Executive management

Background One of the leading curriculum development providers to the educational publishing industry. Issue Client projects were unprofitable Focus of the company was spread across too many sectors without adequate investment -- software, services, technology Revenue was falling on a month over month basis Culture of the company was in disrepair with key employees exiting [...]

Issue High growth, challenging revenue model Senior management turnover Software company operating on the fringes of highly regulated telephony industry High market expectations Complicated investor picture Challenging IPO environment Preparation for IPO or sale Solution Provided creative advice to support revenue opportunities Developed strategies for new market entry Developed IP Strategy and Management Prepared company [...]

TAC Worldwide Issue Inherited a money losing $800M staffing company with mission to sell the company within 3-4 years U.K. company was technically in default U.S. company had numerous money losing customer accounts and weak product lines Management was long-time entrenched and in disarray Founder/owner wanted to sell company and retire Solution Quickly achieve cash [...]

Issue Slow growth and low profit margins (< 3%) Losing market share to Japanese power tool companies Not positioned in new “box store” distribution Products out of date and not competitive with user requirements Ill-advised recent purchase of GE’s small appliance division Solution Oversaw the development of DEWALT, the most significant new power tool brand [...]

Issue Chronic slow growth Entrenched dealer/distributor organization Few product or marketing innovations Stagnant management Solution Developed a growth-centered turnaround strategy accepted by the board Acquired several large metropolitan dealers Created “role-model” sales/marketing organization Revitalized dealer network Introduced new advertising campaign Introduced Culligan Bottled Water Repositioned company with a “drinking water company” platform Result -- [...]

Issue Great brands in decline Weak personal accountability and profit focus Businesses Challenged Stride Rite – wholesale focus and accounting Sperry Top-Sider – price oriented Keds – older customer base and one shoe Tommy Hilfiger Shoe License – unprofitable, management and brand challenged Solution Metrics and accountability – introduced new management Stride Rite: (1) Retail [...]

Issue Business model challenged by increasingly digital world resulting in significantly shrinking market opportunity Declining stock price and employee layoffs resulting in morale issues High legacy costs with proprietary manufacturing Highly leveraged balance sheet with liquidity crises Solution Provided realistic assessment of prospects to board Began contingency planning Provided effective and actionable advice to board [...]