President Sales Warehouse Distribution
Resume:
Brian D. Kirts
adtkmg@r.postjobfree.com
Professional Summary
Experienced Sales and Marketing professional with multicultural experience and multiple channel responsibility seeking a leadership role as General Manager or Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing. Specialized in building customer relationships, acquiring new customers, and launching innovative programs.
Experience:
MAT Holdings Long Grove, IL April, 2019 – October, 2022
Vice President Sales
Managed $450M+ in braking Retail business with additional responsibilities added in 2020 to lead the Traditional channel and grow business for the Bendix & Gabriel brands.
Responsible for braking products for Retail channel (AutoZone, O’Reilly, Advance, Canadian Tire)
Responsible for braking products (private label & Bendix) and ride control (private label & Gabriel) in North & South America, Central & South America.
Acquired and launched Duralast, Duralast Gold, Duralast Severe Duty friction and Duralast rotor business with AutoZone, $50M.
Acquired and launched Import Direct friction business with O’Reilly Automotive, $20M.
Acquired and launched NAPA rotor business, $5M and growing rapidly.
Restructured Bendix & Gabriel salesforce, changed culture, acquired new warehouse distribution. Bendix channel profitable in 2021 and 2022.
2022 launched sales of Bendix in Latin America. Added ~20 new customers in 3 months.
Brake Parts Inc. McHenry, IL April, 2016 – March, 2019
Vice President Sales
Promoted with additional responsibilities to lead Retail accounts and Traditional channel with Raybestos brand.
Acquired and launched rotor business with Advance, $50M.
Restructured Raybestos salesforce, changed culture, acquired new warehouse distribution, and added $10M in sales in 2018.
Launched Raybestos Performance & Racing programs AAPEX 2017. Acquired additional distribution.
Increased Latin American business by acquiring new distribution and expanding the range of applications covered.
Director of Sales
Responsible for Retail, Co-Man and Latin America market channels.
Started brake pad business with O’Reilly, large spot buys in 2015 resulted in on-going business in 2016, $21M. Managed rotor & caliper business with AutoZone, $35M.
Assisted BPI Mexico in acquiring AutoZone Mexico friction business. AZMX became BPI-MX’s largest account.
Managed friction sales of multiple private label brands for WDs throughout the United States & Canada.
Robert Bosch LLC. Broadview, IL 2013– March, 2016
Braking Sales Manager
Team Leader for New Customer Acquisition Project – NAPA. Coordination of product testing, quoting and relationship with local sales representatives.
Built relationships with Bosch distributors in 30+ countries offering the complete Bosch US product portfolio (brakes, fuel pumps, water pumps, filters, spark plugs, etc.).
Managed export processes including logistics, documentation, inspection / certification required by destination country.
Served as primary account manager for AutoZone Mexico for $5M friction business.
Bosch Brake Components Broadview, IL 2008 – 2012
Group Product Manager
Managed $20M of international sales activities for Independent Aftermarket (IAM).
Launched 4 new programs in Latin America, Middle East / Gulf Coast Countries, Africa, Scandinavia and Brazil for the IAM, $10M.
Developed 2nd specification programs for Original Equipment Service (OES) AC Delco Mexico and Ford Turkey, $2M.
Increased sales of AutoZone de Mexico friction business 33% over prior year.
Managed production transfer of 300K sets from China to Mexico
Morse Automotive Chicago, IL 1998- 2008
Director of Global Sales & Marketing
Created Morse International Sales office which experienced profitable growth from $0 to $8M in sales. Managed a global staff of six.
Expanded Morse brand presence to more than 20 countries through strategic direction of international sales and marketing activities.
Managed product lines for AutoZone, Advance, O’Reilly’s, Pep Boys and Murray’s for
$175M total business.
Developed and launched Duralast Gold line for AutoZone US ~ $30M.
Managed transition of highest volume parts to offshore production – savings of 48%
Product Manager / Marketing Analyst
Managed brake pad and shoe lines for largest retail accounts
Generated pricing analysis and quoting of all new business
Coordinated engineering, product development, and production departments
United States Peace Corps Volunteer – Paraguay 1995-1997
Education:
Indiana University Master’s of Public Affairs – Environmental Policy 1995
Miami University Bachelor of Science – Economics 1991
Languages:
Spanish
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