Charles Crookenden
New Canaan,CT
Summary
Proven General Management executive and entrepreneur with small and large company experience. Finance, sales, marketing and operational skills with success in developing teams to achieve strategic goals across multiple constituencies. High energy focused on achieving tangible results through unparalleled customer service.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
President, Owner
Journey USA
09.2019 - 09.2023
- Acquired business, grew profits 150% within 18 months.
- Developed and implemented new strategies and policies to establish premium branding
- Increased customer satisfaction through continuous improvement initiatives and customer service.
- Cultivated company-wide culture of transparency and integrity
- Established new relationships across multiple sectors and constituents
- Coordinated a hurricane relief effort with 150 RVs for a Government Contractor
Director, Investor
Beacon Group
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Managed difficult circumstances due to challenging majority family dynamics
- Active role in pre-bankruptcy proceedings with attorneys, bankers and counterparties.
President, Owner
Microscope.com
09.2006 - 06.2016
- Developed new product and marketing strategies to achieve premium branding
- Trained strong team on high integrity customer service to multi-sector customers: Industrial, Educational, Consumer and Hobbyists.
- Team won Gold Award for Customer Service for five consecutive years
- Responsible for developing strong relationships with Chinese vendors and a profitable partnership with a leading Dutch manufacturer
- Achieved 250% increase in sales and corresponding profits
Co-Founder
The Piper Group
01.1999 - 01.2004
- Non-traditional strategic recruiter for US investment banks specializing in corporate finance and M&A bankers
- Achieved record-breaking revenues through proactive, strategic consulting and innovative approach to ensuring successful completion
- Won Citibank account against all major NYC executive search firms
Executive Director
Russell Reynolds Associates
01.1994 - 01.1998
- Completed searches for candidates for GM, Coca Cola, Morgan Stanley and J. P. Morgan among others.
Executive Recruiter
GKR Associates
01.1991 - 01.1994
- Transferred from London to improve broken cross-border relationship
- Successfully began to redevelop Chicago office by focusing on UK/USA corporate relationship
- Company closed due to tragic death of the founder
Saudi International Bank/3i Plc
Banking & Venture Capital
- Early career in Finance. Employed by Saudi International Bank, trained with Morgan Guaranty Trust, NY. Subsequently, recruited to 3i plc in venture capital.
Saga Cruises/Operation Raleigh
Travel/Youth Development
- Responsible for B2C marketing for UK's leading cruise operator
- Recruited to international Youth Development Charity, Operation Raleigh.
- Responsible for working with developing a team to become going-concern, Not-For-Profit operating in remote areas
- Worked with multiple constituencies to establish the brand and new sources of fundraising.
Education
BA/MA 2:1 - Social Anthropology
Cambridge University
Cambridge, EnglandSkills
General Management, Entrepreneur, Finance, Sales & Marketing, Digital Marketing, Operations, Event Management, Public Speaking, Youth Development, Recruiting, Business Writing, Copywriting, Excel, Wordpress, HTML
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
French
Elementary
Interests
Foreign Affairs, Adventure Travel, Scuba Diving, Tennis, Sculpture, Opera, Writing
Timeline
President, Owner
Journey USA
09.2019 - 09.2023
Director, Investor
Beacon Group
01.2017 - 01.2021
President, Owner
Microscope.com
09.2006 - 06.2016
Co-Founder
The Piper Group
01.1999 - 01.2004
Executive Director
Russell Reynolds Associates
01.1994 - 01.1998
Executive Recruiter
GKR Associates
01.1991 - 01.1994
Saudi International Bank/3i Plc
Banking & Venture Capital
Saga Cruises/Operation Raleigh
Travel/Youth Development
BA/MA 2:1 - Social Anthropology
Cambridge University