Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Professional Highlights
Previous Experience
Timeline
Generic

Mark Parsley

Charlotte,NC

Summary

Dynamic executive with a proven track record at Earth, Inc., specializing in driving EBITDA improvement and e-commerce sales growth. Expertise in brand strategy and operations management, with a strong focus on relationship building and inventory optimization. Leadership has consistently led to significant market growth and enhanced profitability across diverse footwear categories. Committed to leveraging skills to further elevate brand performance and operational efficiency.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

VP of Brand Strategy and Wholesale

GALAXY CORORTATION
New York, NY
01.2024 - Current
  • Company Overview: Galaxy is a vertically integrated global footwear company with a focus on athletic, wellness, work, and casual categories. GALAXY portfolio includes both owned and licensed brands such as Reebok, Shaq, Hi-Tec, Avia, AND1, Lands’ End, Quicksilver, Billabong.
  • Working closely with senior management to chart for strategic growth opportunities.
  • Leverage expertise in evaluating opportunities on building Brand Strategy and Wholesale.
  • Having direct line to the CEO and the rest of the C-suit to support their vision, where providing insights, strategy, and an overview, with a specific focus and eye on growth.
  • Key areas of activity, and how they intersect to create profitability in marketing, sales, product development, and finance.
  • Galaxy is a vertically integrated global footwear company with a focus on athletic, wellness, work, and casual categories. GALAXY portfolio includes both owned and licensed brands such as Reebok, Shaq, Hi-Tec, Avia, AND1, Lands’ End, Quicksilver, Billabong.

Chief Growth Officer

Eastman Footwear Group
New York, NY
01.2022 - 01.2024
  • Company Overview: Footwear company serving customers in North America across all categories and partnering with the most trusted brands in their space. Brand portfolio includes Hurley, Tretorn, Izod, Kenneth Cole, US Polo Assn., Eddie Bauer, Van Heusen, Totes, Weatherproof, Aeropostale Khombu, Nevados, U.S. Army.
  • Working closely with senior management to chart Eastman Footwear strategic growth opportunities.
  • Leverage expertise in evaluating opportunities to integrate operations, identifying new partnerships, and developing innovation concepts to drive the company forward.
  • Working toward eliminating organizational silos to create a unified, longer-term growth plan.
  • Having direct line to the CEO and the rest of the C-suit to support their vision, where providing insights, strategy, and an overview, with a specific focus and eye on growth.
  • Key areas of activity, and how they intersect to create profitability in marketing, sales, product development, and finance.
  • Footwear company serving customers in North America across all categories and partnering with the most trusted brands in their space. Brand portfolio includes Hurley, Tretorn, Izod, Kenneth Cole, US Polo Assn., Eddie Bauer, Van Heusen, Totes, Weatherproof, Aeropostale Khombu, Nevados, U.S. Army.

Chief Executive Officer / President

Earth, Inc.
Waltham, MA
01.2020 - 01.2022
  • Company Overview: Footwear company serving customers in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and China generating $140M in sales annually.
  • Led 60 team members overseeing daily operations and business activities ensuring exceptional product development, manufacturing, and customer service with full P&L and strategic accountability.
  • Optimized working capital via effective inventory management, collections, and vendor management.
  • Developed business strategies and plans ensuring alignment with short-term and long-term objectives.
  • Adhered to legal guidelines and in-house policies.
  • Monitored financial and non-financial data to determine solutions and improvements.
  • Held full P&L and strategic accountability driving profitable revenue-generating capability.
  • Oversaw marketing, branding, and sales operations and strategic initiatives.
  • Built and fostered customer, distributor, and strategic vendor partnerships as well as stakeholder relationships.
  • Conceptualized and implemented growth strategy and vision ensuring achievement of revenue and performance objectives.
  • Utilized deep industry knowledge and analyzed footwear markets and trends optimizing company sustainability and growth.
  • Championed corporate finance, performance management, marketing, public relations, corporate governance, and general management best practices.
  • Recruited, retained, and developed best-in-class talent.
  • Established Earth’s position, growth, and success to date.
  • Led style and design effort emphasizing product innovation and development, leveraging Earth brand.
  • Launched omnichannel effort via e-commerce including DTC and social media increasing product sales.
  • Guided company to successful liquidity event.
  • Generated increase in market share and profits by developing market penetration initiatives and conceptualizing profit-focused strategies and implementing vision.
  • Increased EBITDA 10% by eliminating expenses and restructuring of Sourcing office in China transitioning from in-house to Third-party Sourcing office.
  • Grew e-commerce sales 50% via restructuring of e-Commerce team.
  • Transitioned e-commerce platform from Magento to Shopify.
  • Assessed brand status, devised branding growth strategy with consumer, and implemented effective e-commerce and DTC strategies creating pull marketing demand into brick-and-mortar retail.
  • Established entry into large footwear and mass retail channels.
  • Reduced development costs and slashed SKU count post restructure of Product Design and Production teams.
  • Developed new strategy selling off 1.4M pairs of excess aged inventory remaining from previous leadership tenure.
  • Restructured Sales team and developed new sales strategy.
  • Led Sales team during COVID-19 crisis and developed new DTC strategy with wholesale accounts.
  • Restructured Customer Service team moving from Waltham, MA to South Haven, MS distribution center.
  • Collaborated with COO to restructure distribution center growing DTC business and providing strategy for improvement in sales and profitability for company owned e-commerce business.
  • Footwear company serving customers in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and China generating $140M in sales annually.

