Brian Ferguson Email & Phone Number

Greater Boston

Lead retail merchandising, food and dispensed beverage, QSR, loyalty, marketing, digital commerce, food operations, category management and all merchandising support functions for EG America, one of the fastest-growing convenience store retailers in the country. The company represents EG Group’s largest operation globally, with 1,645 sites across 10 banners in 30 states, including Cumberland Farms, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Tom Thumb, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Sprint, Loaf and Jug, and Turkey Hill.

United States

• Combining AI, CRO and CCO skill sets to innovate on behalf of mid-cap and large-cap US and global clients in fast-moving, high-performance environments. • Specializing in the CPG, Convenience Stores, Mass Merchandising, Food & Beverage and Big Box retailing space.• Focusing on developing new revenue growth, new sales channels and new business efficiencies at every stage of the supply chain and e-commerce / omnichannel customer experience.• Frequent Conference Speaker, Keynote Speaker and Panelist.

United States

• Leveraging Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Commercial Officer capabilities, led both revenue-building and strategic partnership-development functions for the Pilot Company, a fast-paced, 900-location company focused on retail, energy and logistics operations throughout the US and Canada.• During more than seven-year tenure, raised Pilot's ranking to No. 5 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies with revenues of $41 Billion and achieved recognition as one of the top five convenience store retailers on Newsweek’s list of America's Best Retailers.• In addition to serving as Chief Merchant and key member of the Senior Executive Leadership Team, core responsibilities included functioning as Head of Brand Marketing, Head of F&B Strategic Partnerships, and Leader of the Veterans Business Resource Group.• Interacted directly and frequently with both the CEO and Board of Directors, providing overall strategic direction for the organization based in whole or in part on AI and data-driven decision-making.• Skilled in digital transformation and change management in facilitate operating in a lean, streamlined environment, but with maximum impact on top-line revenue and bottom-line profit.• Key member of Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO), the internal IDEA council, a leadership group focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as well as championing expanded access and opportunities for all personnel.www.pilotcompany.com

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Senior cross-functional leader driving AM Retail Group's operation of hundreds of retail stores and e-commerce sites in the US and Canada for leading premium fashion brands, including Wilsons Leather, G.H. Bass & Co., Calvin Klein Performance, Karl Lagerfeld Paris and DKNY stores.Key leadership responsibilities included:• Enterprise-Level Leadership Team• Head of Both E-commerce and Marketing• Chief Merchandising Officerhttp://www.amretailgroup.com/index.html

• Headed up the Merchandising function, maximizing the company-wide impact of a lean team to spur revenue growth for The Children’s Place, North America's largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer. • Played a key role in overseeing functions that included implementing AI and machine learning, buying, planning, inventory control, contracting to manufacture, selling product at both retail and wholesale levels, and licensing to sell fashionable, high-quality merchandise at value prices. • The company operated 961 stores in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, an online store at www.childrensplace.com, as well as developing 225 international points of distribution and opening and operating eight franchise partners in 19 countries.

Personally selected by the Chairman and CEO to evaluate and improve total company operations and processes with the mission of realizing significant selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) savings. Increased total company net operating margin from 8.5% to 20% within two years. • Evaluated, selected and directly managed a leading global consulting firm to support this growth revenue-building initiative. • Directed an extensive internal cross-functional team of executives and department heads assigned to tackle this complex endeavor. Leveraged both key relationship-building and conflict-resolution skills on a daily basis. • Regularly prepared and presented in-depth updates on the initiative's progress, achievements and challenges to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors. • Identified, tested and launched detailed action plans to save the company approximately $150-$350M in annual operating income, including opportunities in Store Operations, Information Technology, Procurement, Supply Chain, Real Estate and Construction, Planning, Allocation, Merchandising, Corporate Structure and Headcount.• Based on our team's efforts, the Chairman of the Board of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. concluded: “We made excellent progress on our profit improvement initiative ... and we now expect savings from this initiative to exceed $100 million annually. In addition, we are nearing completion of our long-term strategic review, and we are confident that this will provide us with a clear roadmap for sustainable growth in sales, profitability and return on invested capital."

Served as Executive Director of the organization’s Global Procurement activities, inclusive of all global capital projects, product development and FF&E sourcing (furniture, fixtures, accessories, materials), store supplies, marketing, packaging, all categories of indirect spend, corporate travel and aviation. Transformed the Procurement organization from a tactical purchasing department to a “Best In Class” Procurement team. Developed and implemented both short and long-term strategic sourcing strategies to significantly impact a $200-350MM annual capital budget and a $1,686MM annual operating budget.• Drove strategic sourcing, design, and construction processes for an robust capital projects team.• Streamlined processes to design, build, and open 135 new international flagship and mall stores in 18 new countries. (17 flagships, 118 mall stores).• Achieved $46 million in capital expenditure savings over just 4 years. (+60% to target).• Drove $38 million in operating expense savings in just three years (+28% to target). • Maximized Online Sourcing & Reverse Auctions (via SAP Ariba) and implemented new contract management processes. • Directed all new country-entry processes, focusing on the evaluation of financial models, store contribution models, occupancy & payroll models and operational hurdles, including HR, store operations and IT systems.• Compared new country operating and financial models, ranking new countries to establish enterprise-wide corporate priorities.• Evaluated business models in new countries, including mall stores, free standing stores, outlet stores, flagship stores and e-commerce-only businesses.• Researched opportunities for strategic partnerships and joint ventures in emerging markets. • Sourced partners in new countries, including Real Estate Brokers, Consulting Firms, Law Firms, Construction and Sourcing companies, Employment Agencies, and other key services needed to enter new markets and operate successfully.

Directed and led the organization’s merchandising, design, planning, allocation, visual merchandising, sourcing and e-commerce activities for a broad range of fashion categories. Responsible for $450+ million in annual sales volume, with industry-leading gross margins, net income and sales per square foot. Reported directly to and personally mentored by the CEO & Chairman of the Board of Abercrombie and Fitch.• Excelled at developing winning trend right merchandise assortments across 4 brands, within both male and female categories.• Highly developed eye for fashion, trend, fit, fabric, graphic marketing, embellishment and wash. • Significant contributor to the growth of total company revenues from $1.03 Billion in 1999 to $4.1 Billion in 2012, including the growth of the Hollister, Ruehl and Gilly Hicks brands.• Directly responsible and accountable for increasing sales, margin and profit on a year-over-year (YOY) basis, helping to grow A&F corporate gross margins from sub 50% in 1999 to an industry-leading 67.2% in 2007.• Responsible for leading and training an extensive merchandising staff, including 30+ direct reports. • Piloted the “Cross Branding” of the merchandising and design organizations.• Developed the company-wide Global Responsibility Process, standardizing all key product development functions and timelines for merchandising, design, graphic design, planning, sourcing and technical design.• Lauded for expert sourcing, product development and negotiation skills. Extensive international travel to factories, mills and manufacturing facilities, as well as trend shopping trips.• Leader of A&F corporate recruiting efforts, frequently leading college career fairs, seminars and participating in select speaking engagements.• Extensive organization-wide leadership of global company initiatives, process improvement, high-level task forces, and involvement in senior leadership meetings, as well as Board of Directors meetings.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Biology

Activities and Societies: Phi Delta Theta, Student Government, Philanthropy, Research

Executive Innovation Certificate

Executive Leadership Certificate

Officer Training

Activities and Societies: Division I Varsity LacrosseThe United States Air Force Academy instills cadets with pride and integrity.