David Sullivan, MBA

Product Marketing Launch & Strategy Manager

The Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships

Lead the Hertrich Family of Dealerships in all Marketing, Advertising and PR activities.  24 retail sales & service locations and 19 brands across Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, as well as 12 dedicated body/collision repair shops.  $800M in topline revenue annually. Re-establishing a full marketing team, company internal communications plans, external PR and community action events while growing mar-comm share in our operational area of Delaware, Eastern Maryland and northern New Jersey.  Grew impressions from 1M per month in January to greater than 8M per month in October 2023 with a re-focus on digital communications. Developing new strategies on marketing mix, company branding, PR strategy and creative approach.
 - Hired, lead and developed a cross-functional team of eight employees.  Revised organizational structure best fit team members functional strengths.
 - Led all advertising planning, creative, and media buys. Total media spend around $250k/month. 
 - Worked with top 20 leaders in company to revise and modernize internal company communications.
 - Expanded community giveback programs to Kent & New Castle counties for better brand/store engagement and awareness of the Hertrich Family brand.

Director of Marketing

Subaru of America

•	Led all product and award marketing, planning and execution at Subaru of America.  Managed brand competitive and accolade related claims, product & technology marketing execution – timing, strategy, platforms, and messages. Leads partner marketing efforts with key brand partners SiriusXM, Consumer Reports, Kelley Blue Book, JD Power, Harman/Kardon, and EVgo.
•	Led all Subaru brand Awards, Accolades and quotes licensing, planning and execution in consumer-facing materials.  Maintained relationships with brand awards providers such as Kelley Blue Book, JD Power, Consumer Reports, ACSI, Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.  
•	Planned and executed full-model change marketing launches for 2022 BRZ sports car, 2022 Outback and Forester Wilderness SUVs, the all-new 2022 WRX, and all-new 2023 Solterra electric vehicle.  Planned, coordinated, and executed all vehicle messaging for these models as well as market research including conjoint analysis, focus groups and web-based surveys.
•	Managed personal staff of 3 full-time professional marketers.  Coached, guided and prepared staff as valued colleagues.  
•	Coordinated 100+ staff within greater Subaru & agency environment for product and brand messaging at Subaru of America.  Worked cross-functionally with all Subaru departments and parent company Subaru Corporation to ensure consistent, timely and effective marketing messages across all platforms and broadcast media.  
•	Published annual Subaru Brand Messaging Guide, editing all contents along with Senior Vice President of Marketing.  The Messaging Guide houses all Subaru marketing brand strategy and any annual key initiatives for the Subaru brand – including messaging strategy & language.
•	Developed and implemented a US-market performance brand strategy for Subaru Tecnica International (STI) and Subaru Wilderness – a new addition to enthusiast brand offerings from Subaru.  Led event planning and execution for six Subaru STI/Wilderness enthusiast events across the US.

•	Successfully planned & executed an all-new telematics program – a first for Subaru globally.
•	Led successful business planning & proposal for all-new Subaru Ascent SUV.  
•	Project lead on worldwide audio/infotainment & telematics strategy for Subaru. Streamlined US audio lineup from 17 to 3 assemblies, and developed partnerships for holistic infotainment programs.
•	Planned, led and managed SOA presence at 2013 Consumer Electronics Show. 
•	Speaker/Panelist at two (2) Telematics Update conferences in 2013, OMMA Mobile Conference 2013.

Telematics & Infotainment Portfolio Manager

•	Led, planned & executed all-new lineup & pricing strategies for 2008-2015MY - resulting in 100%+ sales growth for 2015 Legacy sedan and 180%+ sales growth for 2015 Outback crossover SUV. 
•	Managed product lineups, pricing and content for 2006-2014 Subaru Tribeca SUV, and 2007-2009 Forester SUVs.  
US Voice of the Customer for Subaru carlines & technology portfolio issues to Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan - regular interaction, communication & collaboration with Sales, Global Marketing & Engineering activities
Lead for all new product development proposals, model lineup/pricing analysis, brand strategy, and communications to internal stakeholders including Sales, Dealers, and Executive staff
Developed all-new model lineup & pricing strategy for $750M all-new carlines- resulting in 30%+ sales growth for Legacy and 80%+ sales growth for Outback  in US market
Led product promotions efforts with media for 2010 Legacy & Outback launch - resulting in Outback winning 2010 Motor Trend SUV of the Year award
Led project to revise Subaru US portfolio naming/badging strategy for 2010 model year
Initiated & led infotainment strategy for US market - successfully influenced Japanese parent to shift strategy on US portfolio
Negotiated new contract with audio service supplier - gaining Subaru consumers added service worth $500k + per year

Car Line Manager, Product Owner

Ford Motor Company

•	Led 3 direct staff and 50+ cross-functional team in successful planning & execution of the $570M 2005 Ford Escape SUV program.
•	Developed data-based product proposals totaling over $27M+ in annual savings.

