Blair McNeill

Dynamic executive leader with 25 years of experience driving strategic planning, business development, sales expansion, and operational execution across multi-channel industries. Proven ability to accelerate revenue growth, optimize operations, and build high-performing teams at multinational corporations and startups. Track record includes scaling sales from $90M to $970M, exceeding SaaS sales targets by 27%, and leading transformational strategies resulting in record-breaking growth. Expertise in go-to-market strategy, customer engagement, partnerships, and business operations. Passionate about fostering innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and inclusive leadership.

Dynamic leadership executive with 25 years of experience and a proven track record of strategic planning, sales expansion, business development and operational execution in multi-channel industries. Demonstrated ability to drive profitable and efficient business initiatives and effectively communicate with a broad range of stakeholders.  Experienced in leading various functions at large multi-national corporations and start-ups.  Achievements stem from a fundamental passion to increase revenue (growth), develop partnerships, build brands, ensure operational efficiency, and build high-performing teams.

• Developed detailed strategic plans for transformation and customer engagement – leading to record-achieving growth at Aptera, Ando, Renovate America, and Mitre 10 New Zealand.
• Exceeded quarterly Software as a Service (SaaS) sales targets by an average of 27% at Ando and Renovate America.
• Led sales and business development teams and grew annual sales from $90 million to over $970 million, which increased the Renovate America company valuation by over 450%.
• Designed, implemented, and integrated various cloud technology solutions (SaaS) to improve efficiencies and automate workflows (Salesforce, SAP Business Objects, Tableau Business Intelligence, Microsoft SharePoint).
• Managed over 500 people throughout career, which included building new channel and functional organizations as well as consolidating teams to optimize operations, in both the US and abroad.
• Focused on leading by example, motivating, and inspiring a positive, diverse, and inclusive environment in multiple disciplines, channels, and functions (sales, business development, strategy, marketing, technology, and operations).

Areas of Expertise: Strategy, Business Operations, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Sales Management, Sales Operations, Customer Acquisition, Customer Engagement, Customer Success, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Business Intelligence, Market Intelligence, Demand Generation, Partnership Development, Market Expansion, Program Management, Revenue Growth, Relationship Building, People Management, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Communications

WORK EXPERIENCE

Aptera Motors Corp. - San Diego, CA (2022-2024)

Head of Enterprise Strategy

• Responsible for corporate development, business development, sales operations, partnership management, and the go-to-market strategy for the business.
• Designed and implemented the cross-functional strategy to identify corporate objectives, grow revenues, maximize profits and market share while streamlining business operations.
• Partnered with the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) on sales conversion plan, the rollout strategy, marketing campaigns, and targeted events to increase customer pre-orders from 15,000 to over 38,000 ($1.1 billion in pre-order sales).
• Pioneered the efforts across organizations to develop a business to business (B2B) model for fleet customers – developed a pipeline of over $60 million in opportunities and signed the first fleet order of $3.5 million in sales.

Ando – San Diego, CA (2020-2022)

Head of Business Development & Sales Operations

• Established the sales operations and business development organizations.
• Integrated a lead generation platform, implemented a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, and developed metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for sales and operations teams.
• Assisted in the development and execution of the mobile banking software platform and application and go-to-market strategy and acquired over 75,000 banking customers.
• Worked with leadership team and board of directors to help raise over $9 million in seed capital.

Renovate America – San Diego, CA (2014-2020)

Vice President Market Development

• Grew SaaS customer base by an average of 85% per year by leading all aspects of community acquisition, retention, program advocacy, outreach (communications, events, media, and training) and drove brand awareness across channels as a primary company spokesperson.
• Achieved a level of customer retention above 99% while managing over 450 strategic partnerships - building relationships with various local, regional, state, and national affiliations. 
• Established, hired, and trained the first regional SaaS sales division (with 22 remote employees), including the development of compensation programs, territory optimization, go-to-market planning, and metrics & reporting.
• Generated +35,000 customer leads by designing and implementing a customized and automated grassroots advocacy platform and SaaS technology solution. 
• Expanded SaaS product portfolio by launching program management platform to over 2,500 users (mobile and online) – providing the industry’s only transparent, real-time data program analytics for partners.
• Championed company-wide Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and integrated Salesforce across the business (workflow automation, key performance indicators and metrics, customized reports and dashboards, weekly distribution of results to executive leaders).

Mitre 10 Limited – Auckland, New Zealand (2010-2014)

Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Information & Technology Officer

• Led the reorganization and consolidation of the strategy & technology functions for New Zealand’s largest home improvement retailer ($6.5 million budget with more than 25 direct reports and 25 contracted developers).
• Managed and developed network planning capabilities to accelerate and optimize store deployment through market studies, retail sales budgeting, spatial analysis, and customer data – growing footprint by 25% and sales by 38%.
• Conceived and implemented a Net Promotor Score (NPS) customer survey for retail stores – measured customer engagement, averaged over 50,000 monthly submissions, and lifted overall NPS score by 210 basis points over 2 years.
• Established the technology and services strategic roadmap and Steering Committee – instilling a metrics-based governance framework (based on Return on Invested Capital with over $7 million in annual technology spend).

HD Supply – Atlanta, GA (2007-2010)

Growth Leader, Senior Manager Business Development

• Formalized the 5-year strategic planning process and Private Equity Board review process while leading due diligence and integration of business acquisitions (adding 5 businesses, 500 employees and over $700 million in sales). 
• Directly managed growth for the Electrical business (~$1 billion sales). Opened two new locations (projected cumulative five-year sales of $107 million) and relocated four branches (projected incremental five-year sales of $111 million).

The Home Depot – Atlanta, GA (2005-2007)

Senior Manager Business Leadership Program

• Member of the mergers & acquisition team that led the shared services integration for the Hughes Supply acquisition ($5 billion sales). Established expense targets and identified over $15 million in annual cost saving opportunities. 
• Managed $56 million retail store (over 275 employees on payroll); met and/or exceeded all quarterly financial forecasts and productivity metrics.

General Electric (GE) – Cincinnati, OH; Atlanta, GA (1998-2004)

Senior Commercial Manager, Integration Manager, Six Sigma Black Belt

• Portfolio manager responsible for sourcing, developing, analyzing service contracts with global airlines and energy companies – signed deals worth over $520 million in sales and $150 million in operating margin.

Education Summary:

• Emory University – MBA in Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Leadership
• Boston College – BS in Finance & Spanish Art

Graduated with Honors and Distinction and received several corporate awards. Additional qualifications include Six Sigma Black Belt certification and extensive global experience, having lived and worked in Mexico, Spain, and New Zealand.