Carl Yankowski

Current

• CEO at Ambient Devices
• Board member at Informatica Corporation
• Principal at Westerham Group, LLC (www.westerham.com)

• Director at Avidyne Corporation
• CEO at Palm
• CEO at Reebok

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Past

• Executive Chairman/Interim CEO at CRF INC (www.crfhealth.com)
• Chairman/CEO at Majesco Entertainment, Inc.
• CEO at 3COM/PALM, INC.

• CEO, Reebok Brand at REEBOK INTERNATIONAL
• PRES. AND COO, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC. at SONY CORPORATION
• President/COO at Sony Electronics
• CHAIRMAN, ASIA-PACIFIC REGION at POLAROID CORPORATION
• PRESIDENT & CEO, SODAMATE INC at CADBURY SCHWEPPES
• Genral Manager, Appliances at GE
• Director Brand Pepsi Marketing at Pepsi
• GENERAL MANAGER OF MARKETING at GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
• GROUP DIRECTOR OF MARKETING at PEPSI COLA COMPANY
• MGR., NEW PRODUCTS & ACQUISITIONS at MEMOREX CORPORATION
• FOOD PRODUCTS MARKETING AND SALES ASSIGNMENTS at PROCTER AND GAMBLE
• Student at EDUCATION
• Graduate/Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management
• OTHER at Misc.

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Education

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Wellesley College

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Recommended

23 people have recommended Carl

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Consumer Electronics

Websites

• My Company

Carl Yankowski’s Summary

Highly seasoned, growth-oriented change agent. Innovative global technology, marketing, enterprise, consumer, and packaged goods business/brand builder and leader. Up to date on all current technology, systems, and software approaches and major technologies. Strong leader.

Carl Yankowski’s Specialties:

Unique and broad combination of technology and marketing strengths. Current on new-age marketing approaches.

Carl Yankowski’s Experience

• CEO

  Ambient Devices

  (Consumer Electronics industry)

  2007 — Present (1 year)

• Board member

  Informatica Corporation

  (Public Company; Consumer Electronics industry)

  2003 — Present (5 years)

• Principal

  Westerham Group, LLC (www.westerham.com)

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Management Consulting industry)

  January 2002 — Present (6 years 7 months)

  Management consulting, deal evaluations and diligence in technology, consumer, food, beverage, and restaurant markets. Marketing and technology consulting, speaking , and board work including semiconductors, defense, enterprise software, consumer electronics, advertising/media, security, digital rights, avionics, imaging, food and beverage, packaged goods, and clinical drug trials.

• Director

  Avidyne Corporation

  (Consumer Electronics industry)

  2000 — Present (8 years)

• CEO

  Palm

  (Public Company; Consumer Electronics industry)

  1999 — Present (9 years)

• CEO

  Reebok

  (Public Company; Consumer Electronics industry)

  1998 — Present (10 years)

• Executive Chairman/Interim CEO

  CRF INC (www.crfhealth.com)

  (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Information Services industry)

  March 2002 — June 2006 (4 years 4 months)

  Executive chairman of this global, rapidly-growing, and market share-leading company providing electronic patient diary technology and services for clinical drug trials to 13 of the 20 major pharmaceutical companies. Company founded in Helsinki. Hired former CEO of Arthur D. Little (Pam McNamara) as current CEO.

• Chairman/CEO

  Majesco Entertainment, Inc.

  (Public Company; 51-200 employees; COOL; Entertainment industry)

  September 2004 — June 2005 (10 months)

  Hired to capitalize this one-time $120 million NJ family-owned/OTC video game business. Raised $75M gross, listed on Nasdaq. Began to build people, systems, and processes for growth. Hired new sales team and CFO in May/June 2005 to improve operational management. Company could not deliver against its’ earlier strong confidence in new products revenue forecast in back-loaded second half of fiscal year in very soft market-wide retail environment. Extremely frustrating. Departed to less “hit-driven”, non-family, more predictable business growth opportunities with better execution.

• CEO

  3COM/PALM, INC.

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; PALM; Consumer Electronics industry)

  October 1999 — November 2001 (2 years 2 months)

  Parachuted in 3 months before IPO, and planned and implemented the most highly valued U.S. technology IPO to date. Established Palm brand and the category broadly. Grew to a $1+ billion company. Restructured company into dot-com bust era.

• CEO, Reebok Brand

  REEBOK INTERNATIONAL

  (Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; RBK; Sporting Goods industry)

  September 1998 — November 1999 (1 year 3 months)

  Hired by founder Paul Fireman to create and implement first major stages of ultimately successful turnaround plan, including professional SBU management, new creative designs, improved working capital management, lower cost bases, and more focused marketing/positioning. Due to long industry-standard product lead-times, full market impact was 12-18 months after initiation

• PRES. AND COO, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.

