Michael Irwin
Founder
san diego | United States
Skills
No information
Interests
Developing people and businesses to achieve their goals.
Turning ideas into business results.
Designing organizations for sustainable growth.
Building international networks.
In my own words
— MichaelFounder at Bottle Rocket Advisors - Helping companies grow sales, improve profitability, and scale up.
Trajectory
Aug 2016 — Now
Founder · Bottle Rocket Advisors
As Co-founder/President of a start up company, executive officer of a $1 billion market cap company, global strategy officer, VP marketing, public company CFO, and board member I faced many unique challenges and opportunities. Along the way, I saw that companies often struggle due to issues within their strategy, culture, or execution. I started Bottle Rocket Advisors to help address those challenges. I bring an experienced outsider's perspective, an insider's operational awareness, and an owner's sense of urgency to everything I do. The Bottle Rocket mission is to help clients grow sales, improve profitability, and scale up by leveraging my 20 years of experience in consumer goods and my network.
Aug 2012 — Dec 2015
President / Co-Founder · WD-40 BIKE Company
Aimed at specialty retail, I set up WD-40 BIKE as an internally-funded start-up company with a purpose-built line of products and separate support functions and and a high-touch event oriented marketing program. We reached 3,500 stores in the US and 19 countries.
May 2008 — Dec 2015
EVP - Strategic Development · WD-40 Company
I reshaped corporate and brand strategy to amplify profitable growth. The strategic shift delivered a sharper focus in sales, marketing, sourcing, and innovation. In the first five years under the new strategy, overall company sales grew at 2X the prior rate and profit grew even faster than that. I 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 - the first-ever extensions of the iconic WD-40 brand.
May 2001 — Apr 2008
EVP - Chief Financial Officer · WD-40 Company
As CFO of this $1 billion public company, I transformed the global financial function, integrated acquisitions, refinanced debt, integrated a new ERP system, and built relationships with the investment community.
Apr 1998 — Apr 2001
VP Marketing - Americas · WD-40 Company
I led the team in designing and executing effective marketing programs that achieved double digit annual growth rates across North, Central and South America, and also all-time record consumption in the biggest market.
Activity
Education history
San Diego State University
BA | 1982 - 1987
Southern Methodist University
MBA | 1989 - 1990
University of San DIego
MS | 1998 - 2000
