Paul W. Thurman, MS, MBA
Paul has over 15 years of senior management consulting and line management experience and has served clients on five continents. Since late 2000, Paul has exclusively served senior executives in some of the world's largest consumer electronics manufacturing and retailing concerns. Highlights of his recent experience include:
- Redesigned National and Strategic Growth Account team structures and processes for Sony Electronics. Developed metrics and measurements to improve performance, and created incentives by tying job performance to specific financial and operational goals
- Conducted survey and in-market tests of new consumer experiences (in-store merchandising, product placements, and sales associate interactions) for GoodGuys! as part of its turnaround efforts and eventual acquisition by CompUSA
- Developed strategic merchandising, direct-mail, and vendor management programs for Crutchfield Corporation. Also developed new marketing mix strategies and test "labs" for new catalog designs, web-based pricing tests, and supplier contracts
- Implemented collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) capabilities—processes, systems, and organizations—for Sony Electronics
- Improved supply chain effectiveness—using statistical forecasting techniques and processes—for Sony Electronics
- Developed improved inventory forecasting and management practices for Tweeter
- Developed competitive threat assessments and supporting processes for Best Buy. Also implemented specific improvements to supply chain processes focused on supplier product transitions and market development funding (MDF) transfers
- Currently developing new brand management and product portfolio strategies for Best Buy based on recent customer segmentation work, competitive analyses, and pricing studies
Mr. Thurman has focused on strategic planning and market analysis in the consumer electronics sector, Paul held senior consulting and line management positions with American Express, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Mitchell Madison Group.
Paul also serves on the faculties of several leading graduate schools of business including the Columbia Business School, the London Business School, and the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also a faculty member at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, the American College of Greece, and at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China. Paul has received numerous teaching and educational leadership awards and is a popular speaker and presenter at industry and professional conferences around the world.
Paul received a Master of Business Administration (valedictorian) from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (with honors) from Stanford University and completed graduate work in Statistics and Operations Research at the Courant Institute at New York University. Paul is also very active on corporate advisory boards and with local charities.