In my own words
— DarcyEligible for work in USA, Canada, European Union.
Miami, Montreal, Marseille. English & Français.
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." ~Will Rogers
Darcy Kieran is a sales executive, strategic product marketer, and entrepreneur with 20+ yrs of sales & business management experience in consumer goods/services, business services, retail, wholesale, eCommerce, manufacturing, communication, radio/TV broadcasting, education, rail transportation, sporting goods, and outdoor/recreation.
For 15+ yrs, Darcy has been an entrepreneur, founding/owning U.S. & Canadian companies in the retail, distribution, import, eCommerce, consulting, and communication sectors.
As Assistant VP of Sales for Canadian National, Darcy managed a 22-member sales force, grew million-dollar accounts, and created a companywide benchmark sales training program.
Darcy has also held several managerial positions, innovating products and building brands while developing high-performance cross-functional teams.
Darcy holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE; B.Eng.) specializing in New Product Development, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing.
A sports enthusiast, coach, and scuba diving instructor trainer, Darcy believes strongly in the value of mentorship and training, and leads by example on the field, underwater and in business.
Expertise: Sales & Sales Mgt * eCommerce * Retail * Direct-to-Consumer * Wholesale * Revenue Mgt Optimization * Strategic Planning * Business Development * Change Mgt * Scale Up * Consumer Demand Strategies * Brand & Product Innovation * Partnership Development * Social Media * Advertising * Digital Marketing * Blue Ocean Strategy * P&L Mgt
Trajectory
Jan 2016 — Now
Co-Founder · Buzzwinx Media
Niche Publishing & Cross-Functional Digital Marketing.
Édition de niche et marketing numérique interfonctionnel.
Jan 2008 — Now
Founder / Author · Business of Diving Institute
Author of Scubanomics.com to establish and promote operational standards in the scuba diving industry, therefore ensuring consistency in the quality of the experience (in and out of the dive store) with increased brand value and reliability. It's time for a Blue Ocean strategy for the dive industry!
Author of ScubaDiverPress.com to demystify how to safely learn scuba diving for a lifetime of worldwide adventures. Your life isn’t a playground; it’s a water park!
Jan 2018 — Dec 2020
Member Board Of Directors · Canada-Florida Chamber of Commerce
The Canada-Florida Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Quebec-Florida Chamber of Commerce) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of bilateral trade and investment.
Signature activities include trade missions, personalized consulting services, seminars, international conferences, and networking events.
The CFCC has offices in Montreal, Canada, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Toronto and Orlando activities are launching in 2020.
Jan 2018 — Dec 2018
Acting COO · Ubios
Strategic advisor to the Founder & CEO. Acting COO building a team to complete R&D and get ready for scaling up the production. Supported a late-seed financing round. Defined and structured the sales & marketing strategy. Planned and initiated expansion into the American market.
Ubios: Merging AI, IoT and Smart Home to bring “The End of Water Damages” to multi-residential properties. It’s peace of mind for landlords, condo owners, condo boards, and insurers.
Artificial Intelligence. Internet of Things. Home Automation. Building Automation. Smart Building.
Jan 2013 — Dec 2016
President · Holiday Diver, Inc.
Operated a retail chain of sporting goods stores, 2 adventure sport resort destinations, a fleet of charter boats and an online retailer; responsible for full P&L; implemented new eCommerce platform (Magento) & launched brand website.
Grew number of stores from 6 to 8; managed all employees (100 – 150); expanded new product lines; relaunched in-house apparel brand (EVO); developed & launched new activity-related brand (Emocean).
Jan 2000 — Dec 2015
President & CEO · Total Diving
Owned an all-inclusive dive center; oversaw company strategies, departments & operations, including full P&L, recruiting, staff training, financing, inventory management, merchandising, marketing & store management.
Drove revenues from $180K to $2M in 3 years; oversaw development, launch and P&L management of a sporting goods eCommerce website; developed Montreal dive center from standard PADI dive center to the only PADI CDC (Career Development Center) in Eastern Canada, the highest level of certification.
Founded Total Diving. Established Total Diving as a National Geographic dive center; developed & implemented customer acquisition strategy and recurring revenue stream.
Acquired another dive center in the market, improved customer acquisition, and management, then resold in 2 years with a 212% ROI.
