Chief Outsiders is a national strategic management consulting firm of executive-level, execution-oriented CMOs who help companies build and drive top-line growth and provide fractional C-level leadership with the flexibility of an on-demand engagement structure.Chief Outsiders focuses on accelerating growth in mid-market companies - strategy, marketing, sales effectiveness, and execution. Additionally, we partner with closely held and private equity sponsored industrial businesses to turn around underperforming business units, drive new revenue, and exceed P&L growth targets. Our CMOs have served on the leadership teams of more than 1,000 companies across 70+ industries. We provide CEOs and private equity firms with part-time market-focused senior executives who develop, drive and execute marketing strategy and revenue growth initiatives, with the flexibility and cost advantages of an on-demand project-driven engagement structure.For the past six years, Chief Outsiders has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the US and has recently earned the No. 27 spot on Consulting Magazine’s annual list of the nation’s fastest growing consulting firms.

An early stage AdTech company, established in 2015, with leading edge capability for placement of highly targeted digital marketing based on location and digital lifestyle insights. The CHALK platform enables a new level of advertising efficiency for businesses with very local relevance, such as restaurants, real estate, and recruiting.

TailHand is a startup developing a work platform and accessory tools for use on a truck tailgate. Our patented mobile workstation adds productivity, precision, and safety to use of the tailgate for work and recreation.

A boutique consultancy focused on branding and guest experience innovation.• Evaluated the restaurant industry go-to-market approach for an innovative digital advertising platform.• Investigated competitive online positioning and user experience for a start-up retail insurance company.

The world’s largest restaurant chain with over 42,000 locations in 111 countries; privately held.• Recruited by SVP of Global Brand and Innovation to jump-start the company’s “off premise” efforts across delivery, catering, and curbside pick-up.• In the first 12 months, increased franchise owner participation from 16% to 73% of eligible locations.• Drove $264M of incremental revenue through enhanced marketing, optimized menus, and expanded options for home and office delivery.• Negotiated third-party partnerships with 9 providers (Uber Eats, Just Eat and others) for 36 countries."He navigates seamlessly across functional areas, demonstrating his comfort with assignments ranging from high-level strategic planning to diving headlong into complex technology solutions..." See the entire recommendation from Len Van Popering, former Global Brand and Innovation Officer at Subway, below.

A mid-sized professional services firm with expertise in Change, Transformation, and Customer Experience• Led cross-functional teams through a variety of client engagements in strategic marketing, data and analytics, business strategy, and customer experience; project portfolio of $5M+ annual revenue.• Identified $2.1M annual cost savings for a global telecommunications firm while developing a knowledge management application, using Agile methodology; led content creation for project database.• Integrated 20+ data sources into a single visual desktop and tablet analysis tool for a national television provider, boosting business analyst efficiency by 28%.• Enhanced brand awareness by 37% for a leading foodservice provider portfolio of private label brands through crafting of positioning statements, revision of visual identities, and implementation of a brand showcase website."Mike is outstanding at bringing fresh ideas, clear strategy, and practical execution to his clients and his colleagues can rely on him as a true collaborative partner..." See the entire recommendation from Randy Hain, President for Serviam partners and Executive Coach, below.

IdeaString offers a social business system for capturing and refining innovation. We unlock the great ideas that already exist within your network of employees, customers, partners, and suppliers and manage those ideas to drive innovation forward.

The global leader in vehicle remarketing, operating 120 physical auctions and a variety of online marketplaces which manage 8 million vehicles and generate revenues of $3B+ annually. Part of privately held Cox Enterprises.• Co-leader of transformation team charged with design and implementation of a company-wide cultural and operational makeover to prepare for anticipated changes in market and customer expectations.• Led a 57% improvement of internal communications function ranking in internal leadership feedback survey; initiated general manager weekly communications and a revised field communication process.• Strengthened company thought leadership reputation, sharing used car market forecasts and insights through media relations and financial analyst outreach efforts. • Delivered redesigned field marketing and sales organizational structure and implemented pilot programs.• Managed implementation of the company’s initial social media intranet effort, using the Jive software platform, driving a 26% gain in communication and best practice sharing across operating locations.• Designed and implemented a strategic initiatives communication program, the Manheim Project Process, for broad sharing of project management and portfolio management status."Mike has a unique ability to see past politics, focus on understanding the issues and what needs to happen, and then ensuring the job gets done, and done well..." See the entire recommendation from Kelly Puckett Frommer, former Director of Communications at Manheim, below.

