Robert B. Gowens

Director
Years with Phoenix: 1
Years of Turnaround Experience: 16
Office Location: Atlanta, GA

Bob Gowens is a Director at Phoenix, and has over 36 years of senior leadership experience in a variety of business environments. Mr. Gowens has been a senior operating executive for over 16 years at both growth-oriented and challenged companies, and has had full P&L responsibility as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Vice President/General Manager. He spent his initial professional years and the past seven years as a consultant with multi-national consulting firms and with his own consulting practice – with five of those years focused on turnarounds. Mr. Gowens is an effective leader, having worked with companies ranging from under $10 million in sales to over $3 billion in sales in both the public and private sectors.

Mr. Gowens has in-depth operational experience in: manufacturing processes; product and process engineering and related database development; financial management; quality systems; sales and marketing; strategic planning; market share management; distribution channel development; financial management and cost accounting; organizational structure development; information systems development; supply chain management; inventory management; and product development. Mr. Gowens brings a high-value approach to each engagement, prioritizing business objectives, then integrating products and services, processes, internal and external activities, reporting systems and metrics to meet defined success criteria.

Phoenix Management Services Experience

• Turnaround Management
• Crisis Management
• Interim Management
• Operational Assessments
• Financial Forecasting
• Strategic and Business Planning and Advisory
• Due Diligence Reviews
• Business Process Reengineering and Change Management

• Manufacturing Planning and Control
• Product Line Profitability Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Organizational Structure Development / Implementation
• Target Market and Branding Strategy Development / Implementation
• Distribution Strategy Development / Implementation

Selected Advisory Experience

Led the turnaround of a large publicly held tire manufacturer, focusing on inventory management, product line rationalization, manufacturing rationalization, European organizational restructuring, measurement and reporting of critical success factors for manufacturing, inventory management and sales functions, and manufacturing systems planning and implementation. The change process resulted in over $100 million of inventory reduction while increasing customer service from the low 80% levels to over 95%.

Led the strategic and operational restructuring for a $10 million capital equipment manufacturer with four different operations. Mr. Gowens led the team that closed the largest of the businesses and consolidated the remaining businesses into a single location with significantly reduced operating costs. In slightly more than two years, the businesses have rebounded, are highly profitable, and are generating significant positive cash flow.

Served as President of a $600 million engine manufacturer, with 10 plants in the US, Hong Kong, and China. Mr. Gowens eliminated 47 engineering projects and initiatives that were diluting the efforts of management. He focused the talents of the “best of the best” existing employees with selected new hires to address (1) the reengineering of faulty products and the related direct injection engine technology, (2) the manufacturing processes and much of the capital equipment in the machining and foundry plants, and (3) the restructuring of the Sales and Marketing functions. The company enjoyed increased market share, and its redesigned engine has received accolades as one of the highest quality engines produced.

Served as CEO of a boutique high-profile boat manufacturer, subsequent to having performed the due diligence for a client that acquired the company. Mr. Gowens replaced the management team, overhauled the product line-up, streamlined the entire manufacturing process and created an international dealer organization. During his nine years at the company, sales increased over 500%, and the export business increased from 7% to 57%. Four years after the turnaround began, the company was selected by Fortune magazine as one of the “Top 100 Products Made in America.” Mr. Gowens was invited to accompany President Reagan on a Presidential Trade Mission to Japan, accompanying then Secretary of Commerce William Verity, which resulted in an expansion of the company’s exports and the establishment of a company dealership in Japan. As a result of the success of the company, Mr. Gowens was selected by Boating magazine as “One of the Top Ten Personalities” in the boating industry.

Served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the largest division of a $1.3 billion manufacturer. Mr. Gowens’ initiatives included (1) introducing a new focus on customer service, (2) greatly expanding application engineering support to OEM customers, (3) implementing programs directly with the large distributor/dealers of the OEM customers, and (4) working jointly with the product development team to introduce innovative new products for underserved markets. These initiatives resulted in large market share gains of over 20%.

Served as an expert witness for four large Japanese engine companies against false allegations of unfair competition from a US corporation. Mr. Gowens analyzed the details of the case and provided guidance to the defendants over the course of six months. His work included providing responses to the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC), culminating with his testimony before the ITC in Washington, DC. Mr. Gowens’ clients prevailed in their defense, and the industry was spared a potentially damaging ruling.

Led the strategic planning and business planning activities of a world-class industrial design and product development studio. Mr. Gowens provided executive coaching to the CEO and Design Director and strategic input for the studio’s major client opportunities; directed the reorganization of the studio’s support and administrative functions; facilitated a strategic planning process; and implemented a project management system that focused on project quality and profitability.

Served as a key member of an international team of a large international CPA firm that developed a proprietary integrated manufacturing software package for mid-sized manufacturers. Mr. Gowens had responsibility for the Inventory Management and Manufacturing Cost Accounting modules, and he performed the integration with the Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering modules.

Industry Experience

• Aircraft Parts Manufacturing
• Appliance Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Boat Manufacturing
• Consumer Products
• Engine Manufacturing
• Engine Aftermarket Parts Distribution

• Oil and Gas Exploration / Extraction
• Plumbing Manufacturing
• Private Equity Fund
• Recreational Marine Distribution
• Capital Equipment Manufacturing
• Tire Manufacturing
• Truck Manufacturing

Phoenix Capital Resources Experience

• Financial Advisory Services
• Business Restructuring and Consolidation

Prior Experience

Prior to joining Phoenix, Mr. Gowens led a consulting firm for seven years providing strategic planning, turnaround management, reengineering, due diligence support, and other consulting services to a variety of middle market clients. Prior to his latest role as consultant, he served as CEO, President, and Vice President / General Manager for three different consumer durables manufacturers, including two engine companies and a boat manufacturing company. Mr. Gowens began his career in the consulting business, having been a Principal at A.T. Kearney and a Manager in Arthur Andersen’s Consulting Division.

Education/Affiliations

Mr. Gowens earned a BBA in Accounting from Kent State University. He is a former Certified Public Accountant and is active in a number of organizations, including the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). He has been a keynote speaker twice to the International Boatbuilders’ Exposition, the annual international conference that showcases leading-edge technologies for the recreational marine industry.