Dynamic and visionary marketing, sales, and operations leader with an exceptional history of generating record-breaking sales and innnovative advertising campaign results for Fortune 100 brands: General Motors, Pillsbury, Sara Lee, HJ Heinz, and PepsiCo. Known as a profit-oriented marketing executive with a strategically optimistic attitude who leads with clear directives, an open mind and a reputation for going above and beyond to acknowledge performance. Demands and consistently produces measurable results by embracing stretch targets, energizing teams, and delivering high impact performance.
Specialties:CMO with General Manager's mindset.
Global brand positioning and identity.
B2B through extensive dealer franchise networks.
Extensive media experience - particularly public relations, social media, event/entertainment & buzz marketing.
E-commerce and digital marketing expert.
Ad agency resource management.
Sales promotion, POS, exhibits,
Test market planning and roll-out.
Diversity marketing.
EVP, Chief Marketing Officer @ Chief Marketing Officer for Tempur Sealy International,(TSI). TSI is the world's largest bedding provider. TSI develops, manufactures and markets mattresses, foundations, pillows and other industry-leading products. The Company's brand portfolio includes the most highly recognized brands in the industry, including Tempur®, Tempur-Pedic®, Sealy®, Sealy Posturepedic®, Optimum™ and Stearns & Foster®.
Responsible for driving growth in the overall brand portfolio, identifying new consumer needs and trends, and marketing innovative new bedding products to improve the sleep of more consumers around the world every night.
Responsible for all marketing activities including brand management, new product development strategy, innovation, consumer and shopper insights, all forms of traditional and digital advertising, and direct-to-consumer sales activity. From November 2014 to Present (1 year) Lexington, KYExecutive Vice President - Marketing - The Olive Garden @ Chief Marketing Officer for Darden's Largest and Most Profitable Division: The Olive Garden.
Member of Darden’s Senior Leadership Team.
Executive Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer – Olive Garden 9/11 – 11/14
General management responsibility for $4B business: Olive Garden, including new product (menu) development, advertising, media, PR and promotions.
Dramatic repositioning of Olive Garden to drive perceptions of Today’s Italy
Launched new dinner menu, including Italian Lighter Fare, Italian Small Plates, Pizza/Flatbreads, and Regional Italian Specialties. Italian Lighter Fare increased from 1%-7% preference, attracting lapsed guests and driving 3% guest count above industry.
Shifted media mix from Television to targeted media and PR reflecting current guest media habits resulting in guest count growth across all targets and dayparts. Olive Garden now has the largest loyalty club database, and highest number of Facebook fans and engagement in casual dining.
Reinvigorated lunch business by building on Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks equity with Pronto lunch – Soup, Salad, Breadsticks, Italian sandwiches and Lighter Italian Fare in 30 minutes or less. Launched with Digital/Mobile engagement effort Breaklunchblock. Com, resulting in a 30% increase in loyalty club members and same restaurant growth of 4% in a flat category.
Developed “Go Olive Garden” ad campaign showcasing a more vibrant and realistic depiction of food variety and today’s families. Repositioning impacting all guest touchpoints: advertising, menu, promotions, restaurant décor/music, merchandising, server uniforms which has resulted in dramatically higher employee and guest engagement/opinion and guest count growth among both core and lapsed guests. New logo launched Spring 2014.
Partnering with CIO to develop and implement technological platform to leverage industry-leading technology for superior guest experience and customer loyalty program. Implemented August 2014. From January 2011 to December 2013 (3 years) Orlando, FloridaChief Marketing Officer - Executive Director GM Marketing @ Member of GM Senior Leadership Team . Appointed by GM President to lead North American Business Plan creation, Corporate Advertising and Media Planning/Buying, Agency Management, Cross-Brand Product Portfolio and Market Research. Led staff of 60 with operating budget of $2.2 B.
* Designed and launched GM’s highly successful cross-brand “May the Best Car Win” competitive challenge with 60-day Money-back guarantee, featuring Chairman & CEO Ed Whitacre. Produced 15% - 35% increases in Brand Opinion and Consideration for Chevrolet, Buick-GMC and Cadillac.
* Initiated award-winning PR and Advertising campaign “Re: invention” that repositioned GM during 363-day bankruptcy and emergence. Brand Opinion and Consideration increased 20% and 25% respectively. “Re: invention” received David Ogilvy Gold Award, 2009. Also named TOP 4 by Ad week.
* Drove significant change to $2.0B media budget. Shifted digital from 5% to 33% to drive in-market sales. Improved digital lead response time from #15 to #2 in industry (95% within 5 hours).
