Beyond his role as a Chief Operating Officer, Fran Sullivan finds enrichment in various aspects of life, from technology to community service. He cherishes the richness of life in places like Stoneham, Reading, and Andover, enjoying their blend of work, life, and leisure. Fran has always appreciated the importance of occupying roles that present essential challenges, but he equally values his leisure time, particularly on the golf course. His philanthropic spirit shines through his board membership with the American Cancer Society, symbolizing his dedication to society. Fran’s professional journey in finance and operations dates back to 2009.
Navigating the Business Landscape
With a wealth of business experience, Fran has become an accomplished leader in various niche sectors. His expertise spans several areas crucial to a thriving business: customer optimization, category growth, and penetrating new markets. Fran has shown commendable success in these fields, demonstrating proficiency in category management, business strategy, product development, partner coordination, sales team management, and cross-functional harmony. His excellence in creating pricing strategies, segmenting customers, and planning product marketing also attests to his business acumen. Fran also excels at establishing and nurturing professional relationships, where he insists on clear expectations, data-supported suggestions, and unambiguous communication.
Fran is the go-to professional for startups and evolving tech companies seeking growth. He boasts a track record of expanding new ventures, boosting established ones, and reviving declining businesses. He thrives in dynamic, high-energy environments, displaying a self-driven attitude and a knack for collaboration. Fran attained his certification as a public accountant in 1995.
His professional toolbox overflows with many skills that contribute to his business success. Over the years, Fran Sullivan has honed vital competencies in today’s commercial landscape. These include strategic planning, product development, site and product merchandising, brand and category management, team leadership and coaching, and team resourcing and structuring. His expertise extends to cross-functional coordination, relationship management, OKR development, partner licensing and promotion, business analysis, KPI setting, cost reduction, forecast planning, tradeshow leadership, UX improvement and scaling, customer funnel optimization, and consumer testing. Fran’s written and verbal communication skills stand out as top-tier, underlining the importance of clear dialogue in business.
Academic Achievements
After graduating high school, Fran continued his academic journey at Boston College, where he earned his BS degree. Subsequently, he pursued an MBA at Northeastern University. He also served as an adjunct professor in the business school of a local college.
Commanding Brands and Categories
In his career, Fran has gathered a wealth of experience as a brand manager with Hasbro. His tenure saw him managing several brands, such as family games, Play-Doh, and Transformers, which flourished under his guidance. Later, at Wayfair, he was the senior merchandising manager across various categories and was a senior category manager for the kitchen and dining categories. Presently, he leads the digital category at MilleporeSigma, applying his extensive e-commerce, digital marketing, strategic sourcing, procurement, and supply chain management experience.
Beyond the Boardroom
Fran is an avid sports enthusiast outside the corporate world, especially golf. His passion for the sport dates back to high school when he won the New England championship. He even spent some time working in the golf industry. In his youth, he worked as a caddy and at a country club, honing his skills on the greens. Fran views golf as a metaphor for life: it’s challenging, offers no easy ways out, and success comes through constant practice. It also provides a perfect platform to build and strengthen relationships. Apart from golf, he enjoyed running and participated in the Boston Marathon in 2001 and 2003. Fran Sullivan strongly believes in a healthy work-life balance and considers his location perfect for balancing professional commitments and recreational pursuits.
Fran Sullivan 