Aaron Wilke
Louisville,KY
Summary
Successful marketing leader with proven accomplishments in driving growth and increasing profits. Articulate and driven leader with high energy and engaging personality. Hardworking team builder driven by maximizing personnel performance and surpassing business objectives.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Brand Manager
Sazerac Company
02.2024 - Current
- Lead brand portfolio and business planning strategy for private and control label and world whisky brand portfolios
- Advocate for portfolios with cross-functional teams to motivate internal and external partners for on-time executions with excellence
- Partner with National Accounts sales teams to execute against key portfolio strategies
- Create pricing strategies for new projects by collaborating with sales and cost accounting
- Manage agency relationships, budget, and workload to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of output
- Own resource management, budgeting, and planning process for assigned business units
- Support, guide, and develop team of two direct reports
- Manage large (10+ people), cross-functional project teams to ensure new product launches and brand execution on time
- Managed annual allocation and planning process for >300k cases of bourbon spanning 20+ brands.
- Fostered culture of innovation within team by encouraging creative thinking and embracing new ideas that supported brand goals.
Brand Manager
Sazerac Company
03.2019 - 01.2024
- Lead brand portfolio and business planning strategy for private and control label and world whisky portfolios
- Advocate for portfolios with cross-functional teams to motivate internal and external partners for on-time executions with excellence
- Partner with National Accounts sales teams to execute against key portfolio strategies
- Create pricing strategies for new projects by collaborating with sales and cost accounting
- Manage agency relationships, budget, and workload to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of output
- Own resource management, budgeting, and planning process for assigned business units
- Support, guide, and develop team of two direct reports
- Manage large (10+ people), cross-functional project teams to ensure new product launches and brand execution on time
- Managed annual allocation and planning process for >300k cases of bourbon spanning 20+ brands.
- Monitored industry news closely, staying abreast of emerging trends for quick adaptation of branding strategies accordingly.
Marketing Manager
Farmer Brothers
10.2017 - 03.2019
- Led cross-functional teams for the creation and launch of almost 40 new branded retail products.
- Created and successfully launched a new web-based third party managed point-of-sale material program resulting in $100k+ in savings in year one.
- Worked collaboratively with sales leadership to create sales incentive program to help drive success of key items.
- Analyzed market trends to identify new opportunities, adjusting marketing plans accordingly for maximum effectiveness.
New Business Development Manager
Daymon Worldwide
04.2016 - 10.2017
- Exceeded budgeted sales goal for new business growth
- Expanded business relationships at assigned retailers via sell-in of additional services creating new revenue streams.
- Identified new opportunities for revenue growth and expansion by analyzing industry trends and competitor activity.
Business Manager
Daymon Worldwide
05.2013 - 04.2016
- Developed and grew private brand programs in assigned categories.
- Created and launched first ever Slurpee branded candy program
- Identified and developed new product lines of snacks and candy worth over $50 Million in incremental annual sales
- Identified private brand synergies during Nash Finch onboarding to maximize portfolio efficiency and effectiveness.
Associate Business Manager
Daymon Worldwide
10.2012 - 05.2013
- Exceeded budgeted sales goals while retailer was seeing declining sales and customer counts through disciplined approach utilizing syndicated data.
Management Development Associate
Daymon Worldwide
05.2011 - 10.2012
- Created Diversity and Inclusion strategy for Daymon to execute
- Created and led private brand sales initiative at eight stores in Dallas to provide a case study on assortment and price optimization with 7-Eleven franchisees.
Merchandise Associate
Meijer
09.2009 - 05.2011
- Created and managed fair share reporting for private brand ads and display space resulting in a 4% increase in promo/display frequency.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids 05.2005 - 05.2008
Skills
Brand positioning
Budget Development
Partnership Development
Strategy Development
Brand strategy
Relationship Building
Timeline
Senior Brand Manager
Sazerac Company
02.2024 - Current
Brand Manager
Sazerac Company
03.2019 - 01.2024
Marketing Manager
Farmer Brothers
10.2017 - 03.2019
New Business Development Manager
Daymon Worldwide
04.2016 - 10.2017
Business Manager
Daymon Worldwide
05.2013 - 04.2016
Associate Business Manager
Daymon Worldwide
10.2012 - 05.2013
Management Development Associate
Daymon Worldwide
05.2011 - 10.2012
Merchandise Associate
Meijer
09.2009 - 05.2011
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Cornerstone University
05.2005 - 05.2008
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