JAY M. FINNIGAN
**** ********* ** *****: 469-***-****
Colleyville, TX 76034 www.linkedin.com/pub/jay-finnigan/9/529/840 ***********@*******.*** SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
A skilled brand builder with a track record of success for increasing sales and profits through strategic planning, creative thinking, collaboration, and driving execution that positively impacts product, price, packaging, and promotion. A leader in managing teams and projects to achieve one common goal. Expertise includes:
Brand Management
Field / Trade Marketing
Distributor Management
Demand Planning /
Forecasting
Agency Management
Product/Packaging
Innovation (beverage /
consumer goods)
National & Key Account
Management
Media Planning
Business Development
P&L Management
Operations Management
Pricing Strategy
Consumer Insights
Team Building / Talent
Recruitment
Revenue Management
Public Relations
Category Management
Multicultural Marketing
B2B & Route-to-Market
process
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, Grand Prairie, TX 2013-Present RNDC is the second largest beverage alcohol distributor of premium spirits, wine and beer in the U.S. with wholly owned operations in 22 states and the District of Columbia with more than $7B in revenue annually. RNDC also operates in 6 state through venture partnerships. In total, RNDC employs more than 7,000 individuals nationwide, representing the biggest suppliers in the industry. VP, Shared Sales Services
Reporting directly to the COO, leading a group of departments that impact the commercial side of the B2B distribution business including Commercial Finance, Revenue Management, Trade Marketing, Commercial Enterprise (IT), Master Data Management, and Customer Service. Manage six (6) direct reports that extends to team of 150+ employees.
Implemented new marketing structure across all markets to increase GP through solid process and talent recruitment to manage supplier portfolio business and financial planning and analytics (forecast and pricing) to drive an increase in company net GP by 2.0%
Developed and implemented a series of commercial tools to track market activity to provide better transparency to performance management in market to increase productivity and efficiency. Director of Supplier Business Development, Marketing The RNDC corporate lead of the Supplier Alliance (Bacardi USA, Brown-Forman, & Remy USA) route-to-market initiative across 10 states, reporting directly to the VP of SBD, changing the way the strategic marketing plans are converted to ASMART goals, as well as translate and develop marketing objectives that align with brand standards and growth objectives.
Lead development of brand strategy with brand teams, and outline programming and activities to achieve goals.
Responsibilities that include expansion of the localized marketing plans, brand objectives, and building activities towards growth for the top brands in the industry.
Develop and implement Salesforce interface tool to convert and track brand objectives and activities for sales representatives, with an incentive based overlay using digital applications. BROWN-FORMAN, Louisville, KY 2006-2013
Brown-Forman is one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies in the world, as a producer and marketer of some of most well-known brands in the industry, selling products in more than 135 countries. VP, Marketing – North American Whiskey Brands Portfolio 2011-2013 Reporting to SVP and CMO, providing marketing leadership for the whiskey portfolio of 5 core brands (Woodford Reserve, Early Times, Old Forester, Canadian Mist, and Collingwood – the company’s 2nd largest portfolio) including long term P&L management, brand strategy, innovation and line extension development, agency management, media and communication planning, and managing a team of 16 people to deliver over 2M cases and $40M in brand profit.
Focus on North American Region (US, Canada, Mexico); key point of contact for global marketing
Launched 9 new products in 18 months, leading to an incremental $4M in gross profit in year 1
Outpaced annual profit goals by an average of +5% on every brand in the whiskey portfolio, including Woodford Reserve that accelerated growth to +25% annually, turning positive sales results for the first time in 28 consecutive years on Canadian Mist, repositioning Old Forester to generate increases in sales and profit, and grew the Early Times trademark in profit and sales for the first time in more than a decade. JAY M. FINNIGAN Page 2
US Brand Management Director (Field Marketing) – Southern Comfort 2008-2011 Overall responsible nationally for field marketing of the Southern Comfort portfolio and new products, which included brand planning, distributor management, inventory and demand planning, establishing pricing guidelines, resource allocation, product and promotion innovation, National Account presentations, and directly manage, coach, and train local marketing managers, and managing the day-to-day brand business and reporting from distributor and consumer.
Collaborated with multiple field sales contacts consisting of sales teams, national account teams, and channel development managers, as well as global and national marketing teams
Created, developed, implemented, and recapped key initiatives, including the 3D interactive retail display programs, innovative packages for small sizes, retail cold box program, and sampling programs. Brand Business Manager (Field Marketing Manager) – Southwest Division 2006-2008 Field Sales to marketing liaison and brand leader, reporting to the divisional vice-president to deliver portfolio volume and gross profit goals within the SW Division comprised of 11 southern and western states including Texas and Colorado. Partnered with the state and territory sales managers to manage distributor execution and resource allocations, including programming, sponsorships, local media, and strategic planning such as pricing, distribution models, and shelving guidelines.
