Meet the Chief Outsiders Team

Each of our Chief Marketing Outsiders (CMOs) have been a VP of Marketing at an operating company in the past. They understand the operational and financial implications of business to collaboratively define growth strategies and execute marketing plans. They work beyond the pretty pictures of marketing materials to focus on aligning the organization behind a market-based business strategy to profitably differentiate and grow the company.


Principals


Art Saxby

Art Saxby, Founder and Principal
Manufacturing, commodity and branded products

Art Saxby has secured a reputation as a "Mr Fix It" outsider for small to midsize companies. Saxby positions himself as the #2 marketer to the CEO, using his proficiency in finance and operations to help the company identify its original goals, develop plans to overcome obstacles, and achieve measurable profitability and success. Saxby's marketing and strategy success stories include his work for Hines Horticulture, Imperial Sugar, Frito-Lay, Kellogg's, Coca-Cola and Compaq/HP. His specialties include multi-channel marketing and advertising, branding and position strategies and implementation and change management.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • VP of Marketing for Imperial Sugar Company
  • VP of Corporate Development, Sales and Marketing for Hines Horticulture

Write or call Art directly at: 281.610.1481 or Art@ChiefOutsiders.com



Pete Hayes

Pete Hayes, Principal
Technology and Professional Services

A technology and global channels marketing powerhouse, Pete Hayes possesses an impressive track record of proven success in global marketing, promotion, brand development and consulting with leading multinational technology businesses. Hayes has held executive marketing positions with Fortune 100 companies, managed $50 million budgets, and has given startups the executive management they needed to grow from first steps to over $1 billion in revenue. His technology and professional services skills have benefited AMD, SicolaMartin, IBM, E-mu Systems, Businessland and other dynamic companies.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President, Global Integrated Marketing, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
  • Vice President, Strategic Services, SicolaMartin/Young & Rubicam
  • General Manager, SicolaMartin Interactive
  • Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, E-Mu Systems
  • Director, Global Marketing & Communications, Personal Software Products, IBM
  • Director, Marketing & Communications, Businessland, Inc.

Write or call Pete directly at: 512.923.6512 or Pete@ChiefOutsiders.com




Northeast


Joseph Grace

Joe Grace
Direct-to-Consumer Marketing Specialist 

Joe Grace's portfolio as a strategic problem solver and marketing innovator boasts an impressive roll call of major consumer health and wellness brands overt the past 20 years, including Medscape, Perricone MD Cosmaceuticals, and even the legendarily successful Suzanne Somers' ThighMaster campaign. He pioneered the use of multi-channel direct marketing programs in growing these healthcare business, and as Head of Online Marketing at WebMD he boosted that company to its current status as the #1 destination for eHealth information and resources.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Partner, Health Marketing Partners
  • SVP, Head of Marketing, WebMD and Medscape
  • Marketing Strategist, Perricone MD Cosmaceuticals
  • Co-Founder and COO, Suzanne Somers' ThighMaster Company

Write or call Joe directly at: 203.247.0796 or JGrace@ChiefOutsiders.com



Andy Stevenson

Andy Stevenson, Chief Marketing Outsider
E-commerce, Direct Marketing, and Consumer Products

Andy Stevenson combines years of practical experience in e-commerce, product marketing, branding, planning and team development with an energy and passion that make him “a born leader” yet also an approachable partner and team-minded collaborator. Stevenson has served as Vice President of Marketing at BrickHouse Security,  Vice President of E-Commerce at Williams-Sonoma (where he worked with company founder Chuck Williams),  Senior Director at Crutchfield Corporation, and in several product marketing positions for Dell Computer.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President E-Commerce, Williams-Sonoma
  • Senior Director, Crutchfield.com
  • Senior Manager, Dell Home Systems
  • Vice President Marketing, BrickHouse Security
  • Vice President E-Commerce, Academic Superstore