• Recruited by the CEO to lead all marketing functions including brand strategy, product management, advertising, promotions, trade shows and events, public relations, and internal communications. Supervised headquarters staff of 27 and 120 field employees. • Grew brand awareness by 24% by executing company’s first unified branding and visual identity program, bringing 85 U.S. operating locations into alignment under common corporate brand architecture.• Realized a $53M annual margin gain through pricing management function and enhanced data access.• Introduced use of external market data and developed analytical tools for measurement of market share, customer penetration, and assessment of opportunities for growth for key clients (BMW, GE Remarketing, Ford, and others).• Drove a 11% revenue increase through the creation of a product management function, strengthening product definition, competitive positioning, and marketing communications efforts.• Chaired the implementation of a companywide customer experience effort, bringing enhanced awareness of customer feedback, recognizing changing customer base behavior, and aligning operational processes."Our consulting approach seeks people in the client organization who want to and are able to collaborate on solving issues or creating better strategies - Mike is one of the best I have worked with..." See the entire recommendation from Bruce Strahan, President of The Progress Group, below.

• Directed one of three U.S. product-marketing teams within the Consumer Electronics organization, growing revenue 11% annually to $543M. Regional P&L responsibility; supervised staff of 18. • Improved product placement by 18% within key “big box” retailers (Best Buy, Walmart, Target, others) with strengthened product planning partnerships and exclusive product offerings. • Grew U.S. product assortment by 8% through collaborative efforts with five global business creation units (Asia and Europe-based) to ensure the availability of appropriately positioned products for the North American market. • Achieved #1 market share position with key product launch efforts, including the first recordable DVD and Nike + Philips portable digital audio product line."Through his brand leadership, Philips made incredible consumer market gains and he built a talented, dedicated marketing organization that was aligned around growth..." See the entire recommendation from Mike Gay, Senior VP Marketing, Viewpoint Software, below.

• Recruited to the Consumer Electronics organization to rationalize all North American marketing efforts, integrating four independent product organizations (television, video, audio, and PC peripherals) into cohesive “total Philips” marketing presence, with sales volume of $2.1B. • Raised consumer awareness of the Philips brand from 7% to 42% over 18 months; managed total marketing budget of $154M, with a media spending of more than $100M. • Led $5M annual NASCAR team sponsorship and related on-site fan engagement programming.

Philips Consumer Communications was a joint venture between Philips Electronics and Lucent Technologies with product lines in cellular/PCS, paging, and home telephone categories• Assumed general management responsibility for international organization with revenues of $82M and 180 employees in Cambridge, England. • Directed engineering, product development, finance, and marketing, with global P&L responsibility. • Initiated strategic review of the business, leading to decision to sell; identified buyer and managed transition.

Operator of paging and innovative two-way messaging networks serving Fortune 500 enterprises.• Managed all aspects of the SkyTel U.S. marketing efforts including media advertising and collateral, channel management, tradeshow and event activities, and customer-based management. • Negotiated a resale agreement with Paging Network Inc., and led the implementation of marketing, sales, and training programs along with the integration of technical systems necessary to support the launch of PageNet Advanced Messaging service.• Proposed and executed an Advanced Messaging services trial with Sprint PCS, introducing two-way paging as a compliment to PCS wireless voice service."...I'd like to comment on something far rarer in recommendations of this type; Michael's integrity and character..." See the entire recommendation from Bruce Miller, former CEO of Suissa Miller Advertising, below.

The global leader in consumer electronics and entertainment content; one of the world’s most recognized brands.• Led consumer telecommunications products group from $22M to $329M in revenue and the #1 U.S. market share position. • Shortened product development time 28% by establishing a local design and consumer insights program, resulting in products tailored to U.S. market needs and a 300% increase in retail placements. • Developed strategic plan for expansion into business in cellular, personal communications services, and wireless messaging product categories."...it was his ability to actually put his ideas into action that was most amazing to me..." See the entire recommendation from Lou Weiss, former CMO at Shutterstock, below.