Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Career Highlights
Interests
Timeline
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Gregory Whittle

Warner Robins,MI

Summary

With over 25 years of experience in industrial products and consumer durables. Held executive roles in private equity and independent companies with revenues ranging from $15M to over $100M. Successfully completed three business turnarounds, two of which resulted in a sale to larger competitors. Entrepreneurial spirit drives adaptation, overcoming, and improvisation in business. Focus on building strong teams and maximizing individual potential. Eager to learn and listen, nimble in decision-making, and thrives under pressure.

Results-driven professional prepared to lead and inspire teams towards achieving organizational goals. Extensive experience in developing and executing strategic initiatives that drive growth and operational excellence. Strong focus on team collaboration and goal achievement, adaptable to changing business needs. Skilled in strategic planning and financial management.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Executive Officer

ADA Industrial Supplies
01.2024 - Current
  • Company Overview: ADA Industrial Supplies was established twenty-five years ago and supplies safety equipment and industrial supplies predominantly to the U.S Military and Government agencies both in the United States and Overseas.
  • Working closely with a small team to build on the strengths of the company by establishing and executing a very aggressive five-year growth plan with year one’s plan to double the size of the current business.
  • Quickly building a reputation of being a market disrupter by becoming slick and more competitive while still maintaining good operational margins, and hiring competent people from within our industry, typically from much larger competitors in order to meet the demands of our five-year strategy.
  • Changing the culture of the business from one of a family type business to a more corporate type without losing any of its core values or integrity.
  • Successfully re-negotiated and renewed the company’s government supply contract (GSA) for an additional 20 (R5) years which is very rare and granted to the company due to its outstanding past performance.
  • Building a network of independent sales rep agencies throughout North America to sell our products into all branches of the Military.
  • Working closely on a daily basis with high-ranking officers and supply core to ensure that all orders are processed, fulfilled and expedited to the units for them to be operationally ready and mission ready.
  • Building and developing key relationships with the likes of Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman and work alongside them so that they chose ADA as their go to for their supplier of choice using their SBA set aside funds.
  • Building commercial relationships at end user level within a 25-mile radius in order to become supplier of choice for the likes of Frito Lay, Tyson, Perdue, Coca Cola, Pepsi Co, etc.

Group Divisional Director

GCH Capital
07.2020 - 12.2023
  • Company Overview: GCH Capital is a group of companies with combined annual revenues in excess of $140M. GCH owns companies which range from the manufacture of precision engineered parts for the Jaguar Land Rover Group, lighting fittings & lamps manufacturing to mobile modular units.
  • Managed a small portfolio of three distressed turn around companies each circa $10M in annual revenue.
  • Worked closely with each company to ensure that all key objectives were being met while driving growth.
  • Working closely with our overseas manufacturers, I rebuilt the company’s relationships which had become tested over the years. A strong multi-year purchasing forecast of core products was put in place and through this plan I was able to secure new pricing that cut our supply costs by almost 30%.
  • Rebuilt the team, which included exiting out some of the team that didn’t share the core values of the company. Successfully replaced with a dynamic, hungry team and created a new energetic spirit amongst the companies.
  • Harvested synergies within the entire group of companies to share best practices and jobs.
  • Worked directly and reported directly to the board and owners of the Company.

Consultant (PPE Div.)

Direct Corporate Clothing
08.2019 - 07.2020
  • Company Overview: Managed for companies in the UK to help source PPE products during the pandemic using my extensive network of suppliers throughout China. Successfully delivered over $30M worth of PPE products in a time critical landscape with pricing fluctuating on an hourly basis and supply chains being severely tested.
  • Built and managed a full sales team and pioneered towards new customers using a push pull strategy that was proven to be effective.
  • Negotiated directly with airlines and freight forwarders to ensure the goods were collected and delivered on time as promised.
  • Worked closely with the suppliers to ensure that all PPE products met or exceeded the necessary requirement.
  • Hired a team of agents based in China to help manage the supply chain.

Country Manager (Consultant)

Centurion Safety Products
01.2018 - 07.2019
  • Company Overview: Responsible for North & South America, Middle East & Asia Pacific region. Centurion Safety Products is the oldest helmet manufacturing established in the mid 1800’s. As Head of Sales, I held full responsibility for the growth of my assigned territories.
  • Worked closely as part of the Senior Management Team in ensuring that all targets and objectives were met.
  • End use level engagement throughout North America with pull through sales through distribution.
  • Using one of my key relationships, I formed a national partnership with a large wholesaler in North America that will ensure significant growth under a private label program and that would represent 20% of the company’s overall sales within the first year.
  • Established and managed a relationship with an overseas manufacturer based in the Middle East in order to service and supply the Middle East and African markets much more expeditiously and effectively.

