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Head of Consumer Products and Business Development

Accounting & Finance

20+ years of diverse experience leading multi-million-dollar global brands as well as advising smaller start-up companies looking to grow. As the head of large business units, I have implemented many robust processes and procedures that directly contributed to double-digit sales and margin growth, increased brand awareness, and product innovation. I know the value of leading and aligning cross-functional teams as well as direct reports to efficiently plan and carry out impactful growth and/or cost savings projects. 

My experience in product strategy and product management spans a wide array of products to include footwear, accessories, hard goods, furniture, eyewear, watches, culinary, and health/wellness products. Product management and product strategy are what I know extremely well and are also passions that I’ve been actively engaged with at the corporate level for companies like Nike and Acushnet Golf, and most recently on a more entrepreneurial/start-up level. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished in improving product quality, profit margins, on-time delivery, process improvement, and team building, particularly with limited access to resources.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ mark- kilgore/4/920/ba4

I review consumer product opportunities which demonstrate a high potential for growth and scale, as well as opportunities that we know our engagement will help boost business, market recognition and revenues. I'm also engaged in product creation, strategic vision and planning, sales, branding, marketing, operations, new business development, licensing, and contract manufacturing.

Much of my time is spent helping establish initial priorities, defining relevant marketing, branding, product and sales strategies, and creating a sound business platform to execute from. 

• Oversee the global product creation of Titleist golf bags, travel gear, and  accessories. Responsibilities include: P&L, operations, forecasting, product planning, product design & development, sourcing, production, custom,  and IP.
• Successfully redirected and defined the product positioning, worldwide development, and sourcing  (moving from a 3rd party model to direct sourcing model). 
• Increased overall product margins 40%.
• Restructured global operations and product teams to ensure resources are aligned to bring the product vision to life as well as ensuring that the team executes with excellence. 
• Transitioned custom embroidery operations internally from subcontractors resulting in  ~$500k annual savings
• Worked directly with global teams in Europe, Asia, NA, and SA to drive the product execution strategy, lead the seasonal product calendar, and refined and sharpened the creation process as needed.
• Managed and developed a team of 25 associates comprised of operations, buyers, planners, designers, quality technicians, and manufacturing associates.

Director of Product Development

• Primarily consulted for CTG who purchased the Verdero brand  in 2007 from SBI. CTG is a grass-roots sporting goods company selling baseball footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories. First Hispanic business certified by Major League Baseball.
• Driving force behind all product creation, strategic vision and planning, sales/marketing, brand management, sports marketing/player relations, operations, new business development, and contract manufacturing.
• Achieved revenue growth of over 250% for calendar  year 2008.
• Successfully enhanced Verdero’s brand recognition among Hispanic consumers, and influenced partnerships and collaborations in the Hispanic arena with the NY Yankees, Coca-Cola, and Burger King to establish strong corporate/brand recognition, and maximize Verdero’s outreach to better serve its existing business and address the evolving market.
• Also consultant to Xterra Footwear,  Helmet Hats, Maxim Footwear, and  Hangflat Inflatables

Consultant

SBI was a unit of Cerberus Capital Management LP. Equities which included Fila, Cloudveil, Motionwear, and Verdero. Member of the SBI executive team - recruited to help execute company turnaround. Managed three divisions simultaneously during this time: Oversaw Fila’s $90M global accessories division; $20M product licensing division, and co-founded the Verdero Baseball  brand. Also advised/consulted on new categories for Cloudveil and Motionwear.

• Envisioned concept and founded new baseball company operating throughout the U.S. and Latin America.
• Managed and controlled all aspects and day-to-day operations of three product divisions including P&L, product creation,
• strategic vision, marketing/brand development, e-commerce, sales/distribution, and operations.
• Designed, developed, and launched initial product offering of footwear, apparel, and gloves, brand/marketing campaign, sales/distribution strategy in less than 9 months for the Verdero brand.
• Convinced major retailer to collaborate as an exclusive partner. First-year sales: $1M. 
• Successfully negotiated the sale of Verdero to CTG Athletics in 2007.					
• Reinstated the Fila accessories business in North America as an internal division from a previous licensed business; built new product team in NA; restructured EMEA and Asia business units for increased performance and efficiencies.
• Achieved 200% growth of accessory sales within North America, and doubled sales for EMEA business by aligning with key partners and opening new channels of distribution. Only product division to exceed sales target for 05/06. Products included bags, headwear, gloves, and other accessories.
• Developed strategic plan to grow global licensing business 25% by expanding product opportunities to include sports equipment, cosmetics, spa/resorts, and beverages

General Manager

• Provided leadership and strategic vision to drive all aspects of the businesses and overall profitability for all of TaylorMade’s product categories to include metalwoods, irons, wedges, putters, golf bags and other accessories.
• Authored and drove all category business plans and strategies, and facilitated the creation of a global product process implemented within all product categories of the company including Adidas Golf.
• Increased annual metalwood sales by 75%. Helped grow category to become #1 in the industry.
• Doubled profit margins of golf bag category within first year by aligning with key strategic partners
• Worked closely with design and engineering to develop concepts that took TMaG to a loftier product level and lifted industry standards within the metalwoods and golf bag categories

Director of Product Marketing

• Drove the product and process to execute the development and on-time commercialization of footwear for Nike’s tennis and cleated categories. Responsibilities included product commercialization, understanding of manufacturing capabilities, vendor management, costing, footwear construction, materials, and engineering.
• Consistently managed select high-profile projects that generated over one million pairs (each) per season.
• Worked with Nike IT to successfully develop very first Nike I.D. concept for the cleated category.
• Initiated and led meetings with global product teams during various phases of the product process to review, evaluate, and drive the decision-making process that led to timely product confirmation and margin goals.
• In conjunction with Nike Sports Marketing, managed footwear needs of all contracted NFL, MLB, and NCAA athletes/teams

Product Development Mgr

mark kilgore is a Head of Consumer Products and Business Development at The Hartley Group in Encinitas, CA.

mark kilgore

mark kilgore

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