Simmons College - Simmons School of Management

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Independent Director -  Outside Director -  Enterprise Risk -  Specialty Retail -  Consumer Products

B&G Foods

Independent Director

Outside Director  -  Compensation  -  Nominating and Governance  -  Risk  -  Consumer Products - 

Outside Director

Consumer Products  -  Retail  -  Hospitality  -  Brand Strategy  -  Revenue

SGA Inc.

CXO  -  Mentoring  -  Global  -  Sales  -  Consulting

The Executive Forum

Board Member

Chief Revenue Officer for this privately held group of business hotels. Responsible for revenues of 20 hotels in 8 leading business markets (approximately $200M in revenue). Led the functions of strategy/innovation, revenue, sales, marketing, and reservations/customer service.• Achieved RevPAR (Revenue per available room) consistently above industry averages and Increased revenues 25% with a 59% increase in company NOI (2010). Grew membership usage 15% per annum.• Opened 5 new hotels in NYC, Chicago and London from 2008 - 2011 achieving full year occupancy levels in the high 80’s in the first year of operation. • Delivered an 80% increase in online revenues with web-based marketing and distribution strategy.• Realized a 30% improvement in turnover and 25% improvement in service level by re-engineering call center operations.

Club Quarters Management, LLC

Corporate VP  -  Chief Revenue Officer  -  Strategy  -  Marketing  -  Channel Development  -  Hospitality

Advisor and past Board Member  for this private held provider of materials designed to create open dialogue between children and adults.  Founded in 2005, ethiKIDS helps tween age children sort through the difficult decisions and consequences around ethical behavior and choices in today’s fast-paced, changing and sometimes confusing world. In the first year of launch, 2008, the business’s core product “Let’s Make A Deal” was awarded the Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence (Social Awareness Games for Kids category).  Today the company has a significant partnership with the Police Athletic League NYC. PAL provides a broad spectrum of services to 55,000 children in all five boroughs of New York City each year.

ethiKids, Inc.

Board Director  -  Advisor  -  Strategy  -  Brand

Led store operations for a $1.5B region of 350 stores for the Gap brand. Managed 10 direct reports and the functions of Operations, Finance, HR, Visual Merchandising and Asset Protection. • During a period of significant same store sales declines, stabilized sales performance by focusing on operating efficiencies, customer service and continuity in executing visual brand standards and was able to deliver the Division’s highest gross margin return on investment during the second half of 2005.• Reduced operating cost approximately 15% by restructuring field organization and improving operational efficiencies.

Gap Inc. (Ticker: GPS)

VP Retail Operations  -  Productivity  -  Talent Acquisition & Management  -  Merchandising

Recruited to lead a $500MM specialty food division comprised of 37 stores and 3,100 employees. Reported to CEO.• Gained #1 retail market share position in NYC with half the number of stores of the closest competitor; achieved net operating income rates of 6% of sales and increased identical store sales 2%; exceeded profit and cash flow objectives 4 consecutive years.• Supported a 2% growth in  identical store sales and 10% improvement in fresh margins by launching a private label brand across all fresh food departments.• Achieved a net positive return on capital employed within first two years of launching an e-commerce, on-line shopping service in NYC – effectively minimizing sales loss to a new competitive launch within the Food Emporium banner’s core Manhattan market. • Ranked in the top 20% by a Gallup benchmark company for leading cultural transformation and attaining employee engagement..

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (Ticker: GAP)

President, The Food Emporium  -  Specialty Foods  -  P&L  -  Retail Operations  -  Margin Enhancement

Responsible for marketing and strategy for 11 retail brands; 812 stores; $11B revenues. Member of the Corporate Executive Committee with significant Board level interaction. Reported to the Chairman and CEO.• Developed strategic plan to improve brand positioning, portfolio management, and divesture of non-strategic businesses and underperforming store locations.  Identified opportunity to migrate the Food Basics banner into the US market in 2000.  Firm subsequently launched 25 new stores.• Drove improvement of customer satisfaction levels 20% by implementing a company-wide customer satisfaction survey and activating improvements based on customer feedback.

Senior VP, Strategic Marketing  -  CMO  -  CSO  -  Corporate Executive Committee  -  Retail Brand Strategy

Served in roles with incremental marketing responsibility as well as Member of the Executive Committee and Global Marketing Committee for this international company that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses.Group Vice President, Marketing, Allied Domecq (1999)• Led $400MM brand portfolio and managed team of 12. • Member of the Global Marketing Committee.Vice President, Marketing, Domecq Importers (1997 – 1999)                                    • Chief Marketing Officer for a $250MM division with staff of 16. • Member of the Executive Committee and Global Marketing Committee.  • Grew brand portfolio sales 8% versus alcoholic beverages industry growth of 1%.

Allied Domecq

VP, Marketing & CMO, Domecq Importers  -  Executive & Global Marketing Committees  -  Consumer Products

Served in incremental roles of responsibility from Brand Manager to Division Marketing Manager for Schweppes USA (1985-1989); and Senior Product Manager to Director of Marketing for Mott’s North America (1989 – 1997).

Cheryl Palmer