Michael Irwin

Michael Irwin Email and Phone Number

Business Advisor, Board Member, Podcast Host @ What I Wish I Knew Show
Michael Irwin's Location
San Diego, California, United States, United States
Michael Irwin's Contact Details
About Michael Irwin

Through Bottle Rocket Advisors, I help leaders grow sales, improve profitability, and scale up. As a Co-founder/President of a startup, executive officer of a $1.5 billion company (WD-40), public company CFO, VP Marketing, EVP Strategic Development, and head of sales, I’ve built a broad perspective in business transformation. I currently serve as Board Chair of Kitchens For Good. I also served as Executive Chair of the board of directors of Kano Laboratories in Nashville. By spending time in 40+ countries and working in a wide range of distribution channels, I recognize the often subtle differences in consumers, customers, and cultures, as well as the levers companies can apply to address them. My effectiveness stems from an ability to understand markets, link organizational capabilities with business opportunities, and build passionate teams to achieve shared goals. I help companies in three main areas:Growing sales...• Brand extension into new categories.• Distribution channel development.• Global geographic expansion/new country entry.• Improving consumption through end-user, customer, & marketing strategy.• New category/market entry.• Partnering with company leadership teams to plot new strategy. • Product line extension.Improving Effectiveness and Profitability...• Aligning organizational assets & people behind a unified strategy.• Fractional leadership: CEO, COO, GM, Managing Director.• Optimizing acquisition initiatives via upfront vetting, forward planning, and integration. Scaling up...• Determining support needs as revenue grows. • Guiding and prioritizing resources and the hire/rent/outsource decisions. I am host of the podcast, What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw. We share life lessons from athletes, entrepeneurs, leaders, and difference makers around the world. In addition, I serve on the boards of directors of Kitchens For Good, a social enterprise that provides culinary job training to underprivileged individuals, and San Diego Sport Innovators, an industry trade group supporting sports and active lifestyle companies. On the personal front, I’m a community volunteer and youth soccer coach. An avid runner, I’ve completed the Boston Marathon as well as the Chicago, Marine Corps, and New York City Marathons along with the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. I was co-author of a book called Cathedrals of College Football. Specialties: #GrowthStrategy #BusinessStrategy #ScalingUp #ProfitGrowth #SalesGrowth #BoardsofDirectors #fractionalroles #interimroles

