Chris Kovath Email & Phone Number

Naples, FL, US

United States

• Progressed through general management and sales leadership roles with family-owned business, ultimately assuming ownership in 2001. Represented 10+ manufacturers in the automotive supply market selling to OEMs and Tier.
• SALES & PROFIT GROWTH: Grew business to $15+ million in annual sales with 27 consecutive years of healthy margins.
• COST CONTROL: Minimized operating costs with a lean business structure and proactive cost management, implementing price adjustments to ensure sustained profitability.
• CHANGE MANAGEMENT: Steered the company through significant market and business disruptions, including the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in double-digit sales declines. Quickly adapted.
• CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: Developed an enduring competitive advantage by building long-term relationships with both manufacturers and automotive OEMs, focusing on establishing a strong foundation of trust and.
• CONTRACT NEGOTIATION & MANAGEMENT: Negotiated multi-year contracts totaling more than $25 million with individual contract values of up to $3 million. Managed all aspects of contracts, including pricing strategy.

• Following 25+ years as the company’s manufacturer’s representative, recruited by owner to transform the business and strengthen a wide range of operational and financial functions.
• GENERAL MANAGEMENT: Assumed full P&L responsibility with oversight of 89 employees across all business functions, including sales, manufacturing operations, supply chain, finance and accounting, and human resources.
• BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION & SALES GROWTH: Developed and executed turnaround strategy to recover lost sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic and solidify relationships with customers, returning company to pre-pandemic sales.
• COST MANAGEMENT: Contributed to a more sustainable financial outlook by introducing strong financial controls and boosting operational efficiency.
• CONTRACT NEGOTIATION: Restructured customer contracts, successfully negotiating significant price increases, improved payment terms, and faster payment cycles.
• CULTURE BUILDING: Recruited key talent, replaced underperforming leaders, and improved employee engagement and morale across all levels of the company.