Chip Brown

cbrown@prolman.com

During the past 29 years, Chip Brown has created substantial value resulting from his leadership with companies seeking growth, increased profitability and/or turnarounds.  Brown’s expertise is in quickly assessing the current operations; analyzing industry operating practices and competitive conditions; and executing changes that deliver expedited results.  During his career, Brown has held increasingly sizable P&L responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Sales.

As Senior Vice President, Sales for $600M Direct General Insurance, a consumer direct auto insurance company, Brown led a turnaround of year over year same store sales growth from negative 24% to positive 15%, adding $74 million to the annual revenue run rate.  His responsibilities included a multi-location retail sales force of 6 Zone VP’s, 25 District Sales Managers’, 900 direct insurance agent managers and agents, Director of Sales Operations, Director of Sales Communication and Process, and a Training Director with 14 territory trainers.

Brown, as the CEO of SONANCE, a global, high-end, digital home business, increased annual revenues from $17 to $66 million; gross profit from 51% to 58%; cash flow by 500%; and profit after taxes from 5% to 21% of sales. He reduced product development time to market by 30%; developed business with Lowe’s-Exclusive, Best Buy, Costco, Target and QVC; and created the industry’s first 24/7 extranet “on-line ordering”.  The Company received Orange County’s Fast 50 Technology Company and Ethics in America Award -2003.  

As a Market Manager with Taco Bell, (wholly owned by PEPSICO,) Brown turned around long-term under-performing markets.  His efforts led to a rapidly growing market share with bottom line responsibility for a $100 million business (85 company-owned restaurants, 3600 employees).  He was the recipient of the Market Excellence Awards for Guest Satisfaction and for Quality (National Award).  He grew same store sales by 17% with a 27% increase in profitability.  He accomplished all this by implementing “High Performance” work groups resulting in World-Class inventory management and labor productivity systems, generating combined annual savings of $1.3 million.  Brown was recognized for generating a number of best practices, including the development and implementation of new and innovative merchandising and training programs for Taco Bell. 

Also at PepsiCo’s $11 billion US and international restaurant business (Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and PepsiCo Food Systems), as Senior Director/Product Manager - Director/Process Team Leader, Brown spearheaded the company’s largest business process analysis and re-engineering.  This included:  Partnering with Microsoft on a state of the art industry software platform; development of a broad strategic vision for common in-store processes; direction of the design of an interactive integrated business system for all restaurants; identification of $400 million in new savings; and formulation of aggressive growth strategies based on a significantly enhanced unit economic model.

While COO of Barbeques Galore, a specialty retail business headquartered in Irvine California, Brown led an IPO while growing annual sales from $40 million to $67 million.  While increasing same store sales, he added product categories, improved gross margins and realized 1000% growth in net profitability. 

Earlier responsibilities included General Electric Corporation’s aircraft engine manufacturing business.  Brown led customer proposals, purchase contract administration and development of the advanced tactical fighter program.  

With Ford Motor Company’s Chassis/Trim Manufacturing Division, he turned around the least productive department in the plant, where he led 30 salaried and 520 UAW hourly personnel.  While at Deloitte & Touché Management Consulting, Brown serviced Fortune 500 manufacturing clients, focusing on implementing strategies to drive fast business results ranging from IT implementations to turnarounds. 

Brown graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati and earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.