Write or call Andy directly at: 434.987.2067 or AStevenson@ChiefOutsiders.com



Barbara Fowler

Barbara Fowler
Financial Services, Global Markets

Barbara Fowler has achieved worldwide acclaim for her expertise in developing sales and marketing organizations and delivering results. She has developed an implemented global business strategies for international markets in a variety of European, Asian, Central American and South American countries. Equally conversant in sales and marketing disciplines, Fowler's skill set includes sales and marketing synchronization, family business turnaround techniques and the establishment of team-based best practices within and among departments and partners. She also specializes in strategy development, sales analytics, leadership coaching, product development and compensation systems.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President, International Insurance, Prudential International Insurance
  • Vice President, Field Training and Development, International Insurance
  • Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Prudential Seguros, Argentina
  • Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Advisor, Pramerica Poland

Write or call Barbara directly at: 908.956.4529 or BFowler@ChiefOutsiders.com, also read my blog



Steve Yanovsky

Steve Yanovsky
Broadcast and Online Media Marketing, B2B Marketing

Steve Yanovsky is a master of broadcast and online marketing as well as traditional B2B and B2C marketing strategies. In addition to helping many companies with branding and positioning issues through his own company, Sterling Park Group, Yanovsky served as Vice President of Marketing for BBE (Broadband Enterprises). He was also Vice President of Marketing for CBS Cable from 1992 to 2000, growing its revenue from $185 million to $500+ million and helping to push Country Music Television (CMT) into 61 countries worldwide.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President of Marketing, CBS Cable
  • Chief Marketing Officer, The FeedRoom
  • Vice President of Marketing, BBE (Broadband Enterprises)
  • Vice President, Lintas USA
  • Vice President, Bozell
  • Co-Founder, Sterling Park Group

Write or call Steve directly at: 914.533.6722 or SYanovsky@ChiefOutsiders.com



Marshall Perez

Marshall Perez
Medical Devices Starts-ups and Growth Companies

Marshall Perez brings more than 25 years of experience to the medical devices industry as a top executive and innovative developer of new medical device companies. Perez puts short-term strategies to work in the service of long-term strategic outlooks to help these companies introduce new technologies and get them embraced by the health and medical community  and consumers alike. He provides objective analysis, creative innovation, and critical thinking along with the hands-on mentoring and team building necessary to help address the business's growth demands.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Partner BDO/CMO, Chief Outsiders LLC
  • Principal/Founder, Marshall Squared Consulting 
  • Principal/Founder, M Squared Distribution
  • SVP/CMO/CSO/BDO, Biomet Spine Trauma and Sports Medicine
  • CEO/Founder, Medicrea USA

Write or call Marshall directly at: 570.689.7451 or MPerez@ChiefOutsiders.com



MJ Jolda

MJ Jolda
Brand and Business Turnarounds; Brand Positioning & Consumer Outreach; Consumer Brands & Businesses; New Product Development

MJ Jolda has produced stellar results for businesses of all sizes over a span of two decades, with a special focus on brand and business turnarounds. She has reversed the fortunes of Marcal Manufacturing, Pinnacle Foods and Reckitt Benckiser by helping these companies redefine their niche in the marketplace and revitalize their brands to consumers. Along the way she has managed such household-name brands as French’s, Gerber, Woolite and many others. MJ is a skilled hand at helping companies optimize their marketing mix to deliver maximum ROI, position, differentiate and communicate their various brands, expand their distribution and develop new products.

Executive Marketing Experience

  • Senior Vice President, Marketing and R&D, Marcal Manufacturing
  • Marketing Director, Nestle Infant Nutrition (Gerber)
  • Marketing Director, Prestige BrandHoldings Inc (GTCR Venture)
  • Marketing Director, Pinnacle Foods
  • Marketing Director, Reckitt Benckiser | Reckitt & Colman

Write or call MJ directly at: 201.452.0613 or MJJolda@ChiefOutsiders.com



Southeast


Robert Donaldson

Robert Donaldson
Instrument Manufacturing; Medical, Industrial and Energy Industries

