Mike Watson

Mike Watson Email and Phone Number

CEO | GM | CMO | Business Development | Technology | Marketing Executive | E-Commerce | IoT | Leadership | Transformation | Thought Leader | Board Member @ Flair Systems
Mike Watson's Location
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, United States
Mike Watson's Contact Details

Mike Watson personal email

n/a

Mike Watson phone numbers

About Mike Watson

As a high-tech marketing and business development executive, I love transforming markets and businesses. Ever since I left Northwestern University for Silicon Valley, I was fascinated with market disruption. Early in my career, it was changing the way printers print and automotive lighting from incandescent to LED. As I evolved from engineering to marketing, leadership and eventually founder of my own companies, I have fed on my passion to improve on past technologies and introduce new products, services, and customer experiences. In the process, I have been fortunate to have led teams and projects that created the world's first mobile voice/data PC Cards and phones; launched and led the organization that created wireless connectivity (IrDA, Bluetooth, …); co-founded and led the team that created virtualization of a wireless connection in software; rolled out the world's first countrywide mobile payment system in Korea; and created the leading LED lighting consumer brand effectively eliminating the 100+ year reign of traditional lighting. I am adept at revolutionizing product categories, transforming markets, and delivering growth and profitability. Experienced in driving early/mid stage technology market development, wireless/IoT applications, B2B/B2C market/brand development and global strategic relationships. Key areas of strength include:• Executive Management (P&L) | CEO / GM / CMO• Technology Innovation | Go-to-Market Technology / Product Strategies• E-Commerce | Digital Marketing• Brand Development | B2B & B2C• Thought Leadership / Communications• Start-Up / Mid-Size Organizational Development

