Gary De Bay

Gary De Bay

President at EXPLOR Ventures / formerly NIKE Ventures / CEO Growth Partner / Chief Strategy, Innovation & Brand Officer / Corporate Development & New Ventures / Co-Founder & Board Member / C-Level Player Coach

EXPLOR Ventures LLC / Powered by NIKE Ventures Innovation•Boulder, Colorado, United States

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Experience27+ Years

Executive Overview

Entrepreneurial Global Brand President, Co-Founder, Chief Strategy, Innovation & Growth Officer focused on sustainable innovation, new eco-product advanced RD&D and Digital + Physical Direct-To-Consumer Marketplaces with top global brands, emerging digital-first challenger brands and multi-brand portfolio companies. • Global Brand Strategy + Sustainable Product Innovation + Corporate Development + New Ventures + Strategic Partnerships + M&A • Top-Tier Management Consulting Firm team management, stratplan stress testing & strategy-to-operations execution experience (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, EY, Tata, PwC, KPMG, CapGemini) • Sustainable Product & Brand Leadership Experiences + Digital Web Service Ecosystems + reCommerce • Direct-to-Consumer Future Experiential Store Design + eCommerce + Digital Marketplaces + CRMember Subscription Apps • Global Business Development + Brand Extensions in New & Emerging Businesses • Accelerating Growth for Top Global Brands & Emerging Challenger Brands with CEO's, Co-Founders & VC/PE/CorpVC Investors. Global Strategy + Category Innovation + Omni-Channel Execution...from Insights to Innovation Accelerating profitable growth via Digital Transformation and Direct-To-Consumer platforms. • Sports + Fitness / Health + Nutrition • Recreation + Resorts / Active Outdoor Pursuits • Future Experiential Stores + eCommerce + Digital Marketplaces • Zero Emission EV+ERV Mobility + Renewable Energy Innovation Corporate Development Experience: • Global Brand & Category Management/P&L • Direct-to-Consumer/Digital First Business Models • Consumer & Trade Insights/Category Innovation • Sustainable Innovation/New Eco-Product RD&D • New Product LInes/Brand Franchise Extensions • Corporate Ventures/Global Strategic Partnerships • Global Business Development/Corporate Strategy • Direct-to-Consumer Future Stores + E-commerce • Global Brand Marketing/Online+Offline High ROI models • Digital First App-Based Brands + CRMember Platforms • Corporate Development + M&A + Brand Joint Ventures • 1-3-5-year aggressive growth strategy development, cross-functional operational planning & global go2market execution Stage of Development Experience: Strategic Growth Planning + Direct to Consumer Execution • 25% Disruptive Start-ups...$0 to $1Bn in 5-Years with VC/PE/CorpVC Investment • 50% Emerging Brands...$1Bn to $10Bn New Global Challenger Brand Innovation • 25% Top Global Brands....$10Bn to $100Bn+ Digital + Direct to Consumer Brand Transformations

Career Timeline

Professional employment history
  • BMW IndiaCurrent
    2014–Present· 12 yrs 9 mos
    • President and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, EXPLOR+ERV, Zero Emission EV-Powered RV Innovation for Outdoor ExplorationCurrent
      2014–Present
  • 2009–Present· 17 yrs 9 mos
    • President / EXPLOR Campus = World Surf League + S2O Whitewater + IRONMAN U + NIKE Sports CampsCurrent
      2009–Present
  • 2006–Present· 20 yrs 9 mos
    • President, Chief Marketing Officer, Co-Founder, EXPLOR+EV Motorsports Training Club & EcoResort Global VentureCurrent
      2006–Present
  • Feb 1999–Present· 27 yrs 8 mos
    • President / EXPLOR Campus+goEXPLOR = Outdoor Retail, Fitness & Training Campus + Exploration ClubCurrent
      2009–Present
    • President / Corporate VP - EXPLOR+NIKE Direct To Consumer (DTC) + Digital Marketplace Innovation
      Apr 2000–Present
    • President & CEO Partner / Board Advisor / Global Brand Development & Category Innovation
      Feb 1999–Present
    • Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer/Pet Medical Centers: Ecommerce+Pet Insurance+Digital Healthcare
      2003–2004
    • President / EXPLOR+NIKE Connected Fitness & Training Club Ventures /Physical+Digital+AR+VR+eSports
      2000–2020
    • CEO & Co-Founder Advisor, Board Member & Investor / Sustainable Consumer Brands + DTC Start-Ups
      Feb 1999–Mar 2022
    • Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer/Millennial New Products + Digital DTC + H-D Garage Future Stores
      2011–2014
  • 2010–2014· 4 yrs
    • Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer / Omni-Channel Development + 4-Season Outdoor Product Innovation
      2010–2014
    • President, Co-Founder, EXPLORv / BMW X-Series+MINI-Series Hydrogen Fuel-Cell EV+RV RD&D Partnership
      2006–2014
  • 2003–2014· 11 yrs
    • President / Chief Innovation & Development Officer - EXPLOR Campus Lodge+Hostel LEED DevCo JV's
      2003–2014
  • 2003–2014· 11 yrs
    • Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer / ESPN Enterprises + Disney Parks & Resorts NBI (Brand JV)
      2003–2014
  • 2003–2014· 11 yrs
    • President / Chief Development Officer, 4-Season EXPLOResort Sports Campus / NIKE+TNF+ESPN/XGames JV
      2003–2014

Education

Global Executive MBA / International Business

Sustainable Innovation / Direct-to-Consumer / E-Commerce + Digital Web Services + Future Stores

Emory University - Goizueta Business School

Pre-Med Undergraduate Studies

Genetics + Biomedical Ethics + Botany + Biology + Zoology + Environmental & Life Sciences

Grove City College

High School

Sports & Outdoor Recreation, Health & Environmental Sciences

North Allegheny High School / Pittsburgh PA Area

Pre-Med Undergraduate Studies

Global Health, Biomedical Ethics, Healthcare Statistics: Demographics (NIH+WHO+CDC Directed Study)

University of Pittsburgh

Bachelor of Science/Brand Management & Marketing + Sports Media & Consumer Advertising

BSJ cum laude/Global Brand & Category Management/Product Innovation & Brand Extensions (P&G/Toyota)

Ohio University

Executive Relationship Map

Reports To
Gary De Bay
Vice Chair & President
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Operating Officer

Executive Network Preview

BizKonnect has mapped this leadership network including reporting hierarchies, peer connections, and cross-functional relationships.

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Skills & Expertise

20 of 20 skills
Product DevelopmentNew Business DevelopmentGlobal StrategyExecutive Level ManagementCorporate DevelopmentManagement ConsultingStrategic PlanningCorporate StrategyManaging Large Scale ProjectsCross-functional Team LeadershipBrand StrategyInnovation StrategySustainable Business & InnovationRetail & Consumer Product InnovationGlobal Brand & Category InnovationOutdoor Product InnovationSustainable New Business VenturesAthletic Product InnovationProduct InnovationAction Sports Product Innovation