Robert (Rob) J. Donaldson has taken more than 20 products from conception to market in the areas of medical technology, optics, safety monitors, nuclear power instrumentation and defense. Donaldson's extensive international strategy development, program execution and profit management success includes tenures with Warner Lambert, Leica, Imaging & Sensing Technology and Heraeus Noblelight. His areas of expertise include post-merger integration, turnaround management, strategic realignment of distribution channels, and international marketing operations and development.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • President and Founder, Inchieve
  • Vice President, Optics and Analytics Division of Heraeus Noblelight
  • Vice President Sales/Marketing and General Manager, Imaging and Sensing Technology (IST)
  • Vice President of Marketing, Leica

Write or call Robert directly at: 770.375.0015 or RDonaldson@ChiefOutsiders.com



Jim McGean

Jim McGean
Telecommunications; Retail; Alternate Distribution Channels

Jim McGean has served as a hands-on expert at market assessment, strategies and program development for a host of B2B and B2C telecommunications companies, including such heavy hitters as Verizon Wireless and GTE Wireless, where he pioneered numerous groundbreaking growth programs. McGean is an expert at developing "go-to-market" strategies, implementing comprehensive advertising/marketing campaigns, and making the widest possible use of diverse sales and distribution channels, both for established companies and startups.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • President, South Area for Verizon Wireless
  • President, Georgia/Alabama Region for Verizon Wireless
  • Director, Strategic Services and Pricing for GTE Wireless
  • Director, Retail Distribution for GTE Wireless
  • Area Director, Market Development for Contel Cellular

Write or call Jim directly at: 770.891.8200 or JMcGean@ChiefOutsiders.com



Ian Oxman

Ian Oxman
Demand generation strategy; direct marketing; technology products; B2B

Ian Oxman's work as a demand generation marketing expert for companies large and small has earned him national recognition, thanks in no small part to his focus on online and offline marketing tactics, innovation, research and analysis as a driver of revenue growth for the B2B market. Over the past 25 years, Oxman has helped a wide range of companies improve their lead generation and other marketing strategies, both through his own consulting agency and through executive positions with QuoForce, Sage Software, and the world's largest marketing agency, Rapp.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Senior Vice President Marketing, Sage Software
  • Vice President Global Marketing, Quofore
  • Vice President, Consulting and Business Development, Rapp Worldwide
  • President, ChooseYourMail.com]
  • Director, Business Marketing Services, Experian

Write or call Ian directly at: 678.296.1905 or IOxman@ChiefOutsiders.com



Mike Amburgey

Mike Amburgey
Packaged & Durable Consumer Goods; Direct Response, Retail and E-Commerce

NOTE: Mike is currently away from Chief Outsiders, full time CMO and employee of Nutrisystem.

Mike Amburgey has grown, developed and re-branded a variety of domestic and international businesses, demonstrating his expertise at new product development, advertising, direct response media, retail marketing and e-commerce to help these business move both packaged and durable goods. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Nutrisystem, and he has also scored major successes for Oreck, Bowflex and Schwinn Fitness brands over the course of a distinguished 27-year marketing career.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Nutrisystem
  • Chief Marketing Officer and VP Direct Response Sales, Oreck Corp.
  • Vice President of Marketing/Direct Response Sales, Bowflex & Schwinn Fitness, Nautilus, Inc.
  • Director of Innovation, U.S. Director of Marketing, Global Marketing Director, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

Write or call Mike directly at: 615.440.8143 or MAmburgey@ChiefOutsiders.com



Brian Sholly

Brian Sholly
Business Growth; B2B/B2C Brand Management; Acquisition Strategies; IT and Wireless Technologies

Brian Sholly's passion for building businesses and driving growth has benefited a variety of software, technology, consumer products and start-up organizations. Sholly specializes in brand management and business growth strategies across all business functions, teams and channels. His notable successes include taking Kaplan Learning Technologies from a stagnant position to one of high growth within six years, delivering more than $8.5 million in annual savings for Qwest, and pioneering GTE (Verizon)’s entry into e-commerce. Sholly also understands the unique challenges of building a successful small business, having successfully founded, built and sold his own start-up firm.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • President, Kaplan Learning Technologies
  • VP Marketing, Kaplan IT
  • President/Founder, Papa's Hair Co., Inc.
  • AVP Marketing, Verizon/GTE Wireless, CLEC, Small Business, Internet
  • Assoc. Ad Manager, Procter & Gamble