  SONY CORPORATION

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; SNY; Consumer Electronics industry)

  December 1993 — January 1998 (4 years 2 months)

  Hired by Akio Morita and Mickey Schulhof to grow and diversify the U.S. electronics businesses. Grew from $6+ Billion to over $10 Billion to largest single global operation for Sony, surpassing Japan. Received growth and profit award recognition from Chairman Ohga. Helped reposition company as leader in new digital and convergent audio, video, communications, gaming, and networked computer/internet markets. Expanded local manufacturing and R&D significantly. Improved profitability, brand image, and local culture, doubling ADR value.
  Profitably diversified U.S. Company from $6+ billion to $10+ billion, finally reporting directly to Nobuyuki Idei in Tokyo. Largest and 1st Sony operation to exceed $10 billion. Over 100 facilities across twenty states and Mexico.
  Only broad-based consumer electronics-oriented company in U.S. to be consistently profitable; increased profits 50%+; reduced inventory 0.4 months. Separately, sat on advisory board of successful U.S. Playstation launch.

• President/COO

  Sony Electronics

  (Public Company; Consumer Electronics industry)

  1993 — 1998 (5 years)

• CHAIRMAN, ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

  POLAROID CORPORATION

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; PRD; Consumer Goods industry)

  December 1988 — November 1993 (5 years)

  CHAIRMAN, ASIA-PACIFIC REGION. Dec, 1992-Nov, 1993. Led fastest growing sales and profit region globally, about $500 million in annual sales. Focused on commercial security and identification imaging markets. Set up first regional headquarters and lived in Hong Kong. Oversaw manufacturing plant in China. Initiated major partnership in India. Chairman of cash-generating Nippon Polaroid K.K. Managed staff and distributor arrangements from Australia to Korea (Samsung).
  CORPORATE V.P., BUSINESS IMAGING GROUP. April, 1990-November, 1992. Worldwide multi-functional matrix general manager for about one-third of corporate revenue (about $700 million) and profit, reporting to CEO. V.P., U.S. CONSUMER AND INDUSTRIAL MARKETING; WORLDWIDE CONSUMER STRATEGY. December, 1988-March, 1990. V.P., U.S. MARKETING AND SALES. September, 1988-November, 1988. Helped defeat Shamrock takeover attempt. Subsequently helped achieve two most profitable years in 54-year corporate history.

• PRESIDENT & CEO, SODAMATE INC

  CADBURY SCHWEPPES

  (Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Food & Beverages industry)

  January 1983 — August 1988 (5 years 8 months)

  Hired by Main Board in London to develop and test in-home soft drink dispensing. Return on assets employed increased over 300%. Successfully developed and test-marketed system, with full IP. Failed to convince Coke and Pepsi management to rewrite bottler contracts to accommodate.
  • PRESIDENT & CEO, SODAMATE INC., DIRECTOR, SODAMATE HOLDINGS LTD. (U.K.). April, 1986-August, 1988. PRESIDENT & CEO, SOCORP INT'L, INC., PRESIDENT, SODASTREAM LTD. USA. January, 1983-March, 1986. Hired by Board of Directors of Cadbury Schweppes, plc (UK) to develop and commercialize in home soft drink dispensing project from scratch. Successfully formed company, hired small team, developed product, and formulated business system. Raised $50 million in venture capital. Business system now in niche commercial applications. Large-scale consumer expansion test-marketed. Not expanded due to reluctance of Coke and Pepsi management

• Genral Manager, Appliances

  GE

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Consumer Goods industry)

  1981 — 1982 (1 year)

  Led mktg/product development--lauched Spacemaker. Helped develop "GE, We Bring Good Things to Life" campaign

• Director Brand Pepsi Marketing

  Pepsi

  (Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)

  1977 — 1982 (5 years)

• GENERAL MANAGER OF MARKETING

  GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Consumer Goods industry)

  April 1981 — December 1982 (1 year 9 months)

  GENERAL MANAGER OF MARKETING, GENERAL ELECTRIC HOUSEWARES. April, 1981-December, 1982. Total marketing/product responsibility for $0.6 billion operation. Cut staff from 90 to 58 while improving productivity. Reduced working capital $17M, resulting in record $38 million cash flow. Launched $100M in new "Spacemaker" products. Recommended major capital investment or divestiture, ultimately resulting in Black and Decker buyout in 1984.
  One of twenty-selected corporate-wide for ten-week course to lead to multi functional general management assignment. Helped develop We Bring Good Things to Life advertising campaign.

• GROUP DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

  PEPSI COLA COMPANY

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Food & Beverages industry)

  December 1977 — March 1981 (3 years 4 months)

  Built Mountain Dew. Led brand Pepsi marketing and expanded successful Pepsi Challenge campaign behind customized local marketing. Launched 2 Liter plastic bottles.
  • GROUP DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, BRAND PEPSI, FIELD MARKETING, & PACKAGING. July, 1979-March, 1981. Surpassed Coke in food store market share for first and only time in history, behind Pepsi Challenge campaign. Successfully developed field-marketing concept in franchise operations, and rolled out to franchisees. Successfully launched new vending machine logo and backlit graphics in use today.
  • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, PEPSI COLA BOTTLING GROUP. September, 1978-June, 1979. Led all marketing for $0.8 billion company owned franchises. Successfully rolled-out 2-liter plastic bottles.
  • MARKETING MGR., MOUNTAIN DEW & TEEM. December, 1977-August, 1978. Repositioned Mountain Dew and achieved 30% growth as world's fastest growing major soft drink. Surpassed Diet Pepsi in volume. Record profitability

