I Welcome Change
When something - government, technology, distribution channels, or competition – is changing the rules and putting your revenue or profit at risk, I will create a new road-map to fix it and implement the action plan for you. It’s not only the idea, but the execution that counts.
I have created successful new business models where regulations and technology are changing, including financial services, telecommunications, Insuretech, cable, energy, biotech, and healthcare.
While incumbents are often protected by high cost of entry, it can also be a limitation when things change. Insurance companies such as Progressive and Geico could cut their costs by dis-intermediating sales agents, and selling on-line. The incumbents, such as Allstate or State Farm could not do this as they risked alienating their agents and losing all their existing business. Old line stockbrokers had the same problem, which gave Charles Schwab and opportunity and later, Vanguard and Fidelity. These needs are particularly relevant for Startups and Growth Companies, for which I am also well suited.
Educated in Technology: Bachelors from Cambridge University – Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Fluid Mechanics.
Masters from Cambridge in Chemical Engineering
Over one year industry/manufacturing experience before and during University at Imperial Chemical Industries – UK and Germany
Marketing, Innovation, & CEO roles: Marketing management and New Business roles at Proctor & Gamble and Mars Inc. General Management at Mars Inc. CMO at US West Cable and Mobile businesses – first to introduce “Broadband” to the consumer in 1996. President of Reliant Energy (third largest energy utility in the world), CMO/Business Development at Remedy Corporation, Mountain View, CA (acquired by BMC software).
Corporate Innovation Successes: At P&G, launched Crest toothpaste in the UK; at Mars, launched new food, candy and petfood businesses in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Brazil, and USA. First General Manager of fledgling Frozen Foods business (now a $3 Billion business). Most successful deregulated energy business in the US. As CMO of US West, developed, named, branded, and launched first “Broadband” service in the world.
Created and run several corporate startup acceleration & investment programs – US West; Reliant Energy, and Remedy Corporation. Actively engaged with Procter & Gamble’s “Connect+Develop” program, recognized for fourteen years as the most successful external development program in HBR cover story and other publications.
As a consultant, developed and introduced new businesses for many F500 companies, including Perdue Farms, Citibank, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GSK, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Unilever, Beiersdorf, Coca-Cola, Procordia, GTE, Mars, Nestle, GE, Wellpoint, The Hartford, WalMart, SAP, and more.
Startup Successes: First startup was in 1992, as an advisor to New Science, acquired by Gartner Group, and then as co-founder and Board Member of Millennia III (sold ot EMC). following the sale of Remedy Corporation, based in Mountain View, CA, to BMC Software in 2001 (most successful IPO of 1995 in Silicon Valley, and named by Business Week as the “No.1 Hot Growth Company in the USA”), based in Silicon Valley, focused on startups – founder, CEO, investor, advisor, Board member, and CEO mentor.
Personal Exits and high valuations include: New Science (sold to Gartner Group); Millennia III (sold to EMC); Northwind Energy (sold to NRG); Remedy Corporation (BMC Software); Appstream (sold to Symantec); Wise Window (sold to KPMG); Synerscope ($20 million valuation; RetailNext ($1 Billion current valuation).
Innovation Ecosystem Expertise: Created and managed three corporate investment/incubator programs; Judged multiple startup competitions in Silicon Valley, SoCal, and Texas; Member of Pasadena Angels, and Business Technology Center of LA, a successful incubator founded in 1998. Mentor at Astia and Cambridge University Alumni Entrepreneurs Group. Advisory Board Member of SIC until 2012. CTNext EIR from 2015 to date.
Funding & Valuations: Worked on funding for over 60 companies - funding of over $250 million completed.
Richard has a technology focused education and General Management experience as President of businesses as diverse as Reliant Energy, a Fortune 500 company (now part of NRG Energy), and Mars Frozen Foods. He has substantial experience as a C-level executive in technology companies, and extensive experience in consumer marketing companies including Procter & Gamble and Mars. He has identified, evaluated and made multiple acquisitions and divestitures and executed many business turnarounds in multiple industries and countries. One of the world’s leading CMOs and innovators, Richard has also been an interim executive and advisor to numerous Fortune 500 and growth companies.