Developed comprehensive training programs that PADI used as a role model when training new Course Directors everywhere in the World. A video has been produced a few years ago by PADI with Mr. Kieran and is still being used in Course Director training courses.
Prepared the company to be sold. Completed the sale while ensuring continuance in the quality of the experience by selling it to a fellow PADI Course Director and member of the Total Diving staff.
Jan 2009 — Dec 2013
Owner, President & CEO · Beuchat Canada
Canadian distributor of Beuchat's scuba diving, freediving, snorkeling, spearfishing and swimming lines of products. Negotiated and secured international distribution rights; managed the startup; full P&L responsibility.
Jan 2008 — Dec 2013
Co-Founder / Advisor · Inspiration Montessori
Acquired an ailing Montessori preschool and kindergarten, created a new brand and new business plan to turn around and grow the school; identified/hired operational staff to run the school; implemented aggressive marketing strategy, doubling student attendance and square footage in 2 years; obtained additional Government permits to further expand.
Jan 1991 — Dec 2013
Owner / Consultant · Communicare Publishing Inc.
Founded, owned & operated a book publishing company for radio broadcasting; prepared license applications or renewals with FCC-equivalent CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission); developed new radio formats; launched 2 radio stations under new branding.
Authored a textbook used in communication courses in colleges and universities in Canada. Topic: How to be a successful radio announcer and program director ("Le métier d'animateur radio et de directeur de la programmation radio").
Jan 1995 — Dec 2001
Assistant VP, Sales · Canadian National
Recruited for Strategic IPO Team (the most successful IPO in Canadian history); promoted to AVP of Sales for largest division (US North-East & Eastern Canada); built & managed 22-member sales force; grew sales 12%+ year-over-year, achieving 155% of target; converted $300K account to $19M flagship alliance in less than 3 years; created and instituted companywide benchmark sales training program.
Jan 1992 — Dec 1993
Sales Manager · Radio Express
Went back to Montreal to pursue an MBA at McGill University. Managed the sales team for a local radio station (CKOD) under new ownership. Built a new sales team; established marketing strategies, rate cards and prospecting lists; coached new sales representatives.
Jan 1990 — Dec 1991
General Manager · Pelmorex Broadcasting
Recruited to turnaround 4 declining radio stations for media conglomerate serving both French and English markets. Reorganized operations and restructured programming to reverse losses and achieve profit within 1 year. Full P&L. Reversed 5-year loss to attain profit in less than a year.
Jan 1989 — Dec 1990
Executive VP & General Manager · Rouyn-Noranda Economic Development Corp.
Recruited by Mayor to restructure troubled nonprofit organization. Established operating and growth strategy. Realigned Board of Directors, overcame political challenges, and significantly expanded service territory to include neighboring municipalities.
Jan 1988 — Dec 1989
Director, Radio Programming & Promotion · Radio Nord Communications
Programming & promotion management of 7 radio stations (3 FM and 4 AM). Recruited after their 4 AM stations felt to the bottom of the ratings. Ignited a 30%+ ratings upswing, seizing back the #1 position in a highly competitive market. Reorganized broadcasting operations, conceived / launched innovative programming model, and won international industry recognition award (in Béziers, France).
Jan 1986 — Dec 1988
Director, Marketing / Research & Development · Weider Sports Equipment Co.
Selected to design and lead the production of new products (Research & Development); promoted to Director role within 1 year, then added Marketing. Piloted development of innovative weight-training equipment. Won a coveted American Fortune 100 account (Number One retailer in the USA). Created marketing campaigns in magazines like Shape and Men's Fitness.
Jan 1982 — Dec 1987
Radio Announcer & Producer · Radio & TV Broadcasting
Radio announcer on various radio stations in the province of Quebec, while attending college and obtaining a university degree in Engineering.
- Morning man for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) FM radio station in Abitibi.
- Producer of the Canadian Number One FM Radio Show for CKOI-FM in Montreal (now Cogeco).
- Reporter for CKAC 73, the (then) Number One radio station in Montreal.
Activity
Education history
McGill University - Desautels Faculty of Management
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) | 1995 - Present
Polytechnique Montréal
Engineer’s Degree
McGill University
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
