Jim Brannigan

CEO | PRESIDENT | INNOVATOR

FOCUS: SALES * MARKETING * BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Shaping Strategic Vision, Planning, & Execution to Drive

Growth, Increased Profits, & Customer Value
Extensive Expertise in
Strategic Planning Sales/Marketing Strategy Market/Channel Development Busin
ess Development Product Strategy
New Ventures/Acquisitions/Partnerships Process Improvement Cost Containment
Technology Enablement

Entrepreneurial-spirited Chief Executive with 20+ year track record tapping unre
alized potential, identifying and exploiting new market opportunities that grow
revenues, market presence, and share, and executing business turnarounds. Able t
o guide ventures from startup/early phase through rapid growth to highly profita
ble, well-managed, mature enterprises. Special expertise in Intellectual Propert
y issues, online copyrights/digital agreements, and digital/electronic product s
trategy. Exceptional negotiating, key account, and strategic partnering skills.
In-depth knowledge of publishing/new media industries and online technologies.
* Multiplied revenues and profit nearly 400%, replacing outdated processes and t
echnology with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
* Conceived and launched new distribution channels contributing 50% of PBIT and
30% of revenues within 1st year.
* Relocated business interstate, saving 20% overheadunder budget, on schedule, w
ith minimal distribution downtime.
* Brokered acquisition for $2B company that generated 5 times pre-acquisition an
nual sales in its first year.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BRANNIGAN & ASSOCIATES, Wallingford, CT/ North Kingstown, RI 1997 2001; 2009 P
resent
International business consulting firm providing strategic design, turnaround, s
ales/marketing and growth plans, process improvement and optimization, governanc
e development and M&A research/brokering.
President & Founder
Hire/direct teams of up to 6 staff and contractors in providing consulting servi
ces to a diverse client base, in areas of process improvement, product developme
nt, sales/marketing, strategic development, U.S. and cross-border mergers/acquis
itions, VC brokering/capital funding, and new market development/launch.
While building and managing all aspects of thriving consulting practice, provide
strategies that deliver dramatic organic and acquisition-driven sales and profi
t growth for clientele including start-ups to Fortune 500; selected highlights i
nclude:
* Developed and helped execute launch strategy for a new media company that was
launched within 60 days of initiation.
* Directed strategy that positioned Voquette.com as major aggregator of web cont
ent with 10,000+ titles online. Led to Board Advisory appointment and numerous p
artnerships including one with web audio publishing pioneer MediaBay.
* Researched/assessed new market opportunities for BBC Worldwide, and developed
modeling software providing What if? toolset to test business launch scenarios.
Led to BBCs purchase of U.S. company Chivers North America and hire to run resul
ting company BBC Audiobooks America as President and CEO (see next position).
* Delivered first-year sales of $5M and 20%+ PBIT by designing and executing U.S
. retail product launch for $30M+ institutional publisher.
* Fueled 350% sales growth for Random Houses childrens audio market distribution
by researching the market landscape and brokering purchase of Listening Library
, including key rights to Harry Potter audio franchise that generated $50M+ in a
dditional sales.
* Brokered cross-border licensing deals with cumulative sales value exceeding $1
0M for U.S. and UK companies such as Hodder Headline PLC, Penguin UK, Audio Part
ners, Chivers Press, Career Press, and MediaBay.