Michael Irwin's Current Company Details
What I Wish I Knew Show

What I Wish I Knew Show

View
Business Advisor, Board Member, Podcast Host
Michael Irwin Work Experience Details
  • What I Wish I Knew Show
    Podcast Host
    What I Wish I Knew Show Sep 2020 - Present
    San Diego And London
    What I Wish I Knew is a podcast featuring life lessons from athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers.
  • Bottle Rocket Advisors
    Founder
    Bottle Rocket Advisors May 2016 - Present
    Bottle Rocket Advisors is a consultancy focused on helping clients grow sales, improve effectiveness and profitability, and scale up. Ongoing business success often comes down to the convergence of three elements: Direction, People, and Action.  At Bottle Rocket, we help owners and leaders build sustainable businesses by delivering compelling strategy and clear execution plans that teams can rally behind.  We do that through:• Strategy that reflects genuine market opportunities and company capabilities. • Culture evolution that empowers the best attributes of the collective spirit of your team. • Execution plans with clarity, accountability, and collaboration.
  • Kano Laboratories
    Executive Chairman
    Kano Laboratories 2020 - 2022
    Nashville, Tennessee, United States
    Kano Laboratories is the maker of the Kroil brand of industrial and professional maintenance penetrants, oils, and lubricants.
  • Wd-40 Bike Company
    President & Co-Founder
    Wd-40 Bike Company Aug 2012 - Dec 2015
    Solana Beach, Ca
    Built start-up company to serve the needs of cyclists and retailers with purpose-built line of bike care products. The venture combined outstanding products, a well-respected brand, and a crew of passionate cyclists devoted to serving the cycling market. The unit was set up as a free-standing business with separate sales, marketing, supply, and support functions. In the first 24 months, US distribution grew to 3,000 retail outlets, 75% were single location businesses. The platform helped launch WD-40 BIKE into 19 countries across the Americas, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
  • Wd-40 Company
    Evp - Strategic Development
    Wd-40 Company Apr 2008 - Dec 2015
    Along with its flagship WD-40 brand, the company markets nine other brands including 3-IN-ONE, X-14, 2000 Flushes, Carpet Fresh, No Vac, Spot Shot, 1001, Lava and Solvol. The company markets its products in more than 100 countries worldwide and recorded sales of $390million in 2015.Led a transformation of corporate and brand strategy that lined up demonstrated organizational capabilities to serve core consumers and to pursue adjacent product category opportunities. The strategic shift delivered a sharper focus in sales, marketing, sourcing, and innovation. In the first five years of the strategic change, overall company sales grew by 31% and operating income increased by 60%. He also initiated and led a global brand assessment of WD-40 leading to the launch of WD-40 Specialist, WD-40 BIKE, and WD-40 Motorbike which help drive sales growth in multiple countries. Those were the first ever extensions of the WD-40 brand.
  • Wd-40 Company
    Evp - Chief Financial Officer
    Wd-40 Company May 2001 - Apr 2008
    Led financial operation for public company with $250M+ P&L and market cap of $700M+. Responsible for staff of 30 in finance, IT, analysis, and SEC reporting. Integrated three acquisitions that brought $100M revenue. Focused company on levers to create economic value, supplied robust reporting tools and delivered a 3 percentage point increase in return on invested capital (ROIC) over a three-year period. Refinanced corporate debt of $75M through private placement and obtained a $45M shelf debt for future acquisitions. Revamped monthly financial closing process which reduced closing cycle from 35 days to 6 days while improving the scope and quality of information delivered. Partnered with CEO on investor outreach which resulted in four new analysts adding coverage (up from one), raised institutional ownership from 35% to 70%, and 3X average daily trading volume. Built broad scale leadership capability by creating an open talent development program. The WD-40 Leadership Academy covered topics such as negotiation, presentations, and finance. Attendance was optional but 90% chose to participate.
  • Wd-40 Company
    Vp Marketing - Americas
    Wd-40 Company Apr 1998 - May 2001
    Managed $100M+ brand, $12M marketing investment and marketing team of 7 covering North, Central, and South America. Served on company leadership committee as senior marketing officer. Led effective marketing efforts that shortened consumer repurchase cycle of WD-40. Conceived and initiated large-scale grassroots sales and marketing campaigns designed for the different cultures and triggered consumer’s brand loyalty resulting in incremental sales increase and regaining lost retail relationships. Leveraged consumer affinity for WD-40 via a consumer contest called the Search for 2000 Uses. The integrated program generated more than 350,000 entries through the web. Building on that momentum, we initiated the WD-40 Fan Club, which now engages more than 100,000 members. Conceived and executed a successful large-scale grass roots program to regain WD-40 distribution at the largest US automotive retailer. Collaborated with global team to stage our largest program in the developing markets of Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
  • Wd-40 Company
    Director Of Marketing - Americas
    Wd-40 Company Jun 1997 - Apr 1998
    Directed marketing efforts for North, Central, and South America. Worked with marketing team and agencies to inject humor and enthusiasm into our communications campaign. The resulting advertising won a Clio Award but more important, it rallied our people, and helped grow the automotive segment of our business by 30%.
  • Wd-40 Company
    Director Of Marketing - Us
    Wd-40 Company May 1995 - Jun 1997
    Planned marketing strategy for WD-40’s largest market and achieved then-record sales for the brand. In the process, we developed an innovative way to educate consumers by working with independent authors on a book about WD-40. The book of product uses was featured in People Magazine.
  • Voz Sports Inc.
    Board Of Directors
    Voz Sports Inc. 2007 - 2008
    Served as director of company developing the first multi-sport, multi-impact sports helmet with built-in two-way radio, Bluetooth, music, and cell phone connectivity.
  • Hybritech Incorporated - Division Of Eli Lilly & Co.
    Finance, Sales, Marketing
    Hybritech Incorporated - Division Of Eli Lilly & Co. 1990 - 1995
    Served in a variety of roles as financial analyst, sales representative, product manager, and business development manager.

Michael Irwin Skills

Strategy Marketing Strategy Start Ups Business Strategy Business Development Strategic Planning Management Product Development Brand Management Business Planning Marketing Leadership Mergers And Acquisitions New Business Development Integrated Marketing Cross Functional Team Leadership Venture Capital Strategic Partnerships Sales Competitive Analysis Retail Team Building Advertising Corporate Development Negotiation Financial Analysis Change Management Product Marketing Product Management Segmentation Brand Development Sales Management Account Management

Michael Irwin Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Michael Irwin

What company does Michael Irwin work for?

Michael Irwin works for What I Wish I Knew Show

What is Michael Irwin's role at the current company?

Michael Irwin's current role is Business Advisor, Board Member, Podcast Host.

What is Michael Irwin's email address?

Michael Irwin's email address is mi****@****d40.com

What is Michael Irwin's direct phone number?

Michael Irwin's direct phone number is +185875*****

What schools did Michael Irwin attend?

Michael Irwin attended Smu Cox School Of Business, University Of San Diego, San Diego State University.

What are some of Michael Irwin's interests?

Michael Irwin has interest in Children, Coaching, Community Service, Education, Cycling, Economic Development, Running, Product And Process Innovation, Global Business Strategy, Health.

What skills is Michael Irwin known for?

Michael Irwin has skills like Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Start Ups, Business Strategy, Business Development, Strategic Planning, Management, Product Development, Brand Management, Business Planning, Marketing, Leadership.

Not the Michael Irwin you were looking for?

Free Chrome Extension

Find emails, phones & company data instantly

Find verified emails from LinkedIn profiles
Get direct phone numbers & mobile contacts
Access company data & employee information
Works directly on LinkedIn - no copy/paste needed
Get Chrome Extension - Free

Aero Online

Your AI prospecting assistant

Download 750 million emails and 100 million phone numbers

Access emails and phone numbers of over 750 million business users. Instantly download verified profiles using 20+ filters, including location, job title, company, function, and industry.