• MGR., NEW PRODUCTS & ACQUISITIONS

  MEMOREX CORPORATION

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; MRX; Consumer Electronics industry)

  March 1976 — November 1977 (1 year 9 months)

  1 MGR., NEW PRODUCTS & ACQUISITIONS. November, 1976-November, 1977. Developed compact disc digital audio concept and high end product segmentation. Rejected by BOD due to corporate computer memory cash flow problems/IBM predatory computer pricing.
  2 PRODUCT MGR., CONSUMER PRODUCTS. March, 1976-October, 1977. All marketing responsibility for $25M business. Successfully developed MRX3 oxide and repositioned Ella Fitzgerald in "Is it Live or is it Memorex" advertising campaign.

• FOOD PRODUCTS MARKETING AND SALES ASSIGNMENTS

  PROCTER AND GAMBLE

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Food & Beverages industry)

  July 1971 — February 1976 (4 years 8 months)

  1 FOOD PRODUCTS MARKETING AND SALES ASSIGNMENTS. March, 1973-February, 1976. Classical package goods training: Pringles Potato Chips and Duncan Hines Mixes. Offered career in brand management, sales, or comouter systems.
  2 COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST. July, 1971-February, 1973. Systems support to Buying and Traffic Departments. Exceeded management expectations, prompting experimental transfer to marketing.

• Student

  EDUCATION

  (Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Semiconductors industry)

  September 1966 — June 1971 (4 years 10 months)

  MIT Concentrations in Materials Research, Systems Modeling, and Art History (latter at Wellesley College.) GE Executive Development Course.
  1 MIT Sloan School of Mgmt.--B.S. Mgmt.; MIT Electrical Engineering Dept.--B.S.E.E. 1971. Lettered in heavyweight crew in sophomore year+. Member of Institute Committee (elected Student Government). Social chair of Phi Delta Theta. Theses advisors Drs. S. Senturia and J. Forrester.
  2 Top GE 10 week EDC Course to prepare for GE divisional management assignment. 20 chosen per year corporate-wide.

• Graduate/Lecturer

  MIT Sloan School of Management

  (Consumer Electronics industry)

  1969 — 1971 (2 years)

• OTHER

  Misc.

  (Privately Held; Myself Only; Recreational Facilities and Services industry)

  July 1948 — July 1966 (18 years 1 month)

  Excellent health (annual FAA Commercial Class II pilot physical). 6’ 3”. Born 7/22/48. Wife active on Board of Boston Physicians Organization, and committees of Harvard Teaching Hospitals. No children. Interests include home restoration, electronics, aviation (active pilot). Director of Informatica (NASQ); Chase (AMEX), Avidyne (Private), Boston College Carroll School of Management (2001 Commencement speaker), and several early stage post-revenue tech companies, plus MIT Sloan School of Management.

Carl Yankowski’s Education

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management

  BS Mgt., Systems Dynamics, 1970 — 1971

  Activities and Societies:

  Teaching Assistant for Professor Jay W. Forester

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  BSEE, Solid State Physics/Material Science, 1966 — 1970

  Activities and Societies:

  Varsity Heavyweight Crew Rowing, Ice Hockey, Phi Delta Theta. Institute Committee, President Bexley Hall

• Wellesley College

  Minor, Art History, 1966 — 1967

  Activities and Societies:

  15th Century Eastern European Baroque Art and Architechture, specializing in Chiaroscuro

Additional Information

Carl Yankowski’s Websites:

• My Company

Carl Yankowski’s Interests:

Education, Speaking, Mentoring, Technology, Marketing, Consumer Electronics/Digital Home/Internet, Music, Spaniel Agility/Obedience/Hunting/Conformation, Home and Grounds Maintenance and Restoration, Aviation (Private Pilot), Performance Cars

Carl Yankowski’s Groups:

MIT Sloan School, Boston College Caroll School, MIT Media Lab, MIT $50K Competition, MIT Educational Council, MIT Sloan Marketing Club, MIT Crew, Phi Delta Theta, Porsche Club, AOPA, EAA, P&G Alumni

•    eOffice member
•    MIT Sloan School Alumni member

Carl Yankowski’s Honors:

Most Ethical Business Leader, Most Ethically Run Corporation (Sony/BBB)
Among First Coed's at Wellesley College
Simultaneous MIT EE and Sloan Mgt. Degrees
EDC Selectee, General Electric Corp.
GE Ironman Award
Annual Distinguished Graduate Award, Butler, PA High School
Valedictorian Butler High
Letters in MIT Varsity Crew
President MIT Bexley Hall
MIT Institute Committee
PA State Schorlarship to MIT
Consumer Electronics Show Governor and Keynote Speaker
Keynote Wharton CMO Summits
Lecturer, MIT, Morehouse, Boston College, Wharton, Northwestern, Harvard
Who's Who in Business/America/World
5 Internet Music Patents (Active)
National Honor Society
National Debate Society

Carl Yankowski’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch