Robert Block Email & Phone Number

Charlotte, North Carolina, Us

I was recruited into Honeywell at a time of transition. Two roles were combined for me to act as the Global Leader for developing, integrating and deploying technology and large-scale solutions to drive revenue growth for Honeywell Building Technologies. Headquartered in Atlanta, USA, Honeywell Building Technologies’ products, software, and technologies are in more than 10 million buildings worldwide helping customers control their comfort, security, and energy use, with technologies ranging from environmental and building controls to security and fire alarm systems and smart grid solutions. I am fully responsible for the world-wide delivery of complex hardware, software, platforms, SaaS and cloud-based solutions across the Honeywell business portfolio. I lead the entire life-cycle and cross-functional coordination of value streams to the market through agile release trains for major industry verticals of commercial real estate, airports, healthcare, datacenters, etc.• Work in partnership with the CTO/CPO to define strategies and implement organizational change. In addition, my role is to act as brand evangelist for a major cross-business strategic initiative.• Developed and deployed full management operating system, KPIs and tracking systems to support major organizational restructuring and change.• Led breakthrough initiatives to drive step-function revenue growth focused on providing cross industry segments for Healthy Building and Sustainability / EMaaS

Toronto , Ontario, Ca

A privately held consumer products company, California Innovations is a world-wide market leader in soft sided coolers and insulated products including the Arctic Zone, Titan and Columbia brands. I was approached by California Innovations for immediate guidance and support in on-shoring activities. I joined CI as a member of the company's senior management team to directly support the COO, CFO and President/CEO. In this role, I provide vision, strategic direction and leadership to all engineering and manufacturing operations including R&D, vendor strategy, product development, and product marketing.• Provide leadership, training and execution plans for manufacturing, process engineering, sourcing, strategic planning, product development, innovation strategy, M&A and vision/mission. • Started best-in-class domestic US rotational molding, assembly and lean manufacturing facility using Lean, Six-Sigma, APQP best practices. Developed all plans, financial modeling, project management, equipment procurement and installation, supply chain, staffing and validation. The operations launched on-time, under budget and ahead of schedule, meeting all quality and delivery targets.• Responsible for Plant Management, Human Resources, Finance, Environmental Health & Safety, Quality, Project Management, Process Engineering, Capex procurement & installation, forecasting, delivery, P&L.• Successfully shut down operation and negotiated sale of all assets and acquisition of business.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

I was recruited into Kids2 to be the Divisional President/General Manager for several major durable consumer goods business units. Kids2 has received numerous corporate awards and accolades, including being a “Top 100 Private Corporation in Georgia”, a “Fastest Growing Company”, a “Best Place to Work in Atlanta” for two consecutive years and, most recently, one of the “Coolest Places to Work in Atlanta”. Kids II has a 40-year history of developing industry-changing innovations. Through its brands, Kids2 is a powerhouse of creativity, diversity and innovation, uniquely matching the individual needs of every parent and baby. As a DVP, I provide vision, strategic direction and leadership to Global Product Management and Product Development Engineering, Packaging and Design, Vendor Strategy, Manufacturing, Category Management, Merchandising and Product Marketing to maximize brand equity, growth and profitability. Full P&L ownership, I drive strategic business planning, R&D, sourcing, marketing and go-to-market execution for 5 in-house brands and for private label partnerships. In late 2016, I was asked to take on PD-Operations. As head of PD-Operations, I led all corporate-wide operational excellence initiatives, process improvements, and quality assurance. I personally managed all budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis. Led the entire Asia Product Development & Project Engineering team.• Revamped organizational structure and implemented detailed strategic planning and new stage-gate development processes to drive focus areas and generate 14% CAGR in revenue and improve net margin 170 basis points while reducing SG&A.• Deployed enterprise project management system for Kids2 – achieved 50% increase in efficiency and 70% reduction in project iterations.• Managed all value analysis and value engineering (VA/VE) activities for company, generating over $1M in cost savings in one year.

Cumming, Ga, Us

Shilo Partners, recognized as an outstanding partner in the areas of Innovation, Product Development, Manufacturing, Engineering and Operations, works with clients to achieve rapid and sustained improvements in shareholder value. We provide executive advisement services to CEOs and C-Suite leaders in the Automotive, Industrial, Chemical and Consumer Products industries. If you need help with problem solving, product roadmap, supply chain, onshoring, innovation strategy, intellectual property, factory start-up, project management, process improvement, operational excellence or developing world-class products, Shilo Partners is your solution.• We worked with SharkNinja on a temporary assignment to define the strategies for a world-class innovation machine to take this dynamic company to the next level. Through a detailed analysis of the product development process and manufacturing systems, we put in place new structure, strategies, processes, PDM system and workforce to improve efficiency and quality to deliver $1B in revenue and 30% growth over the previous year.• Takata Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo) was undergoing global restructuring of its business units. They contracted me to define the growth strategy and manage a very high-profile brand in their durable CPG consumer products business to drive growth in a turnaround situation under a 1-year contract. I developed the full business plan for this complex global consumer products business with all manufacturing, sourcing, staffing, pricing, channel and e-commerce strategy and retail distribution. This included penetrating new markets in China, Russia, India, Brazil and the US.• Additional clients included Atlanta based Activ Technologies and The Quality Group.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