Product Planning Supervisor

•	Led team of 10+ engineers in successful development and launch of $42M frame system for the 2000 Ford Explorer. 
•	Won the 2000CY Ford Significant Achievement Award for co-leading development of a web-based Engineering Portal that housed all engineering standards and links to common product development reference materials.

Product Engineering Team Leader

•	Developed and led ad-hoc program purchasing process along with Mazda Motor Company staff in Japan, sourced 1600+ parts on time for the $1.6B 2000 Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute program.
•	Led and taught Mazda engineers on how to utilize Ford Product Development Process.

Program Management Analyst

•	Created original designs that cut part cost by 50%, resulted in over $6M in annual savings, and introduced over 25 lbs. in weight savings to 1997 F150 pickup truck program - resulted in two (2) 1994CY Ford Significant Achievement Awards.
•	Co-led and developed SUV product proposal for the 2000 Ford Escape - won the 1995CY Ford Significant Achievement Award.

Product Engineer

United States Marine Corps

•	Led 200+ Marines & Sailors of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines through rigorous annual training schedules and two summer deployments - awarded Navy Achievement Medal.

Reserve Company Commanding Officer

•	Developed new logistics system for 1st Marines boat maintenance facility, saved $1M+ in operational costs annually by cutting inventory levels, streamlining purchasing of supplies, implementing standardized kit for boat units deploying
•	Served in Operation Desert Shield & Desert Storm as infantry Platoon Leader during wartime - led 45 Marines & Sailors through major regional conflict, managing day-to-day operations and administrative functions, implementing innovative training for individual squads leading up to the conflict

Platoon Leader / Officer

Professional and dynamic leader with a background in Brand & Product Marketing, Digital Marketing, Integrated Marketing Communications, Product Planning, Marketing Operations & Project Management, Connected Car programs, Chassis Engineering, Total Vehicle Integration, Noise Vibration & Harshness Engineering, Program Management, Leadership, and Design Integration.  

Has led product programs responsible for over $1B in total engineering & sourcing costs, as well as led marketing launch teams in the past year with over $140M in media and production budgets.  

Team-oriented.  Collaborative.  Enjoys translating technical or complex topics into consumer-facing language with intelligence and fact-driven insights.  Provides teams I work on with insights only a person who has worked on numerous marketing launches and product programs can.  Open-minded with a sense of humor, but brings a competitive and team-based work ethic to the business 'battlefield' as well. 

Looking to learn, grow and continue to bring a spirit of innovation to whatever role I'm fortunate enough to discover.

Lead the Hertrich Family of Dealerships in all Marketing and PR activities.  24 retail sales & service locations and 19 brands across Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, as well as 12 dedicated body/collision repair shops.  $800M in topline revenue annually. Re-establishing a full marketing team, company internal communications plans, external PR and community action events while growing marcomm share in our operational area of Delaware, Eastern Maryland and northern New Jersey.  So far, grew impressions from 1M per month in January to 5M per month in August with a re-focus on digital communications. Developing new strategies on marketing mix, company branding, PR strategy and creative approach.

INEOS Grenadier.  Built to cross continents.  Built for virtually any terrain.  Built for any weather conditions. Built on Purpose.

Shout out to Scott Brady for the images from his recent 24k crossing of the African Continent in a Grenadier (with zero breakdowns or issues).  Phenomenal achievement.  

On sale in the US now at our local retailers.

https://lnkd.in/gzSsXs6E

#ineosgrenadier #4x4 #offroad #overlanding #scottbrady #achievement #wellmade #builtonpurpose

I’m #hiring. Reach out if you're interested!  Looking for automotive retail experience with a skew towards marketing background as well.

Spring has sprung here in City of Raleigh, North Carolina.  Go find your best vehicle & flower shot, and repost it below.  The further out there, the better!  Credit to Scott Brady, who shot this beautiful picture crossing the African Continent in an INEOS Grenadier.

#overland #offroad #4x4 #spring

Taplio

David Sullivan, MBA's Linkedin Analytics