GM Wholesale – Outerknown, Firewire, Slater Designs

GM Wholesale – Outerknown, Firewire, Slater Designs

The GM of Wholesale’s primary purpose is to drive the strategic development and execution of Outerknown, Firewire Surfboards, and Slater Designs’ global wholesale business to deliver on financial targets and company objectives. Through excellent management of internal sales support functions to building long-term, successful partnerships with a premium, multi-tiered wholesale account network, this position is sharply focused on growth, profitability, and elevating our brands through a thoughtful wholesale distribution strategy.

• Develop and drive 3-year wholesale growth plan across all brands (and agnostic to each) for all product categories in alignment with company’s overall 3-year strategy.
• Identify a multi-channel wholesale strategy that mitigates channel conflict, prioritizing expansion into key geographic communities with brand-elevating partners.
• Identify and unlock efficiencies to service all brands through the company’s combined sales infrastructure.
• Develop and execute on a Top Account strategy that prioritizes the growth and service of our most essential partners.
• Partner with other key stakeholders/functional leaders to support execution of strategy.
• Drive the delivery on net sales growth and profitability targets.
• Partner with finance on monthly, quarterly, and annual budgeting process, providing vetted and validated accuracy inputs on re-forecasting process.
• Support delivery of wholesale gross margin targets, minimizing wholesale-induced margin erosion variables.
• Set, distribute, monitor, and manage seasonal and annual sales plans to sales representatives.
• Partner with demand planning function to provide accurate inputs into product purchasing process to accurately support meeting demand within working capital targets.
• Manage wholesale operating expense budget to plan and/or targeted ratio.
• Develop the global wholesale infrastructure/sales force to support best-in‑class service of brands.
• Oversee wholesale accounts’ compliance of company Terms of Trade and adherence to company online MAP policy.
• Oversee the management of a best-in‑class B2B order entry platform.
• Contribute to finance Accounts Receivable efforts, minimizing delinquency in payment and credit holds.
• Manage the RTV (return to vendor) and credit/markdown process with aim to minimize gross margin erosion and sales dilution as much as possible.
• Oversee the wholesale sample and catalog development and distribution process, focusing on cost and operational efficiency.
• Manage the wholesale Customer Service function, ensuring a clean order file, delivering to our customers on or before the start date.
• Manage all Prebook incentive and at‑once programs.
• Manage and oversee the accuracy and integrity of the customer master file.
• Provide consistent sell‑through reporting from key accounts to relevant stakeholders within the business.
• Manage the annual wholesale calendar, aligned with key Go To Market dates across multi‑seasons.

• Partner with Senior Leadership Team to accelerate the success of the wholesale strategy as well as contribute to overall company strategic plan.
• Partner with Product to ensure product feedback, future input, and channel/account specific needs are communicated clearly and regularly.
• Partner with Operations on the timely allocation and fulfilment of orders both through our 3PL operation as well as vertically.
• Partner with marketing on all wholesale‑relevant Go To Market plans, trade shows, campaigns, in‑store buildout, fixture, POP, etc. execution.
• Partner with DTC teams to align on pricing strategy, harmonize route to market, and minimize self‑inflicted channel conflict.

• Inspire people: share a vision and plan linked to our strategy; make people feel they are part of something bigger; grow your people’s confidence and capacity through coaching and development.
• Think like a custodian: think and act strategically about the long‑term health of Outerknown, Firewire Surfboards, and Slater Designs; make courageous decisions to grow and protect the brand; leave the brands in a better place for consumers and the next generation of leaders.
• Build…