About
Resume
Mike Kent
+33 (0)6 08 72 04 98
Email Me
GM looking for pan-European role in Telecom or Digital Media
Successful, entrepreneurial, reliable, “get things done”, ambitious, self-motivated and fast results oriented VP and GM with track record within Telecom and FMCG companies, working across Europe and the Americas.
Experience in New Product/Business/Market Generation, Strategy Definition, Marketing, Sales and Management.
Key competencies inc Effective Leadership, Persistence, Creator and Developer, Relationship building and Integrity.
Fluent in French and Spanish with basic Italian
Career History
2009 – Current AMAZE Consulting, Paris, FRANCE
Managing Partner based in Paris, France
Objective: Help create and secure sustainable, competitive and profitable mobile and new digital media business companies in Europe.
Online Digital Project: Conceived European business plan, financial forecast, go to market operations strategy, targeting online International and local media publishers and video distributors and started a seed funding process.
Achievements:
Secured key customers inc The Telegraph Media Group, Incisive Media, AOL, Blinkx and Sevenload with ongoing discussions with Le Figaro, Libération, Haymarket Publishing and Future Publishing.
Created funding proposition, strategy, presentation and business plan with ongoing discussions with angel investors and VCs
2006 – 2009 JUMPTAP INC, Boston, USA
Vice President and General Manager Europe, based in Paris, France
Objective: Create and secure a sustainable, competitive and profitable mobile search and advertising business in Europe
Deliverables: Conceived and executed European go to market product & operations strategy creating a targeted on and off portal, 3 screen (mobile, ipTV and broadband) advertising network for mobile operators, publishers and advertisers.
Achievements:
Analysed Europe market by market and implemented competitive go to market plans in W. and E. Europe.
Recruited and led team of Operator Sales, Publisher, Marketing and Adv Sales executives (15).
Created alternative commercial revenue models inc a new performance based market place to deliver immediate revenues.
Represented Jumptap as key spokesperson at conferences, round tables and industry events.
Defined and led the operational and P&L processes for Europe generating 40% of company revenue by 2008.
Closed multi year and multi solution advertising and search deals with Telefonica, TeliaSonera Group (7 countries), O2, 3 Sweden, 3 Denmark, Orange Spain with a number of tier 1 and tier 2 opportunities close to being finalised.
2005 – 2006 ACTION ENGINE CORPORATION, Seattle, USA
Vice President and General Manager Europe, based in Paris, France
Objective: Develop and manage the company’s European operations against agreed objectives.
Deliverables: Created the European market entry strategy delivering a comprehensive set of On Device Portal and Idle Screen client applications to mobile operators, MVNOs, content owners, handset manufacturers and publishers.
Achievements:
Analysed ODP/Idle Screen opportunities in Europe and developed a competitive business plan to meet opportunities.
Established partnerships and built awareness amongst C level executives of target customers.
Managed P&L and the bookings and revenue goals and budget for Europe and recruited and led multi functional team.
2001 – 2005 OPENWAVE SYSTEMS LTD/MAGIC4 LTD, San Francisco, USA/Manchester, UK
EMEA & NA Sales Director and Global Marketing Director, based in Paris, France
Objective: Create and lead a profitable messaging sales and marketing business for Magic4/Openwave in EMEA and NA.
Deliverables: Conceived the Sales and Marketing strategy delivering a comprehensive set of messaging solutions to handset manufacturers and operators resulting in a trade sale acquisition by Openwave.
Achievements:
Consistently exceeded sales targets inc winning the largest account (€13m) for Magic4.
Deals inc Vodafone, Motorola, Qualcomm, Nokia, Sagem and Mitsubishi Trium.
Conceived and developed relationships with all leading handset manufacturers and platform vendors at all levels.
Inspired and motivated multi functional international teams to deliver on time customised messaging solutions.
Developed and implemented annual Magic4 marketing and communication strategy.
1999 – 2001 MOTOROLA EUROPE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR, Basingstoke, UK
EMEA Brand Marketing Manager – Youth Strategy & Product Management, based in Basingstoke, UK
Objective: Determine the most effective way for Motorola to enter and take a leading position in the Youth market
Deliverables: Conceived and developed Motorola’s long term global youth brand, communication, and sales strategy.
Achievements:
Created the V. range leading to development of RAZR – the fastest selling and highest grossing product of all time.
Managed international cross-functional team (20) that shortened time to market for NPD;
Delivered in excess of $3bn revenue and 30% gross margin to the P&L over 12 months;
Managed a $17m cost reduction programme.
Conceived and implemented the largest EMEA consumer promotion achieving a 3x increase in sales and profits.
1995 – 1997 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO, International Staff, Chile and Hungary
Senior Marketing Manager, based in Santiago, Chile and Budapest, Hungary
Objective: Implement strategic and operational marketing processes that enable brands to be launched profitably.
Transform poor performing “Advance” brand into a successful regional brand.
Deliverables: Created an international brand strategy for the “Kent” launch.
Prepared a complete review of the $45mn “Pall Mall” brand, leading to new product, packaging and advertising.
Developed new International product and communication for “Advance” brand ensuring cost efficiencies maintained.
Achievements:
Repositioned “Kent” and launched Europe’s 1st 1mg product delivering $25mn revenues (+200%) and 30%GM.
Increased market share on “Pall Mall” cigarette brand by 20%.
Trained local team (10) in brand management and led the 1997-1999 strategic Marketing budgetary planning process.
Increased Advance brand sales by 80% to $40mn, gross margin by 110% and achieved a market share of 23%.
1993 – 1995 SMITHKLINE BEECHAM, London, UK
Senior Product Manager – New Business Development, based in London, UK
Objective:
Introduce existing and new brands into the leisure sector (Pubs, Clubs and Restaurants)
Deliverables:
Developed launch strategies for “Lucozade” (UK No.1 hi-energy soft drink) and “Ribena” (UK No.1 children’s soft drink).
Achievements:
Repositioned and relaunched Lucozade as healthy sports drink.
Listing of the first branded non-cola draft product in McDonalds and secured high profile distribution in key Theme Parks.
Led a cross-functional team that adapted product propositions to each market segment.
1989 – 1993 CUSSONS UK LTD, Manchester, UK
Brand Marketing – Imperial Leather Toiletries & Carex Handwash, based in Manchester, UK
Objective: Develop and launch new products that return incremental revenue/profit.
Achievements:
Identified a new £15m market in Liquid Soaps and created “Carex” Antibacterial Handwash and Imperial Leather Liquid soap, achieving 50% market share after 12 months.
Led a multi-functional team that delivered high profile consumer and trade marketing initiatives.
Worked with the Intnl Business Development team to identify new worldwide product and market opportunities.
Lead a Total Quality project focused on Consumer Promotional Expenditure effectiveness.
Education
MBA 1997-1999 – Manchester Business School, UK – Distinction
CIM Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing – Salford University, UK.
BA (Hons) in Business Studies – De Montford University, UK
Languages: Fluent French and Spanish, knowledge of Italian.
Computer Skills: Excellent working knowledge of PC, Mac and Internet based applications
Interests: Wine, Football, Squash, mountain Biking, Keep Fit, Technology gadgets and Cinema
