Experienced CFO with a strong track record of accomplishments
James P. Rouse
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Executive Profile
Experienced CFO with a strong track record of accomplishments in accelerating sales, streamlining operations, and implementing efficiencies that optimize productivity, margins and profit.
Agile, strategic leader driving operations within marketing, sales and business development by establishing cross-functional partnerships and building/leveraging business relationships.
Career Portfolio Highlights
- Improved EBITDA for CoxReps and Gamut allowing for divestiture
- Completed sale of CoxReps and Gamut to PE firm, One Equity Partners
- Grew DM Luxury revenues from $30M to $80M in 4 years
- Restructured CoxReps saving $6.3M annually
- Restructured DM Luxury saving $8M creating $1M positive EBITDA year one
- Increased Gamut cash flow
- Increased incentRev revenue from $7.2M to $10M and improved margins by 10%
Completed Divestiture of CoxReps and Gamut from CMG.
James P. Rouse
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Selected Achievements
Please choose from the following:
Improved EBITDA for CoxReps and Gamut allowing for divestiture: As a result of improving the reliability of the financial data and growing EBITDA, Apollo (PE firm) determined it was time to sell. Divested businesses by creating CIM and all financial data for due diligence in the data room.
Completed sale of CoxReps and Gamut to PE firm, One Equity Partners: Implemented Payroll, HRIS system, employee benefits, migration of technology (Microsoft suite, cybersecurity and network), Treasury, Accounts Payable, Taxes and ERP to allow business to stand alone.
Grew DM Luxury revenues from $30M to $80M in 4 years: Developed a strategic plan to grow revenue by organic growth, title launches and acquisitions. Trained sales personnel, added marketing events, and launched new titles and launched auxiliary titles in additional markets (Men's, Brides, Interiors). Acquired companies that met brand and target audience.
Restructured CoxReps saving $6.3M annually, reducing the finance team from 17FTE to 13 FTE with improved productivity and reliability of financial data and KPIs, saving $1.3M annually. Reorganization of the sales team allowed for $5M savings annually.
Upon the acquisition of the $30M financially stressed Modern Luxury magazine group, reviewed business processes, Accounting, Editorial, Operations, Distribution and Circulation. Reduced headcount in Accounting, Editorial, Design and Distribution resulting in $5.2M savings. Improved systems/operations and adjusted circulation and distribution routes saving $1.8M: Turned around $7M net loss to $1M profit in year 1.
Saved $800K annually at CoxReps and Gamut by eliminating consulting fees. By hiring a Director of Finance, I eliminated $800K in consulting fees.
Needed to relocate Modern Luxury corporate offices to Atlanta where CEO and President resided. Identified accounting team's roles and responsibilities as well as Distribution, Circulation and Editorial. Determined accounting would be eliminated and Atlanta group restructured: Reduced headcount by 10 FTEs saving $500K annually.
Increase Gamut cash flow. Improved billing structure and collection efforts through reorganization of employees and systems. Changed to SAP for AR, billing and collections.
Increased incentRev revenue from $7.2M to $10M and improved margins by 10%: Consolidated multiple websites into a single platform allowing for a full re-design which was more robust and gave the consumer more choices. Consolidation also enabled the elimination of duplicate expenses, such as banking fees, subscriptions fees and web design fees.
Improved DM Luxury Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) from 125 DSO to 59 DSO. Also, reduced 120+ days from 38% to 10% while reconciling Accounts Receivable: Hired and trained Regional Collection Managers. Reviewed each account in weekly meetings with each Collection Manager who would then have meetings with Account Executives and Publishers.
Restructured CoxReps saving $6.3M annually
James P. Rouse
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Career Experience
FOCAL STRATEGIES LLC
Deer Park, WA (2023 -Present)
Chief Executive Officer
Focal Strategies is a consulting firm dedicated to meeting your business' financial and operational needs. The company is your outsourced CFO, COO, Controller, Accounting and Finance experts.
COXREPS, INC and TERRIER GAMUT HOLDINGS, INC
New York, NY (2021 - 2023)
Chief Financial Officer
CoxReps is the premier national television representation company delivering local, smart media solutions on a national scale for the most respected broadcast groups in the United States. Gamut is a next-generation digital media services company, a leader in OTT, helping brands find, target, and engage with relevant streaming audiences in every DMA.
COLLABRA TECHNOLOGY, INC
Spokane, WA (2019 - 2021)
Chief Financial Officer
Provides digital marketing technology and services under the Collabra Media Group, TourFactory and Proxio brands, enabling businesses to prepare, present and promote their products globally.
ROBERT HALF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Seattle, WA (2018 - 2019)
Consultant
Consulting ERP implementation for Kaiser Permanente. KP are trusted partners in total health, collaborating with people to help them thrive and creating communities that are among the healthiest in the nation.
CUMULUS MEDIA, INC.
Atlanta, GA 2011 - 2017
$1.1 billion broadcasting company that is the second largest owner and operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States.
Division CFO
incentRev, LLC (2015 - 2017)
$10 million web platform that enhances radio broadcaster's sales through an e-commerce marketplace, SweetDeals. Increases local station revenue by building affordable media campaigns.
DM Luxury, LLC dba Modern Luxury
(2011 - 2015)
$80 million premier luxury lifestyle publisher with 39 magazines in the most influential US cities. Targets highly-affluent consumers utilizing a controlled circulation and non-subscription direct mail distribution strategy. Staff of 10.
J&D SWEETHOUSE, INC. DBA COLDSTONE CREAMERY
Atlanta, Georgia 2006 - 2011
President
Established and operated the leading Cold Stone Creamery franchise in Georgia.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, NY 1994 - 2006
Finance Controller, Northeast Region
Managed a $600 million operating budget including profit contribution analysis and implementation of financial controls for the Northeast region.
James P. Rouse
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Contact James
James welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your business needs and his background/qualifications.
Please email jamesrouse68@gmail.com