Mike Watson's Current Company Details
Flair Systems

Flair Systems

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CEO | GM | CMO | Business Development | Technology | Marketing Executive | E-Commerce | IoT | Leadership | Transformation | Thought Leader | Board Member
Mike Watson Work Experience Details
  • Flair Systems
    Chief Revenue Officer (Cro)
    Flair Systems Mar 2024 - Present
    San Francisco, Ca, Us
    Report to CEO and am responsible for all sales and marketing activity at the company. Flair is a leader in bringing smart heating/cooling to the masses through their hvacOS(TM) platform, connecting smart thermostats and sensors to our industry leading smart vents enabling new levels of comfort, convenience, and efficiency to any home.
  • Forstmann Capital Partners
    Partner
    Forstmann Capital Partners Jun 2023 - Present
    Business Advisor to the Forstmann Capital Partners, a Merchant Bank and Advisory firm focused on continuing the legacy of J. Anthony Forstmann and capitalizing and advising businesses that drive large magnitudes of change.
  • Lonerider Spirits
    President
    Lonerider Spirits Aug 2022 - Jan 2024
    Raleigh, North Carolina, Us
    President of a North Carolina spirits business. Focused on grain to glass spirits (cask finished bourbon, flavored Whiskey, RTD drinks as well as Vodka, Gin, and Rum)
  • Forstmann & Co.
    Business Advisor
    Forstmann & Co. Apr 2021 - Apr 2023
    Los Angeles, California, Us
    Reporting to J. Anthony Forstmann, I was a Senior Advisor focused on Forstmann & Co Fintech opportunities.
  • Cree Lighting
    Vice President & General Manager - E-Conolight
    Cree Lighting May 2016 - Feb 2021
    Racine, Wisconsin, Us
    Reported to President of Cree Lighting. Led Cree Lighting commercial direct and e-commerce lighting business, e-conolight.com. Responsible for managing overseeing P&L, marketing, product development, sales, and operations. Led business through acquisition by Ideal Industries.
  • Cree Lighting
    Vice President Corporate Marketing & Brand Development
    Cree Lighting Jan 2013 - May 2016
    Racine, Wisconsin, Us
    Reported to the CMO of Cree and developed the Cree LED Bulb brand, corporate communications, social media, digital marketing, and all web properties. Launched Cree’s first consumer products (Cree LED Bulb) and executed market transforming brand, communications (PR), TV, digital/social media and merchandizing program. Cree is now the #1 LED lighting brand at Home Depot, a top seller in Amazon and launched in Lowes in 2020 generating incremental annualized revenue of $20 Million. Additionally, I led the transition of all digital/web properties for Cree, including corporate, division and e-commerce platforms resulting in both a $200K reduction in annual license spend, an increase in the return on ad/content spend (RoAS) and functioned as Cree's external thought leader, including appearances on Fox News and articles in Forbes and Fortune which resulted in being named to Fast Company Top 50 Innovative Companies.
  • Cree
    Sr. Director - Marketing & Product Applications
    Cree Sep 2010 - Dec 2012
    Durham, Nc, Us
    Reported to the General Manager of Cree LED Components and responsible for all marketing, strategic partnerships, and application development for Cree LED products. Launched TEMPO testing, a groundbreaking test service that functioned as the industry benchmark for testing of LED luminaire quality and performance and set the stage for the LED Lighting revolution. Created LED Module business resulting in double digit growth to over $50 million in less than 2 years.
  • Forstmann & Co.
    Co-Founder & Ceo - Advonce Solutions
    Forstmann & Co. Jan 2005 - Oct 2010
    Forstmann & Co was an investment bank that included Advonce Solutions (follow-on company of Mobera and expHand) as a private equity company that revolutionized audio / visual media code generation and offer redemption to create the world’s first transactional media network. The ground-breaking technology platform was the first to combine media-coded offers to mobile payment networks. Performed as co-founder along with J. Anthony Forstmann as Managing Director of Forstmann & Co. Managed a team of 12 and was responsible for the technology and business development of the transactional media platform. Led company to develop foundational innovations in audio and visual coding, AI cloud-based networking, and mobile applications technologies. Developed a partnership with William Morris Consulting (now Endeavor/WMA) to build relationships with content, financial service and retail distribution companies. Advonce was the backbone of Sizzle Network.Served as advisor to Forstmann & Co. (boutique investment bank) which focused on non-leveraged investments and private equities with over $100M in managed assets.
  • Harex Infotech
    Sr. Vice President
    Harex Infotech Aug 2001 - Dec 2004
    Startup that created world’s first comprehensive mobile payment system in Korea. The network is adopted by all mobile carriers, 80%+ of retailers, and is the primary payment platform for all transportation systems in Korea. Reported to the CEO and led team of 12 people responsible for both technology and business development of the ZOOP and UBPay network. Secured formal partner agreements with all three mobile service providers in Korea (SKT, KTF, and LGT), major banks (including Kookmin), key card associations (VISA, Samsung, and LG), and key retailers (Lotte and Starbucks) to create a critical ecosystem for a nationwide mobile payment rollout.Worked with the CEO to secure funding for the company from LG, Samsung, and other investors. Revolutionized the payment process in Korea in three years, including: all mobile phones, all mass transportation services, 13 out of the 15 largest card issuers, and over 80% (800,000) of all payment terminals.
  • Calibre Inc. - Merged With Zilog
    Co-Founder & Coo, Calibre | Director Of Sw Business & Zilog Fellow, Zilog
    Calibre Inc. - Merged With Zilog Jan 1998 - Aug 2001
    Startup that pioneered the wireless connectivity and IoT space, including the groundbreaking concept of virtualization of a wireless connection in application software (WiFi ® SSID and Bluetooth® and service discovery). Served as Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Calibre and Director of SW Business, and Zilog Fellow post acquisition. Reported to co-founder, CEO Allan Hamilton at Calibre, and senior VP of products at Zilog. Responsible for developing the infrared data transceiver and software business at Zilog. Delivered and commercialized transceiver and software products less than one year, and increased revenue to a $50M annualized run rate. Co-developed core patents for wireless transceivers and virtualization of wireless connections in software. Secured hardware and software partnership to include company’s wireless ecosystem (XConnect) in HP printers.
  • Temic Microsystems (Daimler-Benz)
    Sr. Director, Business Development
    Temic Microsystems (Daimler-Benz) Apr 1992 - Jan 1998
    Created and managed the mobile voice/data and wireless communications businesses for TEMIC and Daimler-Benz Microelectronics. Assisted the creation and launch of Daimler-Benz Research & Technology Center in Palo Alto and authored the first research papers on PDAs in automobiles where the term Telematics was created. Led project to develop Apple’s first mobile phone and Wide Area Networking PC Cards. Negotiated the sale of TEMIC's RF Technology business into two (2) pieces; one to Cirrus Logic and the other to Globewave as Daimler-Benz was divested its holdings in TEMIC.
  • Hewlett Packard
    Product Marketing Manager
    Hewlett Packard Jan 1990 - Jan 1992
    Houston, Texas, Us
    Responsible for managing all of the Optoelectronics Division's visible products and strategies worldwide. I managed a staff of 8 marketing engineers in the US, 2 in Europe, and 1 in Japan. During this period, the visible products group increased revenue from $25 million to $40 million dollars, excluding some new product groups I created which accounted for an additional $10 million in revenue by the end of 1992.
  • Hewlett Packard
    Product Manager / Product Marketing Engineer
    Hewlett Packard Jan 1988 - Jan 1990
    Houston, Texas, Us
    Responsible for developing product strategy for all HP visible optoelectronics. I worked with R&D to create new product definitions and product groups for HP. Led project to create the world's first PLCC Surface Mount (SMT) LEDs, LED printheads, and automotive tail lights.
  • Hewlett Packard
    Product Assurance Engineer
    Hewlett Packard Jun 1984 - Jan 1988
    Houston, Texas, Us
    Developed first programs for HAST testing for HP's Optoelectronic semiconductors. I created the tests for identifying semiconductor degradation mechanisms, identified their activation energies for failure and created a process for reducing new product qualification time by 50%. As a product assurance engineer, I led the program to achieve Q1 status at Ford, completed qualifications for over 30 new products, created a new process for responding to customer returns and taught statistical quality assurance to other divisional personnel as part of an employee training program.

