Robert Brierley Email & Phone Number

Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Us

EFC Gases & Advanced Materials is a leading global supplier of high quality specialty gases and advanced materials for a broad range of served markets.

Venture Growth Partners - www.venturegrowthpartners.com - is a boutique consulting firm providing part-time CFO and COO services to companies that are at a plateau or inflection point looking to execute on growth potential. Partnering with CEO’s and executive teams to implement financial and operating disciplines to achieve desired results. Areas of focus include: Enhanced financial reporting to support decision-making analysis Budgets, cash plans, financial forecasts and analysis to track achievement of desired performance Process reviews to provide better controls, consistency & scalability to key operational processes Company specific Key Performance Indicators to measure performance against strategy objectives. Oversight, mentoring and development of accounting, finance and operations teams.

Responsible for all finance, accounting and operations of this market leader in commercial building energy efficiency and smart building solutions. Focused execution resulted in significant performance improvement.  Developed execution plans to support growth to over 700 worldwide installations.  Built forecasting models to achieve financial objectives, operational efficiencies and capital raises Increased product margins from 35% to 65% thru supply chain optimization & pricing strategies. Managed cash requirements thru prolonged period of uneven revenue to provide needed liquidity. Defined Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to track execution against critical performance goals. Drove a 5X increase in manufacturing capacity with supply chain optimization and process improvements; also achieved higher gross margins, better on-time deliveries and reduced lead times. Doubled customer renewal rate to over 90% for high margin, high growth recurring services line.

Served as Director and Audit Committee Chairman of this NASDAQ leader in online pari-mutuel horse race wagering for the thoroughbred horse racing industry. Mentored executive team under multi-year consulting engagement on achieving operational efficiencies, executing on strategic objectives and gaining organizational alignment. Oversaw Sarbanes-Oxley compliance implementation. Acquired by Churchill Downs in 2009.

Full P & L responsibility for this venture-backed manufacturer of trace gas filtration systems and instrumentation for the semiconductor chip making industry. Partnered with founding CEO to guide the company through a cyclical downturn followed by recovery and rapid expansion culminating with the successful sale of the business to Mykrolis Corporation March in 2005.  Established key operational metrics to track performance against critical cyclical recovery targets. Built product line profitability reporting to guide pricing and R & D investment decision-making.  Mentored young financial team to provide financial reporting that was beyond “just the numbers”.  Negotiated and successfully managed sale of Extraction Systems to Mykrolis in March 2005.

Part of founding executive team that launched this new publishing and integrated media start-up and grew it into the third largest weekly circulation magazine within eighteen months. Broad strategy impact and operational responsibility for finance, print operations, investor relations and administration.  Collaborated with founding executive team to develop and implement the market strategy for Company’s growth from start-up to 3rd largest weekly circulation magazine and from 8 to 8- employees.  Negotiated and closed three rounds of venture capital funding totaling over $52 million.  Established key performance indicators to track achievement of critical operational and financial targets . Managed $500k weekly print operations to produce and distribute 11 million circulation weekly magazine.

Full P & L responsibility for this venture-backed manufacturer of critical room environment airflow controls. Partnered with technical founder to create and execute growth strategy to position Company for profitable investor exit. Re-structured operations to maintain profitability and positive cash flow during recessionary economy; streamlined manufacturing procedures to achieve operational efficiencies; built financial reporting packages to support strategic decision-making and investor reporting needs. Negotiated sale of Phoenix Controls to Honeywell and ran the division post-acquisition with full P & L responsibility.

Responsible for the turnaround of this entrepreneurial Australian subsidiary engaged in the development, sale and installation of customized newspaper pre-press automation software. Hired as Chief Operating Officer later appointed CEO by the Board of Directors to set and achieve critical turnaround and growth objectives.

Worldwide treasury responsibility for this NYSE multi-national, multi-divisional corporation engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of high-performance electronic components. Instrumental in execution of global expansion and M & A strategy which resulted in Unitrode’s growth from $35M to over $200M.

Responsible for audit planning and management, staff development, analysis of financial and operating performance, new business proposals and presentations to client executives and directors.

Master Of Science (Ms), Business Administration, Management And Operations

B, A With Honors, Double Major In Business And Economics