President

Creative Recreation, LLC (CR)
Los Angeles, CA
01.2017 - 01.2019
  • Company Overview: Upscale label acquired by Private Equity Firm affiliate of Global Investment Group in 2017 providing exciting new products across various channels of distribution.
  • Directed 10 team members leading Design, Product, and Operations teams ensuring organizational growth and profitability.
  • Developed business strategies and plans optimizing alignment with short-term and long-term objectives.
  • Reviewed financial and non-financial reports to devise solutions or improvements.
  • Built partnerships, developed profitable strategies, and implemented vision.
  • Oversaw corporate finance, marketing, public relations, and performance measurement.
  • Planned, directed, and controlled all functions of company generating $25M annually.
  • Led acquisition of Creative Recreation from Rocky Brands.
  • Setup and repositioned brand in market.
  • Initiated strategic market plan focused on new business opportunities.
  • Placed CR Creative Recreation in new channels of distribution including Finish Line, Footlocker, and Macy’s.
  • Launched CR Creative Recreation for men’s and women's collections (Fall 2018) generating 20% increase in sales.
  • Negotiated license for apparel, headwear, and accessories for Fall 2019 launch.
  • Upscale label acquired by Private Equity Firm affiliate of Global Investment Group in 2017 providing exciting new products across various channels of distribution.

Executive Vice President, Sales & Product Design

Marc Fisher Footwear
Greenwich, CT
01.2007 - 01.2017
  • Company Overview: Footwear company generating $700M in sales in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and Mexico.
  • Directed 8 Sales Representatives and 6 Product Design leadership team members including Vice President of Design, Designers, and Product Assistants.
  • Led and mentored National Sales Directors, Key Account Directors, and Account Executives ensuring achievement of sales and profit plan for Guess and Tommy Hilfiger brands.
  • Established budget, P&L’s, and monitored selling expenses.
  • Developed and implemented corporate strategy, sales development, forecasting, and sales resource planning.
  • Oversaw Learning and Development initiatives accelerating sales and providing stewardship of sales and sales management talent.
  • Generated revenue increase in shipments across all channels to key retailers including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s, DSW, Amazon.com, Zappos.com, family channel, mid-tier, independents, and international.
  • Met assigned targets for profitable sales volume and market share.
  • Developed and implemented Macy’s strategy resulting in 20% YoY growth in largest retailer.
  • Reduced costs via renegotiation of several key retailer relationships, number of seasonal SKUs, and travel / expense management improving ROI.
  • Established and governed sales performance management system.
  • Implemented sales principles for managing performance, prioritized critical performance measures for all sales roles, and oversaw equitable allocation of objectives across sales channels, markets, and personnel.
  • Implemented Sales team restructuring and upgraded talent leading to leaner, more effective Sales team.
  • Fostered culture of high performance, ethical behavior, professional development, and accountability.
  • Footwear company generating $700M in sales in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and Mexico.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration & Management

West Virginia State University
Institute, WV

Skills

  • Leadership and team building
  • Operations and finance management
  • Customer service and satisfaction
  • Ebitda improvement
  • Sourcing, restructuring, and cost control
  • E-commerce sales and profit
  • Sales and market growth
  • Distribution center optimization
  • New business development
  • Brand strategy
  • P&L management
  • Inventory optimization
  • Sales forecasting
  • E-commerce strategy
  • Relationship building
  • Business development

Websites

Professional Highlights

  • Prepared 50-year family-owned company for private equity sale. Oversaw sale of Earth, Inc. to Windsong Global, private equity based in Westport, CT.
  • Led acquisition of Creative Recreation from Rocky Brands. Setup and repositioned brand in market. Initiated strategic market plan focused on new business opportunities.

Previous Experience

  • Vice President, Jimlar, Great Neck, NY
  • Director of Sales, Timberland, Stratham, NH
  • Territory Sales Manager, Bostonian Shoe Company, Kenneth Square, PA
  • Sales Representative, Allen Edmonds, Port Washington, WI

Timeline

VP of Brand Strategy and Wholesale

GALAXY CORORTATION
01.2024 - Current

Chief Growth Officer

Eastman Footwear Group
01.2022 - 01.2024

Chief Executive Officer / President

Earth, Inc.
01.2020 - 01.2022

President

Creative Recreation, LLC (CR)
01.2017 - 01.2019

Executive Vice President, Sales & Product Design

Marc Fisher Footwear
01.2007 - 01.2017

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration & Management

West Virginia State University

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