David O'Connell

Key Highlights: • Manage global-sourcing and private brands, import administration, customs compliance, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. • Lead cross-functional teams in the USA, Latin America, and Asia. • Monitor full P&L for business unit to ensure optimal financial performance and sustained growth. • Planned and executed strategic blueprint to build strong sourcing network across USA, Europe, Central America, South America, and Asia. • Transformed private brand portfolio by leading private label product launches from initial concept to full market entry with collaboration of private brands team and creative design unit. • Developed total cost of ownership model by integrating commodity, wage, and pertinent data to deliver enhanced supplier negotiation and inform pivotal decisions regarding manufacturing locations for all product categories. • Led corporate "War on Tariffs" for effective alleviation of newly imposed import tariffs through resourcing to alternative countries, negotiations with existing suppliers, and implementation of enhanced product development and customs duty engineering efficiencies for cost reduction opportunities.

• Transitioned China-based office from representative office to Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE), enabling direct hiring, RMB currency purchases, and tax advantages. • Expanded USA manufacturing partner network by $15M, generating savings and reducing lead times. • Implemented VA/VE principles, reducing production expenses by $2.5M. • Restructured production from company-owned facility to world-class suppliers, resulting in $1.4M in savings. • Successfully led supply chain operations and initiatives for EK Success, K& Company, Dimensions, and Perler brands. • Identified and qualified 3PL facilities in China and Taiwan, complementing US distribution centers. • Led supply chain operations across multiple brands, including sourcing, manufacturing, quality control, customs, logistics, and more. • Negotiated effectively with suppliers, optimizing sourcing and yielding significant cost savings. • Launched cross-functional mentoring program to fostering key talent growth. • Implemented supplier evaluation process, meeting quality, cost, capacity, design, and process requirements in compliance with regulations. • Introduced new product testing protocols and enhanced factory audit procedures to ensure brand quality.

• Oversaw sourcing, manufacturing, quality control, and technical testing for dinnerware, glassware, flatware, giftware, and home décor for Lenox, Dansk, D56, and Gorman brands. • Saved $2.3M and improved cycle time. • Implemented overseas modeling and sculpting system. Saved costs and improved cycle time. • Established new quality control team overseas. Saved 685k in annual inspection costs. • Outsourced activities of technical services department. Saved $1.1M annually. • Managed 18 staff members in the USA and 15 staff in China. • Transferred giftware production from outdated suppliers in Southern China to new Northern China suppliers. • Introduced overseas design teams to Lenox design team. • Improved design cycle time and implemented new design process for dinnerware and glassware resources.