Michael Thompson

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2023 – Present

Business Unit Director Global Footwear

2023 – Present

Responsible for creating the strategic direction and oversight for Black Diamond global footwear categories with accountability for strategic business and product launch planning, global product line management, product development leadership, and delivery of activity and consumer driven product initiatives. ● Drive a market leading point of view for all BD Footwear product, ensuring all category strategies are competitive & predictive of changing market dynamics & white space opportunities ● Manage & develop a 5 person, high performing product creation team (objective setting, assessments, coaching) that fosters cross-department collaboration ● Lead cohesive approach across footwear for GTM Milestone, flow to market, product & innovation life cycle strategies ● Collaborate closely with Brand leadership & Business Unit Directors to strategize cross category product launches and brand messaging alignment

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2019 – 2022

Global Senior Director Footwear Category Management

2019 – 2022

Oversaw all global footwear category management across Lifestyle & Performance categories as we led with innovation, culture, the outdoors, & authenticity being at the heart of the process. Responsible for product direction & seasonal storytelling to drive broad customer and consumer adoption. ● Led a six person global product management & merchandising team responsible for setting the strategic vision, overseeing the product creation process, & ensuring consumer right assortments within the global marketplace for the Performance, Lifestyle, & Youth footwear businesses ● Reset the overall category strategy with a focus on driving authenticity through scaling innovation, focusing on key classifications, & optimizing a global marketplace strategy ● Developed footwear collaboration strategy with key internal stakeholders, to bring authentic, brand relevant, energy moments to market thru new & existing franchises ● Structured the optimal product lines across the portfolio of businesses, resulting in revenue growth of 51% & margin improvement of 350 bps between CY19 & CY22 ● Facilitated global product launches & brand messaging with Brand, Sales, & Regional Merchandising teams

Global Sr. Director, Footwear Category Management

2019 – 2022

Oversaw all global footwear category management across Lifestyle & Performance categories as we led with innovation, culture, the outdoors, & authenticity being at the heart of the process. Responsible for product direction & seasonal storytelling to drive broad customer and consumer adoption. Led a six person product management & merchandising team responsible for setting the strategic vision, overseeing the product creation process, & ensuring consumer right assortments within the global marketplace for the Performance, Lifestyle, & Youth footwear businesses Reset the overall category strategy with a focus on driving authenticity through scaling innovation, focusing on key classifications, & optimizing the product creation calendar Structured the optimal product lines across the portfolio of businesses, resulting in revenue growth of 51% & margin improvement of 350 bps between CY19 & CY22 Collaborated with heads of Product Design & Development to ensure our teams are working effectively together Worked closely with Consumer Insights Team to ensure product creation teams are uncovering necessary information & immersed in key consumer insights Facilitated global product launches & brand messaging with Brand, Sales, & Regional Merchandising teams

Senior Manager Product Merchandising AND Advanced Innovation

2018 – 2019

Responsible for product strategy, innovation pipeline, merchandising, & business planning for the global footwear, apparel, & essentials categories. Led the global product creation process & teams from concept and briefing to commercialization. ● Managed & led a team of 4 product line managers, 1 product line coordinator, & 2 advanced innovation personnel ● Defined and led the overall business strategy and operations for the Global Apparel, Footwear, & Essentials businesses ● Built & guided multi-year product pipeline, strategy, & implementation for advanced innovation

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2007 – 2019

Sr. Manager, Product Merchandising & Advanced Innovation

2018 – 2019

Responsible for product strategy, merchandising, & business planning for the global footwear, apparel, & essentials categories. Led the global product creation process & teams from concept and briefing to commercialization. Managed & led a team of 4 product line managers, 1 product line coordinator, & 2 advanced innovation personnel Defined and led the overall business strategy and operations for the Global Apparel, Footwear, & Essentials businesses Built & guided multi-year product pipeline, strategy, & implementation for advanced innovation Led cross-functional leadership team in new product creation process, resulting in 6 month reductions in calendar to be closer to market

Global Category Manager Cycling Apparel AND Footwear

2016 – 2018

Responsible for leading & managing all elements of the product creation process for the global apparel & footwear division. Defined & established category product vision, strategies, & seasonal initiatives, all designed to reach revenue/margin targets, & long-term strategic priorities. ● Re-launched road & mountain bike apparel categories: recruited team, re-focused & re-energized product line, while nurtured innovation & team culture ● Led PLM teams to assure key initiatives & strategies were aligned across categories throughout the season ● Selected to participate in the company's "Executive Leadership" program, used to identify future directors & chief officers

Global Category Manager, Cycling Apparel & Footwear

2016 – 2018

Responsible for leading & managing all elements of the product creation process for the global apparel & footwear division. Defined & established category product vision, strategies, & seasonal initiatives, all designed to reach revenue/margin targets, & long-term strategic priorities. Re-launched road & mountain bike apparel categories: recruited team, re-focused & re-energized product line, while nurtured innovation & team culture Worked closely with Brand, Sales & Operations to strategize product launches & brand messaging Led PLM teams to assure key initiatives & strategies were aligned across categories throughout the season Selected to participate in the company’s “Executive Leadership” program, used to identify future directors & chief officers

Senior Product Line Manager Run Footwear AND Run Apparel

2013 – 2016

Led the strategy, planning and creation of the Project E:Motion footwear product line. A consumer & marketplace expert, translating knowledge into product insights & innovations, while growing market share & achieving business goals.

Sr. Product Line Manager, Run Footwear & Run Apparel

2013 – 2016

Led the strategy, planning and creation of all styles in the global product collection. A consumer & marketplace expert, translating knowledge into product insights & innovations, while growing market share & achieving business goals. Responsible for leading global product line/category from brief stage through design, development, product introduction, and sell through Collaborated with global Go-To-Market teams to create cohesive sales & marketing strategies & deliverables that support seasonal product initiatives Translated consumer insights into compelling global product assortments that served the needs of our geography partners

Product Line Manager Run Footwear

2008 – 2013

Developed focused long-term product line architecture with a new global footwear platform, resulting in an innovative, consumer-centric product collection

Product Line Manager, Run Footwear

2008 – 2013

Led teams from design, development, sourcing, & operations through seasonal product creation process Developed focused long-term product line architecture with a new global footwear platform, resulting in an innovative, consumer-centric product collection

Product Developer

2007 – 2008

Managed the development of all global footwear lines from initial concept to production commercialization.

Product Developer, Run & Cycling Footwear

2007 – 2008

Managed the development of all global footwear lines from initial concept to production commercialization. Worked extensively with design, product management, & development to execute all seasonal footwear projects

Product Developer AND Dealer Service Manager

2004 – 2007

Assisted product development of entire backpack, sleeping bag, tent, bottle pack, & apparel lines from initial prototypes to final production

Bachelors of Business Administration

1993 – 1997

Bachelors of Business Administration

bachelors