Chip Brown

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 including 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.