In 2009, I switched industries from Automotive to CPG Consumer Products, relocating to Atlanta. I have always had a passion for the customer and could leverage my skills in global product development and leadership into the juvenile products business at Newell. As VP of Global Research, Design & Technology, I directly led all engineering, research, industrial design & ideation, Six Sigma, intellectual property, product management and technical services across 5 global R&D centers in the US, Japan, Germany and China. Working closely in collaboration with marketing and consumer insights, I defined and executed the global innovation strategy and all elements of new product development. Member of Executive S&OP leadership to drive improved operational efficiency.• Doubled pipeline efficiency in 12 months, and reduced time to market by 50%, through initiating and implementing PLM system and full innovation and stage-gate product development process to manage NPD and product pipeline. • Consolidated resources from 2 recent acquisitions into 1 high performing global R&D organization.• Integral part of the corporate regulatory and safety committee to review all laws, standards and global requirements as well as interface with regulatory bodies.• Led the design, construction & startup of a $5M 40,000 sq. ft shared services technology center including the only high-speed crash sled in Atlanta. Consolidated prototype and testing functions saving $1M in the first year.

Auburn Hills, Michigan, Us

In 2007, KSS was sold to its’ second private equity owner, Crestview Partners, and a new CEO was named. The company started down a few new directions. To reinvigorate the innovation plan, I was asked to take on the role of Chief Technical Officer and lead the Corporate Technology Council. I leveraged core technologies in multiple business units and drove technology across the businesses. I directly led all internal technical services, design, laboratories and product and system engineering functions. Developed and drove corporate Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) initiative.As the automotive industry was heading into a downturn in 2008, I was asked to look at new sources of revenue for KSS. I created a new profit center/business unit to position the company as a technical solutions provider including all elements of Sales & Marketing, Hardware & Software Engineering, etc. As General Manager of this business, I had full Global P&L accountability.• Created a new profit center/ business unit including all elements of Sales & Marketing, Engineering, Ecommerce, software development, etc. • As CTO, required to interface with government bodies on all aspects of product regulatory requirements.

Auburn Hills, Michigan, Us

In late 2007, Key Safety Systems spun off the inflator and energetics business as a separate business unit to create greater focus on improving the operations and ensuring a successful launch of a critical new technology. I was asked to manage this business through its’ transformation. I led the Operations Management, Manufacturing, Product Development Engineering and all associated P&L functions for Lean manufacturing and engineering centers in Florida, Mexico, Italy and China. Drove factory efficiency through TPS, LEAN and Six Sigma for multiple assembly and chemical processing facilities. Part of the expansion included launching a new wholly owned factory in China. I was intimately involved in all aspects of government interface, facility construction and start-up. I employed a staff of 750 with operating revenue of over $100 million. • Reduced scrap from 8% of revenue to 2.5% by identifying and correcting quality system and process equipment and control deficiencies.• Reduced inventory by $2M and increased inventory turns by 20% through aggressive management of finished goods and raw material days on hand.

Auburn Hills, Michigan, Us

I was promoted to Vice President of Engineering in May of 2003 when Breed Technologies, Inc. was purchased by the private equity Carlyle Management Group and the name changed to Key Safety Systems (KSS). I led all global product research, product development and new product launch for 4 engineering centers in the US, Europe and Asia. I was responsible for Product Engineering, R&D, Value Analysis/Value Engineering, Program Management, System Engineering, Test Labs and Prototyping. There were over 300 technical staff in my organization under a global budget of $30M+.I managed the long and short range strategic innovation plans for the company and all intellectual property. I was the spokesperson to industry and trade media events for presenting the company’s products, technology and strategic plan.• Tripled divisional EBITDA by bolstering efficiency and slashing overhead expenses while boosting production.• Pioneered and streamlined such functions as the VA/VE, Gold Standard product development as well as the Stage-gate processes resulting in dramatic overhead savings, speedier production turnaround times and lower ED&D expenses.• Executive champion for corporate Six Sigma initiative.

Auburn Hills, Michigan, Us

I was heavily recruited by Breed Technologies at the end of 2000 to reinvigorate their stalled advanced development program. I started at Breed in January of 2001 as Director of Global Engineering with responsibility over all airbag R&D and Core Engineering activities, to service OEM customers in all regions. As the Global Director of Advanced Development, I was responsible for creating and administering the company’s short and long term strategic technology plans and for the company’s patent strategy and portfolio administration.I was the company’s main technical representative for all new technology and frequently traveled to all global OEM customers in North America, Europe and Asia to present and discuss new product developments and implementation. I worked closely with several universities, hospitals, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).• Developed competitive analysis process that OEM customers called the best in the industry.• As the corporate executive champion for Six Sigma, led a Six Sigma project to optimize the Stage-gate process for APQP management reviews, resulting in improved program metrics and smoother product launches.

Bs, Chemical Engineering

Ma, Organizational Management