Chief Executive Officer

Commander Safety Products
06.2013 - 11.2017
  • Company Overview: Responsible for a successful business turnaround which led to the sale of the business to a large competitor. Primary focus was leadership and growth, rebuilding the brand, building and training a national sales force. Successfully negotiated multi-million-dollar contracts to supply public companies such as American Airlines, Gate Gourmet & CSX Railroad.
  • Increased sales from $3M to over $16M in 4 years to become a profitable business with a strong market brand, far surpassing initial goals and stakeholder expectations.
  • Devised and executed robust business plans and improvement strategies, setting short-, medium-, and long-term objectives. Worked diligently to establish and embed strong governance processes within the company.
  • Sourced and built strong supplier relationships with factories overseas including China, Vietnam and India to ensure good quality, best practices and on time delivery.
  • Led the negotiations for a successful sale of the company in 2017 to a competitor which saw the company’s shareholders see a significant return on investment.

Managing Director

BodyGuard
01.2010 - 06.2013
  • Company Overview: A PE owned North American based distribution company selling B2C through several sales channels including traditional customer facing and E-Commerce sales.
  • Presided over the organization’s day-to-day operations including 46 national locations.
  • Held full P&L responsibilities for the group >$100M.
  • Ensured that the company met all financial revenue and margin expectations.
  • Significantly grew the e-commerce side of the business, which strengthening the margin and cashflow position of the company.
  • Regularly reviewed supplier costing and competitor pricing in order to stay one step in front of the competition whilst maintaining margins.
  • Spearheaded an overhaul of numerous departments and focused on high level recruiting, while providing functional management and establishing performance metrics.
  • Negotiated terms and led the company to a successful sale to one of North America’s largest Industrial Supply Company who still use the original brand.

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Safety Gear USA
04.1999 - 10.2009
  • Company Overview: Successfully designed, manufactured and brought to market a full comprehensive range of Safety Clothing into the North American market. Responsible for all aspects of the start-up company and building the company to what became a market leader and a nationally recognised brand.
  • Oversaw all functions of the business, ensuring alignment with overall strategy, mission and objectives of the company.
  • Held full P&L responsibility for the company, grew from zero to $44M in annual revenue.
  • Set-up strategic partnerships with factories overseas and negotiated favorable terms that aligned with the company’s growth.
  • Built and trained a sector specific nationwide sales team of over 100 representatives.
  • Introduced private equity to the company to further increase growth and worked closely to report financial statements, forecasts, schedules, investment risks and opportunities.
  • Successfully led the company to a sale in 2009 to a large privately owned safety products company.

Education

B.A - Mechanical Engineering

University of Bolton
Bolton, United Kingdom

Skills

  • Expansion into domestic and international markets
  • Comprehensive P&L oversight for budgets exceeding $100M
  • Proven track record in revitalizing businesses
  • International sales leader
  • Establishing robust MFR/DIST connections
  • Innovative mindset
  • Online retail proficiency
  • Skilled in reaching agreements
  • Skilled in relationship building
  • Empathetic communicator
  • Executive leadership
  • Risk management
  • Staff management
  • Strategic planning

Career Highlights

  • Full P&L management and responsibility for an industrial products company with annual sales of >$100M.
  • Negotiated lucrative multi-million-dollar client deals with blue-chip industry leaders such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Shell, BP and several airlines including American Airlines under a national account servicing hundreds of locations worldwide.
  • Over 20 years of experience in overseas sourcing and forging strong relationships with manufacturers and suppliers in China, India, Vietnam and the Middle East.
  • Led two turnaround companies to a successful sale which saw a significant ROI for the stakeholders.
  • Built a safety & industrial products company from seed to annual sales revenues of over $44M with customers worldwide.
  • Worked with the Military and Law Enforcement providing solutions to their needs ranging from workwear to supplies.

Interests

  • I enjoy helping others and giving back to the community

Timeline

Chief Executive Officer

ADA Industrial Supplies
01.2024 - Current

Group Divisional Director

GCH Capital
07.2020 - 12.2023

Consultant (PPE Div.)

Direct Corporate Clothing
08.2019 - 07.2020

Country Manager (Consultant)

Centurion Safety Products
01.2018 - 07.2019

Chief Executive Officer

Commander Safety Products
06.2013 - 11.2017

Managing Director

BodyGuard
01.2010 - 06.2013

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Safety Gear USA
04.1999 - 10.2009

B.A - Mechanical Engineering

University of Bolton

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