Company Overview:
Our client is a leading marketing services agency specializing in the development of co-op advertising and promotional programs for Fortune 100 companies. The company, which was founded in 1919 and family owned until last year, has generated five-fold growth since 2000 by pursuing a “niche position" emphasizing marketing services which help large manufacturers to optimize and control marketing investments through their distribution partners/retail system. The company was recently acquired by a private equity firm, and with this infusion of capital, the agency is well positioned for exponential growth.

The company serves large, market-leading clients in the automotive, wine/spirits, and retail/restaurant industries, providing products and services to support client’s national marketing activities at the local/retail level. The agency’s services and programs help national marketers partner with retailers and dealers to ensure effective, consistent, brand-enhancing advertising. The company also provides services to validate that local marketing and advertising initiatives are consistent with the national marketers' expectations.

Headquartered in St. Louis, the company currently has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Detroit and employs approximately 180 people.

Position:
We are seeking an EVP, Sales & Marketing to play a key role in the overall growth of this business. Working closely with the CEO, the EVP will help to develop the strategic plan for organic growth and targeted acquisitions. Building on the company’s established reputation, the EVP will help to raise the profile of the company in the marketplace and develop a plan to aggressively diversify into new industries and new product/service offerings. The EVP will also be directly responsible for the management of the sales and client services teams that support current and future client relationships.

Reporting Relationship:
This position reports directly to the CEO.

Responsibilities:
The EVP will be responsible for the following:

1. New Business Development: Establish and maintain new senior level marketing relationships with Fortune 100 clients. Identify new target industries and develop strategy for building key relationships resulting in multimillion dollar new business opportunities.
2. Sales Management: Develop and manage the sales and client services team, which currently includes approximately 35 people. Establish annual revenue and profitability goals on a category, customer and total company basis and monitor achievement. Review and revise sales incentive systems, as required.
3. Client Relationship Management: Oversee the client services teams to develop and achieve increased revenue goals. Continually elevate and expand relationships with current clients. Gather intelligence to proactively develop new products and services to meet emerging clients’ needs.
4. Innovation/Growth Strategy – Maintain a posture of perpetual innovation to ensure the company’s leadership position in targeted vertical sectors. Continually look for and develop new product/service offerings, new client relationships and new strategic partnerships (including acquisition targets).
5. Strategic Leadership: Provide marketing insight and expertise to continue exponential growth of the company. Continually analyze, evaluate and modify the company’s brand and market positioning.

Candidate Qualifications:
The successful candidate will be an assertive, analytical, creative, business builder and leader with high integrity who can add to the current “value proposition" by understanding and building on the heritage and “brand personality" of this successful, established, niche marketing services agency model. Qualifications will include:

• An experienced strategic marketer with a reputation for partnering with clients as a problem solver and developer of innovative solutions to combat marketing and growth challenges.
• Proven track record of significant new business development in a marketing services, promotion, data analytics or other specialized marketing agency. Candidates with an existing “book of business," or established contact base, are preferred.
• Experience developing, managing and selling marketing services to client relationships within Fortune 100 companies, ideally including experience in the automotive sector.
• 5+ years of marketing management experience, including at least 5 years experience in an agency environment. Prior experience in trade marketing is highly desirable.
• 5+ years of direct accountability for managing P&L’s (including achievement of sales/business development targets).
• Proven leadership skills as a developer of people, programs and solutions.

Personal Skills/Shared Values:

• Strong strategically and analytically; able to quickly discern client marketing strategies and challenges.
• Innovative and creative thinker; can see and develop “out-of-box" solutions.
• Action oriented, decisive quick study, with proven strategic business and product development/management skills.
• Results-driven leader; able to engender support through thought leadership and persuasion.
• An “inclusive" leadership style and proven experience leading, motivating and inspiring others; ability to “fit in" to an established culture and lead by “adding value" internally and externally.
• Team player, able to work collaboratively; must demonstrate trust, honesty and candor; unquestioned integrity.
• Effective communicator both orally and in writing; excellent listening skills and open to new ideas.
• Unwavering commitment to quality.
• Strong sense of urgency, balancing need for thoughtful and comprehensive analysis against desire for urgent, tangible results.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree required; MBA a plus, but not required.

Compensation
As our client seeks an outstanding individual with an excellent track record of accomplishment, our client will offer an attractive compensation package including base salary, incentives and a complete package of company benefits.

Executive Connections, LLC is handling this search on an exclusive basis. For additional information regarding our client and this opportunity, please contact:

Jeff Gundersen
860-435-0555 (office)
941-323-8300 (mobile)
jgundersen@executiveconnects.com