Dan Gao

Experience

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  雀巢(中国)有限公司

  Aug 1997 - Jul 2000

  In charge of Sweetened Full Cream Milk Powder and functional milk powder Worked in different functions in Nestle BJ sales office

  • Assistant Brand Manager - Dairy Business

    Oct 1999 - Jul 2000

  • Manangement Trainee - Nestle China

    Aug 1997 - Oct 1999
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  Lahore University of Management Sciences

  Aug 2000 - Sept 2001

  MBA study sponsored by Nestle (China) Ltd.

  The first local employee sent by Nestle (China) for abroad study.

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  雀巢(中国)有限公司

  Oct 2001 - Mar 2009

  In charge of Nestle Growing-up Milk Powder, Mainland In charge of All-Familly Cereals, Mainland In charge of All-Family Cereal Mainland. In charge of Functional Milk Powder

  • Business & Brand Development Manager - Dairy Business, Nestle China

    Jan 2008 - Mar 2009

  • Business & Brand Development Manager - Dairy Business, Nestle China

    Jul 2006 - Dec 2007

  • Senior Brand Manager - - Dairy Business, Nestle China

    Jun 2002 - Jun 2006

  • Brand Manager - Dairy Business, Nestle China

    Oct 2001 - May 2002
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  Nestle

  Apr 2009 - Feb 2010

  Global Marketing Advisor-Premium Growing up Milk, Nestle Dairy Strategic Business Unit

  Marketing Advisor at Dairy SBU, Responsible for the development of worldwide Premium Growing up Milk Powder strategy, including branding, portfolio, communication, I&R, etc.

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  雀巢(中国)有限公司

  Sept 2010 - Mar 2013

  Responsible for the overall marketing program of Nestle & Gerber Baby Food. The scope included the development of the marketing framework for the brand such as consumer segmentation, positioning, product portfolio creation and its accompanying marketing mix, and leadership in the day-to-day operational activities across different functional disciplines (i.e., sales, scientific events, medical delegates, innovation & renovation, supply chain forecast) in the creation and implementation of marketing programs. Show less

  • Marketing Manager-Prenatal, Infant, Growing up Formula, Nestle Nutrition

    Feb 2012 - Mar 2013

  • BBDM-Premium IMF/GUM & Prenatal Nutrition, Nestle Nutrition

    Aug 2011 - Jan 2012

  • Brand & Business Development Manager, Baby Food, Nestle Nutrition

    Sept 2010 - Jul 2011
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  Nestlé

  Apr 2013 - May 2019

  Global brand leadership role for $2B NAN infant formula and growing up milk, Nestle’s largest infant formula brand worldwide. Developed global strategy, branding, communication, and innovation strategies for market implementation. Oversaw execution in 3 Regions, and across over 50 countries. Awarded the fastest-growing Nestle Billion-Dollar Brand. Launched new products to generate incremental sales, and spearheaded new communication campaigns that grew market share. Led and launched the first NAN global campaign; the consumer campaign won the global Nestle Food and Beverage Cannes Award for the Best Product Launch. Created the first global brand council for NAN, consisting of 3 Regions, 10 countries, and 3 agency partners. Accelerated the launches of new products and global communication campaigns across the world. Show less Leadership role with P&L accountability for $400M infant formula and baby food brands. Managed team of 26, including Brand Marketing, Digital Marketing, Shopper Marketing (E-Commerce, off-line), Innovation and Business Analysis. Oversaw a $100M marketing budget. Key leader in the turnaround of the Nestle China formula business. Led cross-functional teams including Sales, Medical Field Operation, Medical Strategy, Digital, eCommerce, and Nestle Nutrition Institute. Re-launched the full range of products, from re-positioning the brand to developing new communications across consumer, medical, retail, and e-commerce channels. Won Nestle Nutrition CEO Awards. Show less

  • Global Brand Lead - NAN Infant Formula & Growing up Milk - Nestle Nutrition

    Jul 2017 - May 2019

  • Head of Marketing, Prenatal Nutrition, Infant Formula, Growing-up Milk & Baby Food (Nestle & Gerber)

    Jan 2016 - Jul 2017

  • Marketing Director, Nestle Nutrition

    Apr 2013 - Dec 2015
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  Gerber

  May 2019 - Jan 2023

  Accountable for P&L of Gerber WIC (Women, Infant & Children) government bidding business, premium infant formula, and nutritional supplements, overseeing sales of ~$500M and managing a marketing budget of $30M. Led and developed a dynamic team of 60 - 100 employees, including field-based personnel, Consumer Marketing, Medical Marketing, Medical Sales team, and WIC business. Led cross-functional teams to manage the infant formula category shortage crisis (2022), setting new standards by launching 4 new products in just 6 weeks; generated incremental sales of $35M in 6 months, more than doubling profitability and increasing market share by 80%. Key member of Gerber Good Start premium formula business divestiture team, from planning to $170M deal closing. Revamped medical sales model and pioneered Health Care Professional digital engagement model, optimizing marketing investment of $7M and achieving the same level of HCP recommendation.  Launched NAN, targeting the fast-growing Hispanic population, generating incremental sales of $5M.  Developed integrated branding and communication strategy across the 1,000-day journey, including nutritional supplements and infant formula. Show less P&L responsibility for Gerber Non-WIC infant formula brands. Managed Consumer Marketing and Medical Marketing team of 5 and a marketing budget of $35M.  Revamped Gerber infant formula brand, developed new brand essence and portfolio strategy; launched new packaging design across WIC and Non-WIC portfolios, enhancing brand perception and market presence. Leveraged CRM to aggressively recruit 26K new users, achieving an ROI of 4.5 and a $50 average cost of new user acquisition.  Implemented targeted marketing initiatives on Amazon, including search optimization, short video content creation, and enhancing Rating and Review. These efforts resulted in a remarkable 20% increase in sales, demonstrating the effective utilization of digital platforms. Launched A2 infant formula in the USA; created a premium segment for Gerber infant formula. Show less

  • Business Executive, VP of Marketing – Gerber US Infant Formula and Nutritional Supplements

    Mar 2020 - Jan 2023

  • Marketing Director - Gerber US Infant Formula

    May 2019 - Feb 2020
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  Perrigo Company plc

  Jan 2023 - Jul 2024

  Business Executive, VP of Marketing - Good Start Infant Formula Business (through Acquisition)

  - Successfully led the divestiture of Good Start infant formula business from Nestle to Perrigo, integrating the business and team into Perrigo.- Full P&L responsibility of Good Start premium infant formula and manage team of 26 people

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  TSI Group

  Jul 2024 - now

  Chief Growth Officer

  In my role as Chief Growth Officer at TSI Group, I am responsible for spearheading the company's growth and transformation initiatives. My primary responsibilities include:- Developing and implementing a comprehensive growth strategy aligned with the company's ambitious goals.- Identifying and prioritizing key areas for integration and improvement, and establishing systems to track and ensure progress.- Exploring and capitalizing on new market opportunities, products, and strategic partnerships to position TSI as a global leader in the supplement industry.- Cultivating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across the organization.- Designing and executing change management programs to effectively support employees through the transformation process.- Engaging with internal and external stakeholders to clearly communicate TSI’s vision, strategy, and transformation progress.- Building and leading a high-performing team dedicated to achieving TSI’s growth objectives.- Ensuring strict compliance with all relevant regulations and standards throughout the transformation journey. Show less