manufacturer and distributor of drawer slides, storage and organization products and

ergonomic accessories.

Sr. Marketing Manager – Storage & Organization 2007–2009

Leadership responsibility for $95 million storage and organization revenue. Responsible for category

leadership, P&L, creating the overall S&O strategy while directing multiple new product development

initiatives. Distribution channels include consumer, distributor and OEM.

Created and directed a multi-business channel strategy to maintain, protect and extend KV’s established

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consumer/ distributor shelving product line while creating a turn-around strategy for its struggling kitchen &

bath business.

Redesigned consumer packaging, carton labeling and planagram design for the Kitchen & Bath category.

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Successfully directed two cross-functional business teams and a $2 million budget for the development of

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seven new NPC products forecasted to generate $5 million year one.

Developed the business strategy for a new garage storage & organization system for KV’s consumer market.

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Created and executed a new “best-in-class” kitchen pull-out waste and recycling offering for KV’s

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consumer, distribution and OEM channels.

Initiated the concept and design for a breakthrough kitchen pantry and base cabinet modular system.

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ODL, INC.

A $275 million global manufacturer and distributor of residential doorglass, blinds and skylights.

Sr. Manager – Doorglass Marketing /Business Development 2006-2007

Created and managed the Doorglass division’s product portfolio management process, including the formation

of product strategy, ideation and concept phases.

Initiated an innovative technology category that will transcend ODL’s Doorglass business.

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Developed the company’s first promotional sales campaign directed at a recently launched innovative

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product category.

HERMAN MILLER, INC. 1977 - 2006

A $2 billion global manufacturer and distributor of office and health care furniture.

Director Systems Products 2004 – 2006

Director Seating and Ergonomic Products 1999 – 2003

Leadership responsibility for $350 million of systems furniture revenue. Champion the overall systems business

vision and strategy while concurrently serving as the team lead for the Company’s number one product

development priority (report directly to the CEO and the Executive Leadership Team). Earlier, served as the

general manager of the $300 million seating business, spearheading the strategic vision and effectively

managing the team charged with its implementation.

KEITH McROBERT

KEITH ROBERT Page Two

P & L leadership responsibility for all product life cycle management stages including the comprehensive

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positioning of HMI’s systems and seating portfolios, as well as the development of concise sales tools and

the creation of high-impact marketing collateral.

Conceived and directed a highly successful business strategy which secured industry recognition for Herman

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Miller as the world leader in cross-performance work chairs.

Developed the business strategy for systems furniture which will advance HMI to category leader through a

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deliberate focus on both market responsiveness and brand innovation.

Successfully managed a 10-member business team and $20 million budget for the #1 product development

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priority, achieving all targets for product performance, cost, schedule, program expense and capital

projections.

Extended the iconic Aeron brand through the application of Posture Fit technology (pelvic stabilization

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support) and a new CMF palette, and drove an extensive product enhancement program for the Resolve

product line.

Targeted market segments projected to generate $175 million in incremental revenue and then pursued those

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opportunities by developing two innovative seating product lines which further leverage intellectual

property/technology from previous breakthroughs.

Senior Product Manager 1996 - 1999

Product Manager 1993 - 1996

Associate Product Manager 1989 - 1993

Marketing Analyst 1988 - 1989

Held progressively responsible product marketing roles, leading a variety of cross-functional product business

teams representing the seating, system furniture and storage categories. Provided product definition, market

research, pricing, forecasting, training and marketing collateral.

Played a key leadership role in the development of a new mid-price work chair that outperformed the

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competition in key customer attributes, exceeded first-year revenue and margin targets, and received the

1996 APEX Award for “best practices.”

Significantly contributed to doubling seating revenue and market share over a five-year period, supporting

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the successful commercialization of new product concepts including the Ambi and Aeron chairs.

Created the “secondary seating” (non-work chair) strategy that drove the development of low-cost stacker

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and side chairs as well as innovative guest and multipurpose chairs.

Led cross-functional teams in successfully initiating/implementing two corporate price increases and the

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development of HMI’s innovative 12-year “bumper-to-bumper” warranty.

PREVIOUS HERMAN MILLER EXPERIENCE (1977 - 1988)

As Senior Sales Service Representative, managed dealer and direct business from field implementation

through final reconciliation of all services, billing and ongoing warranty coverage. Earlier Operations and

Development roles included assembly, material handling and model shop assignments.

EDUCATION

Master of Management Marketing Aquinas College 1996

Bachelor of Science Marketing Davenport University 1984

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