Write or call Brian directly at: 770.598.5445 or BSholly@ChiefOutsiders.com



James Chin

James Chin
Technology; Telecommunications; Wireless Health; Consumer Products & Packaged Goods

James Chin is an expert at generating innovative growth in difficult market environments. As an executive working for top-tier Fortune 500 companies, James successfully introduced over three dozen new products, markets, and line extensions, as well as four new sales channels. At AT&T Wireless, James grew operations to a revenue stream from $12M to over $430M in key markets and also introduced AT&T’s first prepaid product. At CPC International, he turned around a declining Southeast business encompassing over 90 products. James specializes in business strategy, new product and service development, branding, segmentation, customer acquisition and multi-channel B2C/B2B sales. He also founded two diverse start-ups, including one that was subsequently acquired.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • EVP and Founder, VitalTrax
  • President, Personal Radiance
  • Vice President and General Manager, AT&T Wireless
  • Vice President Marketing, AT&T Wireless
  • Vice President Business Development, AT&T Wireless
  • Director Business Management, CPC International, Best Foods Baking Group
  • Brand Management, Sara Lee Corporation
  • Brand Management| New Products, Johnson & Johnson

Write or call James directly at: 770.330.0300 or JChin@ChiefOutsiders.com





Southwest


Rex Bull

Rex Bull
Information Technology; Telecommunications; Transportation

Rex Bull drives and defines marketing strategy and tactics for small-to-midsize companies and Fortune 50 corporations. Bull has more than 20 years of experience worldwide in the telecommunications and high-tech industries, specializing in market strategy, product positioning, marketing mix optimization, lead generation, and product management. Highlights include directing worldwide marketing initiatives for the Airline Operations business unit of Navitaire, developing new marketing strategies for software company SoloMio, and expanding ViAir's leading position in the wireless applications and infrastructure space.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Product Line Marketing Executive, Navitaire, Inc.
  • Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, SoloMio Corporation
  • Executive Vice President of Marketing and Operations, ViAir, Inc.
  • Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Concur Technologies, Inc.
  • Sr. Director Marketing and Product Management, Ameritech Corporation

Write or call Rex directly at: 512.633.8314 or Rex@ChiefOutsiders.com



Clay Spitz

Clay Spitz
Consumer and Business Services; Retail

Clay Spitz is known as a master of measurement, with specific expertise in developing and leading cost efficient growth initiatives for service companies -- an expert at driving demand generation programs with a keen focus on such critical marketing metrics as cost per lead and cost per sale. Spitz's other strengths include developing and leading cost-efficient growth initiatives for service companies, the exploitation of multiple media channels, and marketing and management of national sales teams.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President of Marketing and Advertising, Cable Lock (Olshan Foundation Solutions)
  • Vice President of Vertical Markets, TeleCheck
  • Vice President of Marketing, Terminix International

Write or call Clay directly at: 832.444.7318 or Clay@ChiefOutsiders.com



Sharon Fortmeyer

Sharon Fortmeyer-Selan
Technology Hardware and Software; Energy; Professional Services

Renowned as a "big-picture" thinker and adept at identifying opportunities and transforming emerging markets into tangible businesses, Sharon Fortmeyer-Selan has enjoyed 30 years of success in new market development and product management, specializing in information technology, communications, financial, energy and commodities sectors. Her achievements included taking SunGard energy from a $10 million loss to $10 million in profit in just 18 months. Sharon has also guided the branding, product launch, channel development and the search for capital for 20 different startups.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Senior Vice President, Energy and Commodities Marketing, SunGard
  • Fractional CMO/VP Mktg, mobile application, streaming media, clinical and security startups, Agile Marketing Group
  • Senior Director, Solutions Marketing, Compaq
  • Assistant Vice President, Global and European Marketing, NCR and AT&T

