Vidal Franck

Manager Market Development, for the largest folding carton manufacturer in the U.S. Responsible for the marketing and product development for CSD and NCB categories. In charge of international strategy and marketing support for the beverage division.
Created business plan for the energy drink category both on the packaging and machinery side to bring our market share to 50% in 2008.
Supported Coca Cola and Pepsico national account managers to successfully launch new products on market.
Generated marketing strategies for several food market categories such as soup, petfood, and Dairy to enter new categories not supplied.
Supported z-flute market penetration to compete with corrugated micro-flute and improve sustainability ranking of secondary packaging for beverage.
Secured key technologies to create the first interactive packaging called “Snap2C”. Participated in the business plan and launch of this new media.
Delivered over $4 million of new business through innovative solutions and accelerated sales cycle.

SMURFIT STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION, Chicago, Il
Director of Research and Development
Reporting to the Worldwide VP of R&D, administered research and development department with staff of 30, and a $3 million budget. Guided projects and operated technical services for the U.S. and Latin America operations in four market segments: corrugated, carton, bag, and specialty packaging.
Appointed as management representative to the Smurfit Stone marketing council.
Overcame technical challenges, customized packaging, and generated over $10 million in business for Corporate Sales Group with companies such as P&G, Kraft, and Pfizer. Brought to retail shelves three new packaging solutions (Tide, Eclipse and Kleenex).
Identified and monitored disruptive technologies such as RFID and Digital printing/converting in 1998 and generated strategic partnerships to prepare Computer To Packaging and Smart supply chain solutions.
Achieved over $1 million savings through adhesive benchmarking, consolidation and innovation.
Designed and actively implemented a unique and user-friendly compression calculation software, which integrated expertise of various acquired companies and standardized technical data. Software became new standard used by designer and sales in over 120 corrugated facilities.

Global Account Manager Hewlett Packard, for a market leader in the paper based packaging industry with $ 8 billion in sales. Formerly a part of Smurfit group, divested in 2003. Reporting to the Director of Corporate sales and in addition to the Director of R&D function described hereafter. Supervised and managed a six-member cross-divisional sales team dedicated to Hewlett Packard (HP) and Compaq during the merger.
Accepted in 2001 to be the single contact for worldwide packaging sales required by HP. Consolidated and identified existing capabilities to promote organic growth, synergies and optimize customer service. Participated in the preferred supplier process and obtained this status allowing the company to bid on all new corrugated packaging, including Litho-Flute business.
Doubled sales to over $9 million, and coordinated new business in Eastern Europe and Mexico. Selected sales and service teams for two new manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Mexico.

SMURFIT GROUP, Dublin, Ireland 1988 to 1998
Packaging Department Manager for the largest paper based packaging manufacturer in Europe with $4 billion in sales. The company owned 30% of Smurfit Stone until 2003 and acquired the paper packaging branch of Saint-Gobain in 1993. Spearheaded all R&D projects and technical services for converting plants in Europe with a team of nine.
Developed support staff and process audits for over 50 converting locations with operational responsibilities in the corrugated division. Integrated R&D staff into key account sales structure.
Maintained and generated over $5 million in sales through new product development and actively supported key account managers for Nestle, M&M Mars, Bongrain and Lafarge.
Received a Chairman innovation and environmental award in 1998 (cheese pack) and 1999 (Paperdry). Initiated also an on-line defect detection project for Coca Cola which received the Chairman award in 2001. Obtained ISO 9001 certification for research activity.

Project Manager, Condat, France 1988 to 1993
Participated in new assignments in manufacturing units under a company scholarship agreement leading to a Ph.D. Responsible for reporting to the Saint Gobain paper-wood division.
Fostered technical and customer service for the bag division in Europe and Colombia.
Consulted on the purchase and coordinated the start up of two on-line coaters for a woodfree paper mill. Supervised the production of the new units with a capacity of over 200,000 tons for six months. Designed and implemented a new process, which improved surface properties and printability of fine papers.