Successful in distributor accountability programming and resource allocation to drive 2Yr CAGR +12.4% in net sales
Led Strategy and Ideation (S&I) sessions annually for each of the Developing Brands
Designed and built the “Tuaca Chill Zone” in Denver’s Pepsi Center, a $1M permanent brand experience that created more than 6M impressions annually.
THE GAMBRINUS COMPANY, San Antonio, TX 2003-2006
The Gambrinus Company, an independently owned and operated beer supplier, engages in producing, marketing, and sales of several brands throughout the world with close to 10M cases sold annual in the US. Brand Manager – Shiner Beers
Leader for the Shiner Beer portfolio and brewery, responsible for business plan development, brand promotions and advertising, new product development, public relations, creative, and annual P&L management including a $16 million marketing budget directly reporting to the CEO and President. Supervised a team of 4 managers, including brewery operations, and an event management budget and team for experiential marketing events, Bocktoberfest and B.A.S.H.
Brand performance improved from -2.2% to +2.4% in Year 1, and every year after (+6.6% ’04; +8.1% ’05; +17.3% ’06)
Managed Spoetzl Brewery Home place, which grew annual visits from 45K annually to over 150k by year end 2006.
Managed Field marketing efforts in Texas, including large scale consumer events that drove more than 2M impressions annually, and creating local packaging including the “Family Reunion Pack”, Costco’s #1 Beer SKU INBEV USA (Formerly Labatt USA), Norwalk, CT 1996-2003 Labatt USA was a specialty beer company that was a joint venture between Interbrew (now Inbev) and FEMSA
(CCM Brands). The company brewed, marketed and distributed beer, of more than 25 brands including Rolling Rock, Labatt Blue, Dos Equis, and Becks, in the US. The company merged with AB in 2006 to form InBev USA. Brand Manager – Rolling Rock, Latrobe Products 2002-2003 Developed core set of brand strategies in re-launching of flagship brand, and directly responsible for delivering marketing plan that included P&L management with a $21M marketing budget for 13M cases and $20.8M in profit.
Increased brands performance from -9.0% Year End ‘01 to +3.1% Year End ’02; first growth since purchase in ‘95
Created and develop three new brand extensions, including liquid, packaging, advertising, and media Field Marketing Manager – Northeast Division 2001-2002 Liaison between marketing and sales reporting to the Division VP for the Northeast Division. Managed the Domestic and Mexican brand portfolios locally to create street level programs and initiatives, including multicultural and grass roots efforts
LUSA Presidential Award winner 2001
District Sales Manager – N. Texas / Oklahoma 1999-2001 Managed 51 North Texas and Oklahoma wholesalers leading to 100K incremental cases and $10M profit through market plans identifying distribution, pricing, and merchandising goals reporting to Southeast Division VP.
LUSA Presidential Award winner 2000; Named 2000 Top Sales Manager in US Area Sales Manager – New Jersey 1996-1999
Worked with 7 New Jersey wholesalers on executing brand programs at the retail level, and street activation team for special events and on-premise promotions reporting to the District manager of NJ/E.PA. JAY M. FINNIGAN Page 3
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SHAMROCK SPORTS LLC, Grapevine, TX 2015-2017
The NTX Coliseum, operated by Shamrock Sports LLC, will offer 4,200 square foot of clean, safe, and versatile practice space for baseball and softball for any team to rent daily. Additional meeting space and lobby area will accommodate coaches meetings, team meetings, and waiting parents during practice sessions. OWNER/General Manager – NTX Coliseum 2015 - 2017
Created/developed an indoor training facility for baseball and softball players of all ages and sizes. Managed reservations for practice sessions teams in 90 minute increments, and coordinated batting cage/machine and pitching tunnels for individual rental. Recruited major league and minor league players to conduct clinics and training sessions, as well as handled all marketing and advertising for facility usage and events.
Drove revenue to nearly $60k in first year, 300% over forecast
Increase social media presence to over 1,500 users in first 6 months
Sold facility and LLC in June of 2017 for profit EDUCATION
Enrolled On-line, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 2015- Coursework in Marketing, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN 2012-2014 Strategic Marketing Management Program, Chicago Graduate School of Business 2005 Coursework in Business Administration / Marketing, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 1993-1996 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT / ACHIEVEMENTS
Make-A-Wish Foundation, Board Member, Volunteer (Ohio Valley – 2011-2013)
North Oldham County Little League, Board Member, Volunteer (2009-2013)
Colleyville Warriors Baseball Club, Head Coach / General Manager (2014-present)
Colleyville Baseball Association, Volunteer, Coach (2014-present)
Grapevine High School Girls Varsity Basketball, Volunteer, Asst. Coach (
Frostburg State University Varsity Basketball; Multiple Award winner for academics and athletic performance
Eagle Scout 1988