Tom Riester

Directed all of the client facing organization’s (sales & operations) support tools, processes, and systems including tender management, external/internal revenue & profitability reporting, sales analytics/tools, sales force automation/CRM, sales incentives, sales revenue & cost budgeting, business planning, and sales training.

Responsible for more than $1 billion in business with approximately 1,000 people worldwide. Developed and executed a business plan to transition a P&L with no consistent strategies, structures, processes, tools, or compensation programs into a high performing unified global team, producing more revenue with less people.

Significantly rebuilt and formalized the Local Sales and Route Development Organizations in one of UTi’s most important markets. Moved the team from a small locally executed group with no unified processes, tools, structure, and strategy to one of the best teams in the global sales organization. This success led to my promotion over Global Area Sales to implement these practices in all areas UTi operates.

Directed the US Southwest Region, which included the management of the Los Angeles and San Diego Freight Forwarding & Contract Logistics Operations, a range of domestic services (PU&D, Line Haul, Brokerage, Cross Dock, specialized), the international Freight Forwarding functions, and all client activity from Southern California to El Paso, Texas.

Served as the leader for all sales training, execution, and support initiatives; reported to the President for Global Sales.

Internships at 20th Century Fox while obtaining my MBA at USC. Worked with and directly contributed to the strategic development and implementation of international marketing plans for full-length feature films. Reviewed, analyzed, and crafted recommendations for international territory AD/PUB plans to enhance revenue potential and adhere to positioning goals of overall marketing strategy. Conducted an analysis of media CPM across Fox International’s top 12 territories. Worked directly with regional agencies to project future CPM rates and forecast changes based on inflationary expectations and other economic factors. Performed financial forecasting, strategic analysis, and reporting.

Designed, developed, and implemented supply chain management strategies for the entire North American tire market directly contributing to the achievement of surpassing 20% (60 Million Tires) of the total US market share. Promoted four times in six years; awarded the “President’s Award” (’96,’97,’98) & “CEO Award” (1999). •Planned, scheduled, and executed national/international production and sourcing strategies for approximately 3,000 products. •Controlled all production at the Decatur, IL manufacturing facility (26,000 tires per day). Managed scheduling/production teams and worked directly with warehouse management to optimize operations. •Led all US new product introductions (approx. 60 lines) as Launch Manager. Earned this position based upon leading the most important product launch of 2000, the FIREHAWK SS20 (Core mass market product for the Firestone Brand; launch supported by over 300 million advertising impressions). •Optimized distribution networks and analyzed manufacturing capacities/constraints.

Earned my MBA with a focus on Marketing & Finance to compliment my undergrad experience in Industrial Manufacturing Engineering. I've always loved business and felt this combination of skills would ultimately help me to become an effective senior leader and one day CEO. USC is a top ranked MBA program globally.

Program Ranked #3 Nationally in 1995 and is still one of the top programs in Industrial Engineering.