Write or call Sharon directly at: 713.560.2658 or Sharon@ChiefOutsiders.com



Tom McCrary

Tom McCrary
Consumer Products/Services; Professional/Financial Services; Hospitality and Travel; Energy

Tom McCray's experience in the consumer products/services, professional/financial services, hospitality, travel and energy industries has guided numerous companies' marketing strategies, processes and execution, from branding and positioning to organizational transformation. McCrary's specializes in target marketing/CRM, product/service lifecycle marketing, field marketing and sales, as well as creative process management. He also aids new, young or partner companies with their marketing planning and implementation. McCrary has applied his skills in executive positions with NRG/Reliant Energy, WhatWorks and Pro Staff, orchestrating ProStaff's first company-wide positioning and branding effort.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Senior Marketing Director, NRG/Reliant Energy
  • Vice President, Operations, Marketing and Business Strategy, WhatWorks
  • Vice President, Marketing (CMO), Pro Staff
  • Vice President, Marketing (CMO), Northeast Savings
  • Senior Marketing Director, Embassy Suites Hotels

Write or call Tom directly at: 214.931.9525 or TMcCrary@ChiefOutsiders.com



Jim McDonald

Jim McDonald
Retail; Telecom; Technology; Hospitality; Wellness; Loyalty; Direct Response; Sports Marketing; Mobile Wallet

A marketing and advertising hybrid talent, Jim McDonald is a blend of equal parts business planning/ROI discipline, old-fashioned retailing moxie and dynamic creativity, which he wields to build brand differentiation and incremental sales and profits. He has extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, notably as Chief Brand and Marketing Office at RadioShack Corporation,  where his responsibilities included the production of the first television commercial filmed on the International Space Station. He also created Chevron's "Simply Smart" Techron campaign while working for Young & Rubicam.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • CMO, Wildcard Network
  • CMO, Pocket Communications
  • CMO, Bally Total Fitness Corporation
  • CMO, RadioShack Corporation
  • Senior VP, Group Account Director, Young & Rubicam, NY and San Francisco

Write or call Jim directly at: 210.213.4114 or JMcDonald@ChiefOutsiders.com



Susan Morgan

Susan Morgan
Technology Start-ups, Energy, and Professional Services

Susan Morgan has more than 25 years of diversified marketing and consulting experience, specializing in oil & gas, international marketing, product marketing, research, strategy, and sales. Morgan helps high-tech and energy startup companies develop their products and pricing catalogs, and is also skilled at international marketing, product marketing, strategy and sales. Her success stories have included tripling revenues for both Seismic Reservoir 2020 and Earth Decision, doubling Schlumberger's revenue and boosting Cap Gemini's revenue from $175 million to more than $650 million in only three years.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Senior VP of Product Marketing, Paradigm
  • Senior VP of Marketing, Earth Decision
  • Director of Technical Consulting, Schlumberger
  • Director of Strategic Planning, Oceaneering International, Inc.
  • VP of Marketing and Communications, Cap Gemini

Write or call Susan directly at: 713.628.5807 or Susan@ChiefOutsiders.com



Ricky Holloman

Ricky Holloman
Technology Start-ups; Energy; Industrial Firms

Ricky Holloman leverages his skills in the fields of  strategy development, marketing, business development, and technology capabilities in helping companies market their technology, energy and industrial applications. In his 30-year career Holloman has performed critical leadership positions for companies such as Expro Group, PowerWell Services and Halliburton Energy Services, which he helped grow from $125 in revenue to $280 million. He also specializes in post-acquisition integration management and global business development strategies.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President, Marketing and Technology , Well Testing, Expro Group
  • Vice President , Strategic Marketing, Global Business Development, and Technology, PowerWell Services
  • Global Marketing Manager, Testing PSL, Halliburton

