Dynamic commercial and general management executive with deep success in transforming business growth and profitability across multiple industries. Passionate thought leader with strong sales, marketing, and general management skills developed at Pfizer, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Snyder’s-Lance, and Flowers Foods. Innovative thought leader who sets clear, strategic vision and propels teams to deliver superior results.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

P&L Transformation: Drove +$7 million EBT margin through portfolio and sales channel optimization.

Sales Leadership: Led sales team to deliver $20 million new private label business for Walmart and Kroger.

Share Growth: Guided Snyder’s of Hanover to 18 months of share gains after 5 months of share decline.

Revenue Acceleration: Grew $800M Kraft Foods portfolio from -5% decline to +12% growth in 3 years.

New Product Growth: Partnered with R&D to unlock $400 million of new products over past 15 years.

Turnaround: Transformed Kraft portfolio (Bakery, Nuts, and Cheeses) to grow share in 5 of 6 categories.

B to B Sales Wins: Accelerated growth +6 pts with Amazon, Walmart, and Automotive industry wins.

AREAS OF STRENGTH

Drive Market Share

Private Label Sales

Channel/Trade Development

Manufacturing Acumen

P&L Transformation

Foodservice / Restaurants

Digital and Social Media

Cross Functional Teams

Sales Team Leadership

Field Marketing

International Experience

Distributor Leadership

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GROWTH NECESSITIES – Thomasville, GA 01/2020 - Present

Founder

Provide executive leadership and strategy to guide business start-ups to achieve commercial success.

SVP Sales for PE backed EcoGEM Minerals that improve soil, water, and environmental health globally.

Strategic advisor for Moon Tide Springs premium water start-up currently finalizing equity investment.

Co-Founder of Easy Travel Advisors, a start-up focused on concierge level, worry-free travel experiences.

FLOWERS FOODS – Thomasville, GA 03/2018 – 01/2020

Senior Vice President

General Manager with direct P&L responsibility for $600M snacks business. Lead integrated team comprised of sales, marketing, foodservice, finance, R&D, and 5 manufacturing sites. Achieving significant P&L growth.

Operational improvements yielded a $7 million EBT margin (+6 pts.) impact on the total business in 2019.

Led sales team in acquiring $30M of private label business with Walmart, Kroger, Food Lion an Aldi and secured additional branded facings.

Transforming manufacturing across five plants to add capacity for growth opportunities, improve efficiency of marginal businesses, and reduce inventory and costs by cutting underperforming businesses.

Driving topline sales by +$20M with Hershey’s and Nickelodeon licensing agreements for new products.

SEALED AIR – Charlotte, NC 05/2016 – 03/2018

Executive Director

Built business to business expertise through consulting with new industries for new insight and opportunity.

Accelerated growth +6 pts. with consulting wins in automotive, cosmetics, and e-commerce channels.

Directed integrated sales campaign to reach 3,000+ sales reps with market insight and innovation.

SNYDER’S – LANCE – Charlotte, NC 05/2013 – 05/2016

Senior Director – Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels ($400M)

Executive with direct P&L growth responsibility for Snyder’s of Hanover pretzel business. Transformed business team across Hanover plant, sales, marketing, finance, and R&D to accelerate base business.

Achieved turnaround on Snyder’s of Hanover business as noted by 18 months of share growth. Plan achieved +2 pt. margin via manufacturing optimization, $40M in innovation, and +6.8% growth.

Delivered $20M of private label pretzels and crackers to Costco and Walmart for additional space.

Directed company-wide $20M margin improvement plan. Plan included increasing capacity utilization from 70% > 80%, transforming channel mix, and focusing on highest margin portfolio.

Launched Snyder’s Gluten Free pretzel and surpassed Glutino for the #1 share position in 12 months.

KRAFT FOODS – Glenview, IL 2007 – 2013

Senior Director

Recruited to Kraft Foods to revolutionize and grow their underdeveloped single-serve snacks business. Built new sales and marketing organization and transformed results reaching new channels with new products.

Built and trained new 105-person sales force with new selling skills and market insights.

Accelerated business from -5% in 2007 to +5% in 2010 and +12% in 2011.

Transformed trajectory of portfolio businesses - $480MM Snacks +14%, $75MM Proteins +12%.

Built new in-store execution plans and marketing which delivered share growth in 5 of 6 categories.

Appointed to $1.8B Beverage Unit to enter the Convenience Store Channel with new beverages.

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY – Atlanta, GA 1995 – 2007

Successful 12-year career in marketing and innovation. 8 years in North America / 4 years International.

Global Director Innovation

Promoted to lead an international team of consultants who focused on high profile initiatives globally.

Flipped Subway Restaurant Account from Pepsi to Coca-Cola resulting in 20,000 new global stores.

Founded KO Lab, Coca-Cola’s global customer collaboration center hub for the past 15 years.

Director Sports Nutrition

Expanded Powerade presence to 40+ markets achieving +25% growth and a 30% share in Europe.

Delivered next generation science through universities and partners introduced 2004-2007.

Brand Manager – Youth Soft Drinks / Coca-Cola Trademark

Drove commercial and retail launch strategy for Coca-Cola Zero.

Grew KMX energy drink to $60MM at retail and secured #3 share position in 1st Year.

Accelerated Mello Yello to +20% growth with new Effie Award winning ad reaching ethnic youth.

PFIZER / GLAXOSMITHKLINE – Morris Plains, NJ 1993 – 1995

Brand Analyst – Sudafed, Actifed and Benadryl

Segmented anesthesia market for $50MM launch of Mivacron and Nuromax in first year.

EDUCATION

EMORY UNIVERSITY – Goizueta Business School

Master of Business Administration

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Arts, Economics – Economics Honor Society

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY – Kellogg School of Management, Complexity in Action 2009

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