Craig Bahner Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago, Il, Us

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, Us

Battle Creek, Michigan, Us

Full P/(L) responsibility for $2.8 billion flagship Morning Foods business unit, including cereal and toaster pastry categories. Direct reports: marketing, finance, sales, R&D, and supply chain; organization of 3,800 including 7 unionized plants. Engaged effectively with Board of Directors as well as analysts and investors in various forums.Led through a time of massive consumer disruption in “Big Food” as well as retail customer disruption (Amazon/E-commerce, hard discounters). Stabilized a business in free-fall; drove step-change profit and margin improvements; negotiated growth plans with key customers like Walmart, Kroger, Dollar General; reconfigured supply chain to improve service, agility, and innovation; more than doubled E-commerce sales; implemented “Speed Teams” to accelerate transformational innovation to market; defined new commercial models to win with millennials and urbans.

Dublin, Ohio, Us

Led Wendy’s brand strategy, marketing, innovation, pricing, business analytics, and digital/social marketing. $325 million marketing spend; 100+ person organization. Presented at every Board of Directors meeting, aligning activist Chairman Nelson Peltz and Directors. Met frequently with analysts and investors.Led brand turnaround during industry disruption (rise of Fast Casual, consumer eating preference changes). Completely transformed Wendy’s brand including positioning, brand identity (first logo change in 30 years), menu vision and product innovation pipeline, marketing/advertising campaign, in-store merchandising, and packaging. Turnaround was a success, delivering three consecutive years of accelerating Same Store Sales growth and strongest traffic share growth since 2002. EBITDA grew low-double digits, EPS achieved a 7-year high. Share price increased nearly 100% during tenure, adding >$1.5 billion market capitalization.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Us

Full P/(L) responsibility for $2.2 billion North America Hair Care & Color business. Direct reports: marketing, finance, sales, product supply, market research, human resources; led organization of 210, plus two plants.Rejuvenated a stagnant category by optimizing the brand portfolio. Divested Pert and Infusium 23 and discontinued several others. Entered the growing prestige segment by acquiring and integrating Frederic Fekkai. Delivered synergy savings, established dual-channel (Prestige and Retail) business model, and accelerated international expansion. Fekkai sales grew +30% annually in first two years.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Us

Full P/(L) responsibility for $800 million business. Direct reports: marketing, finance, product supply, market research, human resources, R&D, external relations, and IT; organization of 175, plus one plant (Takasaki, Japan).Became the market disruptor, doubling a business that was a distant #3 and lacked scale to become the strong #2 player. Sales grew from $400 million to $800 million over four-year period (constant currency). Delivered annualized profit growth of 30%, total shareholder return of 32% and business value increase of $1 billion.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Us

Marketing Director, North America Fabric Care (1999-2002)Marketing Director, Emerging Markets Laundry (1998-1999)Brand Manager, Tide (1996-1998)Brand Manager, Bold/New Products (1994-1996)Assistant Brand Manager, Tide (1992-1994)Brand Assistant, Cheer (1991-1992)