Mike Watson Skills

Product Management Product Marketing Product Development Strategic Partnerships Start Ups Strategy Marketing Strategy Business Development Cross Functional Team Leadership Semiconductors Management Leadership Wireless Marketing Semiconductor Industry Electronics Mobile Devices New Business Development P&l Management Manufacturing Program Management Strategic Planning Executive Management Business Strategy Competitive Analysis Sales Integrated Marketing Ic Solutions Marketing Wireless Technologies Customer Service Saas Social Media Marketing Go To Market Strategy Software As A Service Customer Relationship Management Mobile Solutions Telecommunications Brand Development Brand Interpersonal Skills Organizational Leadership E Commerce Mobile Payments Customer Relations Consumer Electronics

Mike Watson Education Details

  • Northwestern University
    Northwestern University
    Material Science & Technology

Frequently Asked Questions about Mike Watson

What company does Mike Watson work for?

Mike Watson works for Flair Systems

What is Mike Watson's role at the current company?

Mike Watson's current role is CEO | GM | CMO | Business Development | Technology | Marketing Executive | E-Commerce | IoT | Leadership | Transformation | Thought Leader | Board Member.

What is Mike Watson's email address?

Mike Watson's email address is m_****@****com.com

What is Mike Watson's direct phone number?

Mike Watson's direct phone number is +140879*****

What schools did Mike Watson attend?

Mike Watson attended Northwestern University.

What are some of Mike Watson's interests?

Mike Watson has interest in Politics, Science And Technology, Economic Empowerment.

What skills is Mike Watson known for?

Mike Watson has skills like Product Management, Product Marketing, Product Development, Strategic Partnerships, Start Ups, Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Business Development, Cross Functional Team Leadership, Semiconductors, Management, Leadership.

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