David Millen
Title: 1) President, Chief Operating Officer 2) Managing Partner
Company: 1) Powerbev Inc. and Pur Brands Inc. 2) BMR Management, Inc
Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Mr. Millen is a very successful national account executive who has worked with major brands since leaving the University of Guelph 20 years ago. He has worked with Frito Lay, Cadbury, Schweppes and Red Bull. He is known for market distribution, national account management, and employee engagement. He has the skill to hire high potential employees and develop progressive relationships with clients.
Since he first joined Powerbev and Pur Brands seven years ago, he has risen from Vice President of sales to President and COO. He was the first person hired at the corporate level at Red Bull in Canada. Powerbev/Pur brand is the best in class distributor of premium products and has the best in-store execution across all major channels.
Mr. Millen has extensive experience in leadership roles in the packaged goods industry. A resourceful and flexible individual, he has successfully managed ongoing change in a diverse workforce. He is a team player who has exceeded targets in roles of ever-increasing responsibility, including full P&L responsibilities, and oversight of all departments of sales, finance, human resources, operations and customer insights.
Mr. Millen has additional accountability for driving a new route to market in 2013, to ensure continued exceptional excellence and succession planning, strategic planning and cash flow projections. He is also responsible for investment strategies, operational needs, warehousing, and optimizing route to market.
In addition, he is in charge of HR components regarding policy and procedures, proper review policies and personal development plans. He is part of the process in hiring distribution managers. He oversees 120 employees in the two brands.
Mr. Millen started BMR five years ago. He is one of three partners, and assists importers of European confections in developing product brands and importing premium brands from Europe and executing imported trade in North America. He is often travelling to meet importers and advising on marketing, distribution and sales strategy. Most clients do not want to set up an office in Canada, so he assists them, specializing in brand and private label products.
He attributes his success to being results driven and his people management skills. He became involved in his profession because he was a summer intern at Frito Lay and was recruited by the company. He loved the food and beverage business and decided to stick with it. Mr. Millen intends to grow the organizations and run a $500 million company, and progress internally and professionally.
Mr. Millen is pursuing an Executive MBA from Queens University. He is the President of the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House of Hamilton and coach of triple-A baseball in Ontario and double-A hockey. He also volunteers at a Christmas soup kitchen.
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