Newport Beach, California, United States
Dynamic, results-driven executive with a proven track record in leading global product strategies, driving profitability, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Expertise in aligning product development with brand vision, optimizing workflows, and delivering successful product lines. Skilled at managing diverse portfolios and maintaining a unified brand presence across global markets.
Directed global merchandising operations, overseeing the Volcom Men’s and Captain Fin Co. product lines, and leading cross-functional teams in executing brand product strategies. • Conducted hindsight analysis, competitor benchmarking, trend forecasting, and seasonal strategy development to shape the direction of the product range. • Translated financial roadmaps into actionable seasonal product strategies. • Collaborated with global merchandising teams to plan styles and SKUs while briefing design, development, and marketing partners regarding product plans for each season. • Prepared and facilitated CAD review meetings to align cross-brand stakeholders on product strategy, creative intent, and marketing plans; reviewed all styles and SKUs, ensuring strategic feedback was incorporated during the creation process. • Partnered with the legal team to manage product approvals and contracts with seasonal collaborators. • Oversaw the ordering, tracking, and processing of salesmen samples, ensuring timely delivery for sell-in assets, key account meetings, and sales releases. • Developed retail pricing strategies that aligned with market expectations while ensuring adherence to brand IGM% targets; presented end-of-season results to the executive team. • Built slides and led line adoption meetings to finalize seasonal product strategies and assortments, collaborating with cross-functional teams and reviewing category presentations. • Supported key account appointments by partnering with the Sales team to present products and strategies to customers. • Onboarded multi-brand merchandising personnel by establishing best practices, drafting SOPs, and training teams on merchandising functions and operations. • Worked closely with the head of licensing to support regional partners and ensure a consistent global brand presence. • Managed SMU (Special Makeup) product processes across multiple brands within the portfolio.
Oversaw global operations for the men’s and youth Special Make-Up (SMU) design, development, and merchandising teams, responsible for creating apparel, outerwear, and accessories tailored for specific accounts, regions, and trade channels. SMU products are developed outside of planned seasonal business. Partnering with accounts, sales, marketing, and suppliers, the SMU team focused on improving go-to-market efficiency, maximizing gross profit, and enhancing the customer’s brand experience. • Leveraged previous footwear and accessory experience to realign existing SMU personnel and hire new team members to complete the organizational structure. • Established best practices and standardized operational protocols across the team. • Led the implementation of product lifecycle management software (PTC Windchill Flex PLM) for SMU team processes. • Enhanced operational transparency by defining a structured product creation process and implementing project management software (including Smartsheet, Trello, and MS 365 Planner). • Additionally, compiled quarterly recaps and year-over-year, quarter-over-quarter, and year-to-date metrics to inform strategic recommendations. • Collaborated with sales management and marketing teams on seasonal range presentations for key accounts. • Worked closely with buyers from major retailers, department stores, global regions, direct-to-consumer, and core accounts to develop specific products or capsule collections. • Partnered with marketing to create signature products and collections featuring ambassadors, artists, athletes, and brands. • Maintained constant communication with manufacturing partners on speed-to-market projects, capitalizing on immediate opportunities within the supply chain.
Oversaw global operations for the men’s and youth special make-up (SMU) design, development, and merchandising teams, responsible for creating apparel, outerwear, and accessories tailored for specific accounts, regions, and trade channels. SMU products are developed outside of planned seasonal business. Partnering with accounts, sales, marketing, and suppliers, the SMU team focused on improving go-to-market efficiency, maximizing gross profit, and enhancing the customer’s brand experience. • Leveraged previous footwear and accessory experience to realign existing SMU personnel and hire new team members to complete the organizational structure. • Established best practices and standardized operational protocols across the team. • Led the implementation of product lifecycle management software (PTC Windchill Flex PLM) for SMU team processes. • Enhanced operational transparency by defining a structured product creation process and implementing project management software (including Smartsheet, Trello, and MS 365 Planner). • Compiled quarterly recaps and year-over-year, quarter-over-quarter, and year-to-date metrics to inform strategic recommendations. • Collaborated with sales management and marketing teams on seasonal range presentations for key accounts. • Worked closely with buyers from major retailers, department stores, global regions, direct-to-consumer, and core accounts to develop specific products or capsule collections. • Partnered with marketing to create signature products and collections featuring ambassadors, artists, athletes, and brands. • Maintained constant communication with manufacturing partners on speed-to-market projects, capitalizing on immediate opportunities within the supply chain.
Took on additional responsibilities for women’s product categories and expanded the footwear range to include closed-toe products. Footwear: • Collaborated with Volcom and Kering (formerly PPR) executive and management teams to position the closed-toe footwear line within the brand strategy. • Developed consumer profiles and related product strategies, managing the process from creative brief to point-of-sale execution. • In the early stages of closed-toe product development, worked closely with offsite design and development teams in Boston and Vietnam (Puma SE) to create a comprehensive footwear range. • As the scope of the closed-toe project expanded, coordinated the hiring of in-house personnel to handle primary department functions. *See Director Accessories / Footwear description for additional responsibilities. Accessories: • Integrated women’s personnel into the existing product team, streamlining operations across men’s, youth, and women’s accessories. • Aligned the design, development, merchandising, and sampling processes to ensure consistency across product categories. *See Accessories Division Manager / Senior Designer description for additional responsibilities.
Led the design, development, and merchandising teams for men’s and youth accessory products, while building and executing the product strategy for men’s and women’s footwear. Footwear: • Hired and integrated footwear design and development personnel into the existing team. • Collaborated with executives, sales, marketing, and creative teams to set product direction and range architecture, aligning with brand heritage and revenue goals. • Translated creative briefs into actionable design concepts for the footwear category. • Reviewed initial design sketches with the team and provided feedback to ensure alignment with vision. • Led product design presentations to cross-functional teams, aligning all stakeholders on key objectives. • Ensured the on-time delivery of technical sketches and product briefs to suppliers, adhering to seasonal calendars. • Collaborated with design personnel to present the completed product range to the global sales force. • Presented product ranges to buyers and accounts at trade shows and appointments. • Organized and participated in seasonal design inspiration trips to key markets, including Australia, Europe, and Japan. • Coordinated manufacturer-specific travel to China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam to oversee development and production while strengthening vendor relationships. Accessories: • Sourced and contracted a freelance design firm to handle technical product categories. • Managed timelines and maintained communication with offsite personnel, including coordinating written correspondence, conference calls, milestone meetings, and updates on range changes impacting related products. *See additional responsibilities in the description for Accessories Division Manager / Senior Designer.