From my own operating role, not an advisory engagement. Company names are withheld.
At a glance: January 2025 – August 2026 · President and sole executive officer, reporting to a five-member shareholder board · 100+ employees across manufacturing, wholesale and retail
What was the situation?
A 100+ person, multi-site manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer in regulated consumer products had grown quickly under its founders. It was ready to operate as a professionally managed company, with the structure to keep growing, without losing what had made it successful.
What was my role?
I was the company's sole executive officer, carrying the CEO, COO, CFO and CMO remits at once across manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and reporting to a five-member board of majority and minority shareholders.
What did we do?
- Installed an operating rhythm. Monthly, quarterly and annual business reviews, annual strategic planning, budgets, KPIs and performance management, so the owners and leaders could see performance at the unit level.
- Developed the leadership team. I developed existing leaders and recruited where there were gaps, at the director and manager level.
- Built a wholesale channel from zero. A three-person wholesale sales team, with production planning tied to wholesale demand and retail assortment under a single operating plan.
- Brought marketing in-house. A six-person in-house team handling content, copy, design and assets, running a fully measurable program across paid and earned media, email, loyalty, social, print, out-of-home and events.
- Built a two-tier brand portfolio. Scaled the company's premium brand and launched a value-tier brand from the same production base.
- Professionalized the people side. Documented workflows and procedures, a new HR information system and redesigned benefits.
- Opened a third retail location in December 2025.
What were the results?
- 100+ retail accounts served by the new wholesale team, 60+ of them every month
- Production yield per square foot nearly tripled within six months
- Unit production cost more than halved
- Production volume up more than 78% in 2026
- The premium brand ranked among the five fastest-growing brands in its state by a leading industry data provider
- A six-person in-house marketing team, ending reliance on agencies
- Reduced employee turnover
What does this mean for your company?
If your growth has outrun your structure, the same approach applies: an operating rhythm, leaders who own their results, and systems that hold up as the business grows. That's the work of Management & Execution and Fractional Executive engagements.
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