Write or call Ricky directly at: 713.213.6431 or Ricky@ChiefOutsiders.com



Matthew Benner

Matthew Benner
Financial Services; Telecom; Internet Hosting; Energy

Matthew Benner's strengths include innovative problem solving, customer insight, and organizational development and motivation for the financial services, telecom, Internet hosting and energy industries. An expert at international retail and commercial branding and marketing who also specializes in large-scale business acquisition and integration strategy, Benner helped direct Barclays Bank's $5.5 billion acquisition and integration of South Africa’s largest bank, ABSA. He also led marketing and product management at The Planet, a $160 million Internet hosting business, and directed P&L and strategy for Reliant Energy's retail business.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Senior Vice President, The Planet
  • Senior Vice President of Retail, Reliant Energy
  • Director of Marketing/CMO, Barclays Bank, PLC
  • Senior Vice President, Fidelity Investments
  • Vice President, AT&T Consumer & Small Business
  • Category Manager, Kraft Foods
  • Brand Management, Procter & Gamble

Write or call Matt directly at: 513.702.0090 or Matt@ChiefOutsiders.com



Victoria Winburne

Victoria Winburne, Business Development Chief
Privately-held Middle-market Companies; Revenue and Profit Enhancement

Victoria Winburne, a national and international marketing executive, is a well-known advocate of middle-market CEOs, key contributors to our economy whom she considers the lifeblood of our country.  Winburne specializes in strategic marketing, innovative technology solutions, and tactical business development for CEOs and entrepreneurs, Identifying and leveraging opportunities for market entry, company expansion and strategic acquisition. She is a past winner of Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award for her sales and marketing efforts for Baker Robbins Company.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President, Business Development, Wells Fargo Private Banking
  • Vice President, Business Strategy, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking
  • President and Founder, Financial Transitions Group
  • National Director and Vice President, Marketing, Baker Robbins & Company
  • Vice President, National Marketing Director, First Data Corporation
  • Vice President, Commercial/Private Bank Marketing (Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma), Bank of America
  • Vice President (Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma) Alliance and Channel Marketing
  • Business Marketing Lead (Southern Region), KPMG, Southern Region

Write or call Victoria directly at: 832.627.6120 or VWinburne@ChiefOutsiders.com



Bill Binnig

Bill Binnig
Telecom; Technology; Healthcare; Travel

Marketing and product management executive Bill Binnig has led the creation and launch of new products and services, diversified product portfolios, created new revenue streams, and propelled companies of all sizes to their next stage of growth. His skills include market strategy, product positioning, communications, marketing mix optimization, lead generation, and product management. He also creates strategic business plans and go-to-market strategies for startup companies such as CellUPay, an end-to-end mobile payments and promotions technology venture.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President of Marketing, Enterhealth
  • President & CEO, CellUPay
  • Chief Marketing Officer, NetworkIP
  • Vice President of Marketing & GM, eCommerce, PageNet
  • Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Travelocity
  • Vice President of Strategic Marketing, ATX Technologies

Write or call Bill directly at: 972.899.0387 or BBinnig@ChiefOutsiders.com



Dean Cruse

Dean Cruse
Technology Startups; Enterprise and Internet Software

Internet and Enterprise software executive Dean Cruse has 25 years of experience leading marketing, sales, business development, product development and fund raising efforts for business-to-business companies ranging in size from startups to Global 2000 organizations. He specializes in defining and executing go-to-market strategy for early stage technology companies, driving awareness and demand and accelerating them to critical mass. Currently he serves as Founder and CEO of DC Marketing, where he provides executive-level business development, marketing and sales consulting to early stage technology businesses.

Executive Marketing Positions:

  • Vice President Marketing, Zenoss
  • Vice President Marketing & Sales, FiveRuns
  • Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, PerformanceRetail
  • Vice President Marketing, Troux Technologies
  • Vice President Marketing, ichat, Inc. (Acuity Corporation)
  • Vice President Marketing & Delivery Strategies, CSC Financial Services Group
  • Vice President Marketing, Recognition International Plexus Software Group

Write or call Dean directly at: 512.657.8927 or DCruse@ChiefOutsiders.com



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