* Reengineered Marketing’s “Voice of the Customer” in vehicle development process. Implemented stronger brand definition and added four key evaluation gates to drive customer and profit focus. From May 2007 to December 2010 (3 years 8 months) President and COO - Saab Division @ Member of GM Senior Leadership Team leading a $2.0 billion,100-employee Marketing Division. Responsible for all operations, including Product Development, Sales, Marketing and 250-member Dealer Network.
* Received Silver Effie award for “Born from Jets” ad campaign drawing on Saab’s aircraft heritage and highlighting unique strengths and differentiators. Achieved record-breaking profit growth.
* Grew volume 5% and profit 40% in 2005, reversing a 21% volume decline in 2004.
* Simplified and restructured 2006 line-up, improving residuals and profits, with $37M spending cut.
* Achieved two highest volume months in Saab history with “Employee Price for Everyone” promo. From April 2005 to May 2007 (2 years 2 months) Exec Director of Marketing - Cadillac @ P&L responsibility for entire Cadillac portfolio and future products. $7.5B in sales and $2.2B in marketing spend. Key member of Cadillac’s Executive Team driving Cadillac turnaround plan.
* Ignited Cadillac renaissance with launch of Cadillac CTS, the first GM product in 30 years to achieve three consecutive years of sales, share and profit growth. Grew volume 75% and reduced average age of Cadillac buyer by 10 years.
* Received Silver Effie Award for design and implementation of “Breakthrough” campaign featuring Led Zeppelin’s “Rock ‘n Roll” track. Increased Brand opinion and consideration by 10%.
* Introduced Cadillac V-series, new high-performance products that dramatically altered previously “stodgy” perceptions of Cadillac. Created “Cadillac Under Five” viral ad campaign featuring name entertainers such as John Travolta that highlighted models going from 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds. Named “Best Marketing Campaign” at International Globes Awards competition.
* Introduced game-changing performance utility, the SRX. Car and Driver: Best Luxury Utility (3 years).
* Introduced XLR, Cadillac’s first-ever ultra luxury roadster. “Top Choice for CEOs”: CEO Magazine. From June 1998 to April 2005 (6 years 11 months) Vice President and General Manager - Baking Mix Division @ Corporate Officer and member of Senior Leadership Team. General Manager of $500M Operating Division with 40 employees, one plant and six co-packers. Managed two cross-functional business teams under Pillsbury and Martha White Brands.
* Led turnaround of the division, reversing 3 consecutive years of declines in sales, share, and profit.
-- Increased sales 50% and profits 150% over 4 years.
-- Grew market share 2.0 points, moving to #2 position ahead of Duncan Hines.
-- Increased Return on Sales 4% to 10% through asset reduction and shift to high margin products.
* Revitalized core Pillsbury Businesses using innovative strategies, marketing partnerships and leveraging under-marketed Pillsbury equities.
-- Introduced co-branded Oreo and M&M Dessert Bars. Oreo Bars won Edison Silver Award.
-- Restaged Cake & Frosting business, increasing Frosting sales and profits 40%.
-- Repositioned brownie business, moving to #2 in segment, with all-time profit highs.
-- Repositioned Pillsbury Quickbread, growing sales 60% and profit 130%.
-- Introduced Snackwells low-fat Baking Mixes, growing that business 7%.
* Developed long-range strategic plan leading to acquisition of Martha White Baking. From 1995 to 1998 (3 years) Director of Marketing @ Director of Marketing 1993-1994
Head of Marketing for Sara Lee, responsible for all base business and New Product sales and profits for entire Sara Lee Brand. Managed staff of 11 with dotted-line accountability to Manufacturing, Engineering and R & D.
Spearheaded development of “Families” advertising campaign that created major consumption shift from older users to the fast-growing “household with kids” segment.
Increased sales and profits 17% in 1994, through new product introductions.
Group Product Manager / Senior Product Manager 1989-1993
Following 2 years of success running Sara Lee Bagels and Croissants ($30M sales), was given responsibility for all Bread and Breakfast Products, accounting for 40% of Retail Division sales.
Repositioned entire Bread / Breakfast line, growing sales 5% and profits 18%, reversing four consecutive years of sales and profit declines. From January 1989 to May 1994 (5 years 5 months)
MBA, Marketing @ Michigan State University - The Eli Broad College of Business From 1981 to 1982 B.A, General Business Administration @ Michigan State University From 1977 to 1981 Jay Spenchian is skilled in: Marketing Communications, Marketing Strategy and..., Digital Marketing, Advertising, Marketing Strategy, Cross-functional Team..., Leadership, Strategy, Social Media, Brand Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategic Planning, B2B, Integrated Marketing, Brand Development, Sales, Team Leadership, Marketing, Business Planning, Product Development, Market Research, Market Planning, E-commerce, Segmentation, Retail, Pricing