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
View LinkedIn ProfileExecutive 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
- BMW IndiaCurrent2014–Present· 12 yrs 9 mos
- President and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, EXPLOR+ERV, Zero Emission EV-Powered RV Innovation for Outdoor ExplorationCurrent2014–Present
- Kelly Slater Wave CompanyCurrent2009–Present· 17 yrs 9 mos
- President / EXPLOR Campus = World Surf League + S2O Whitewater + IRONMAN U + NIKE Sports CampsCurrent2009–Present
- Porsche Cars North AmericaCurrent2006–Present· 20 yrs 9 mos
- President, Chief Marketing Officer, Co-Founder, EXPLOR+EV Motorsports Training Club & EcoResort Global VentureCurrent2006–Present
- Feb 1999–Present· 27 yrs 8 mos
- President / EXPLOR Campus+goEXPLOR = Outdoor Retail, Fitness & Training Campus + Exploration ClubCurrent2009–Present
- President / Corporate VP - EXPLOR+NIKE Direct To Consumer (DTC) + Digital Marketplace InnovationApr 2000–Present
- President & CEO Partner / Board Advisor / Global Brand Development & Category InnovationFeb 1999–Present
- Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer/Pet Medical Centers: Ecommerce+Pet Insurance+Digital Healthcare2003–2004
- President / EXPLOR+NIKE Connected Fitness & Training Club Ventures /Physical+Digital+AR+VR+eSports2000–2020
- CEO & Co-Founder Advisor, Board Member & Investor / Sustainable Consumer Brands + DTC Start-UpsFeb 1999–Mar 2022
- 2011–2014· 3 yrs
- Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer/Millennial New Products + Digital DTC + H-D Garage Future Stores2011–2014
- 2010–2014· 4 yrs
- Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer / Omni-Channel Development + 4-Season Outdoor Product Innovation2010–2014
- 2006–2014· 8 yrs
- President, Co-Founder, EXPLORv / BMW X-Series+MINI-Series Hydrogen Fuel-Cell EV+RV RD&D Partnership2006–2014
- 2003–2014· 11 yrs
- President / Chief Innovation & Development Officer - EXPLOR Campus Lodge+Hostel LEED DevCo JV's2003–2014
- 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 JV2003–2014
Education
Global Executive MBA / International Business
Sustainable Innovation / Direct-to-Consumer / E-Commerce + Digital Web Services + Future Stores
Emory University - Goizueta Business SchoolPre-Med Undergraduate Studies
Genetics + Biomedical Ethics + Botany + Biology + Zoology + Environmental & Life Sciences
Grove City CollegeHigh School
Sports & Outdoor Recreation, Health & Environmental Sciences
North Allegheny High School / Pittsburgh PA AreaPre-Med Undergraduate Studies
Global Health, Biomedical Ethics, Healthcare Statistics: Demographics (NIH+WHO+CDC Directed Study)
University of PittsburghBachelor 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