BBC AUDIOBOOKS AMERICA, part of BBC WORLDWIDE, LTD, North Kingstown, RI 2001 20
09
$15M division of $1.4B company, publishers to library, institutional, and retail
markets.
President & CEO
Recruited with sales maxed out within limited operational capacity, company was
instantly thrown into cash crisis with post-9/11evaporation of receivables payme
nts from largely public library customer base. Reporting to President, Worldwide
Americas, conceived and led execution of strategy to offset impact with aggress
ive expansion of U.S. business (channels and products). Hired/developed and led
staff of 44/6 contractors; managed $10M operating/$2M capital/$2M project budget
s.
Drove revenue/profit growth, business development, acquisition, and process impr
ovement/technology enablement initiatives that increased both sales and profits
by 400% and made U.S. operation lynchpin for future BBC Worldwide growth in U.S.
:
Strategy & Business Development
* Developed, championed, and won unanimous approval for proposal to launch U.S.
retail channel and associated plan for acquisition of small company with complem
entary product offering. Negotiated acquisition providing $2M added revenue and
launched channel representing 25% of overall revenue that was profitable in firs
t year.
* Evolved product line into entirely new market space and formats, including lau
nch of digital-to-consumer market that contributed another 5% of sales and 25% o
f PBIT within one year.
* Fueled nearly $2M in added revenues in just last 2 years with savvy online dig
ital agreements protecting copyright ownership of company, including co-distribu
tion agreements allowing shared IP exploitation with no cash outlay (generated $
1M sales over 3-year term).
* Struck $750K content licensing deal (BBCs largest-ever) for 3 Lord of the Ring
s titles centered on movie launch.
Operational & Process Improvement/Cost Containment
* Reduced aged receivables from 72 days to 55 and transformed disastrously slow
shipping to on-time/under budget within 6 months by analyzing and revamping prod
uct development and manufacturing processes.
* Eliminated mini-fiefdoms with formalized interaction, regular meetings, and fo
cus on each roles importance.
* Slashed operating costs by 20% while increasing capacity by identifying need a
nd negotiating/executing interstate relocation of business and hire of complete
new staff on time/15% under budget, without operational interruption.
* Improved cash flow ~$400K in 90 days by terminating $1M distribution contract
with PBIT that looked good on paper but served as drain on business with its wea
k margins and poor cash flow.
* Decreased cost of goods on main product line by 50% ($300K/year) while improvi
ng quality and durability through ongoing process reengineering and cost control
s implementation.
Sales/Marketing Programs / Brand Positioning
* Increased sales closure rate to 35% in highly competitive library market with
analysis of sales team/process, identification of issues critical to customers,
and development of comprehensive presentation and toolkit.
* Enhanced customer and partner perception of business and positioned team as in
dustry/thought leaders through effective marketing and by establishing culture o
f ethical business practices, good communications, and clear leadership.
Product Line Strategy
* Increased intellectual property investment return 70% and market share 100% wi
th introduction of alternate product formats (MP3CD and pre-loaded MP3 players)
into existing institutional distribution outlets.
* Produced first-year sales of $3.4M on investment of less than $500K by leading
design, approval, and execution of market launch program for new retail produc
t line.
* Added $1/2M initially and ultimately $1.25M annually (on $5M in sales) by conc
eiving/executing consignment deals packaging products with owners copyright and
selling in as part of mainstream offering to library customer base.
Technology Enablement
* Introduced direct-to-end-user sales, with online widgets as alternative to mas
sive gatekeeper accounts (Barnes & Noble, Borders) holding 60% of retail audio b
usiness; website host incentives are expected to drive future sales.
* Brought antiquated technology current, with computers on every desk and new, t
otally integrated operating system and enterprise software to run business and a
utomate complex, high volume royalty payments.
* Facilitated access to updated information, reduced errors by 20%, and enhanced
cross-functional cooperation with Google docs-based communications program.
HIGHBRIDGE CO., St. Paul, MN 1989 1997
$6M distributor serving major retailers and catalogers across U.S. (Parent: Rive
rtown Trading Co.)
Vice President / Director
Recruited to grow special sale and audio books businesses then generating less t
han $1M in sales. Held full P&L responsibility for sales/marketing, operations,
budgeting, acquisitions, licensing, and distribution. Developed and led team of
2 direct/7 indirect reports, with $5M operating/$500K capital/$500K project budg
ets. Won/maintained key account and high-profile talent relationships.
Recognizing that direct competition with big publishers was not feasible, focuse
d on unique products, market niches, and distribution channels to turn around pe
rformance quickly, drive 800% sales growth, and increase EBIT from 4% to 25%:
* Negotiated distribution agreement allowing direct sales into key accounts, add
ing $500K to gross margin annually.
* Established cash machine core products to take major account sales from $750K
to $3.5M within first yearwith HighBridge products in 6 of top 10 bestseller slo
ts for 900-store Waldenbooks chain at peak (many still sell well today).
* Gained fivefold ROI on $100K funding deal for Return of the Jedi radio play in
which LucasFilm received no royalties until HighBridge earned back production i
nvestment. Built traffic, and pulled in new products to distribution pipeline.
* Generated more than $2.5M in sales against $40K investment with transatlantic
intellectual property rights deal that fed 30+ properties into companys U.S. pro
duct pipeline.
* Added $12M in profitable sales volume over 5 years ($2M in first year) by nego
tiating joint venture with Penguin USA, including separate copyrights owned by v
enture that is still generating revenues today for HighBridge.
* Led development of 150+ products generating one million+ unit sales. High qual
ity spoken word audio recordings garnered 4 Grammy Award nominations.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

* As Director of Marketing & Sales at TDM/McGraw Hill of New York, NY: At reques
t of GM, revived small media acquisition whose sales had fallen 70% prior to my
arrival, bringing sales to pre-acquisition level within 11 months.
* As Assistant Manager, Market Development & Merchandising for Walden Book Compa
ny of Stamford, CT: Spearheaded chains 900 stores entry into new businesses whil
e still in early twenties, creating $15-20M new business category within year an
d started the trend towards private label, high margin proprietary products.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

B.S., University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, May 1983; Lean Six Sigma Certif
ication, Villanova University, September 2009
Content and Copyright Conference, Library of Congress, University of Virginia, 1
991; Sales Management Seminar, University of Wisconsin, 1989

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACTIVITIES

Media Industry Advisor, Inkriti (June 2009 Present). (Technology company that
provides IT solutions for e-business..)
St. Marys Home for Children, Providence, Rhode Island Development/Major Gifts
Committee (January 2010 Present)
Board of Directors, BBC Audiobooks, Ltd (2002 2009) * Board of Advisors, New T
erritories (2006 2009)
Board Advisor, Voquette.com (2000 2002) * Board of Governors, Mid-State Medica
l Center (1994 2001)
Board Member & President, Audio Publishers Association (1990 1997)
Organized and secured funding for APAs first consumer attitude and usage survey
, with report serving as foundation
for all press generation year of release and as benchmark for all future resear
ch.