Executive Director, Commercial - Cooking

At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make "good things, for life." As the fastest-growing appliance company in the U.S., we're powered by creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there's always a better way. We believe in the power of our people and in giving them the freedom to explore, discover and build good things, together.

The GE Appliances philosophy, backed by three simple commitments defines the way we work, invent, create, do business, and serve our communities: we come together, we always look for a better way, and we create possibilities.

Interested in joining us on our journey?

As a GE Appliances' Executive Director, Commercial - Cooking, you will develop and lead the go-to-market strategy for our Cooking portfolio across all channels. You will work with Product Managers, representing distinct product categories across brands including (Built In, Freestanding, Monogram, Digital and Ecosystem), produced in the US, Mexico factories and multiple source product vendors. You will have primary accountability for delivering the product line budget for revenue, price, share, and net standard margin (NSM), and additional responsibility for helping deliver product line inventory management goals.
Position
Executive Director, Commercial - Cooking
Location
USA, Louisville, KY

How You'll Create Possibilities

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Commercial Execution

• Provide strategic leadership and cross-functional alignment with Sales, Marketing, and Brand teams to ensure flawless execution of key product line initiatives.
• Drive national account success by leading Product Line Reviews (PLRs), setting the vision, and representing the Cooking category with authority and expertise.
• Recommend optimal floor line-ups based on performance insights, and proactively monitor SKU productivity to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Develop and implement action plans to address underperforming SKUs, ensuring timely execution of line transitions and maximizing commercial impact.
• Act as the executive representative for the Cooking category, building strong customer relationships and directly addressing escalated customer concerns with a solutions-oriented approach.

Pricing and Promotion

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, and Pricing teams to develop and execute pricing and promotional strategies that balance share growth, product line positioning, and overall profitability.
• Partner with Product Managers, Fulfillment teams, and manufacturing plants to align pricing and promotional initiatives with operational realities, including excess or constrained capacity.
• Drive cross-functional coordination across product lines to ensure consistency and alignment in pricing and promotional frameworks, proactively identifying and resolving discrepancies to support enterprise-level goals.

NPI Execution

• Lead end-to-end commercialization efforts for New Product Introductions (NPIs), with full accountability for delivering against financial targets, timelines, and go-to-market success.
• Drive alignment and execution by partnering with Product Managers, program teams, Sales, and Marketing to ensure seamless NPI readiness and launch excellence.
• Shape brand strategies for five distinct mass and mass-premium brands by leveraging consumer insights and segmentation data, and collaborate with Product and Marketing teams to develop compelling positioning briefs and feature messaging hierarchies.
• Ensure best-in-class product marketing execution across all consumer touchpoints, including digital, social, point-of-purchase, feature & benefit copy, and integrated creative assets.
• Collaborate with Sales, Product, PSI, and Plant teams to determine floor load and production ramp-up strategies; lead critical planning forums such as Commercial Leadership Pulsing, , QMI and Commercial Big Events to establish and maintain commercial leadership.

Content and Asset Creation

• Lead the development of compelling product content and merchandising assets by applying data-driven consumer insights and retail principles, guiding Product Marketing Senior Managers and multiple creative agencies across the product line.
• Provide strategic coaching and leadership to Product Marketing Senior Managers, ensuring excellence in content development and flawless execution through the end-to-end creative review process.
• Champion brand consistency, storytelling, and visual impact across all marketing touchpoints to enhance consumer engagement and drive commercial performance.

Planning, Sales & Inventory (PSI)

• Collaborate closely with PSI and Sales teams to achieve sales targets, ensure product availability, and optimize inventory levels across ten distinct assembly groups with varying lead times.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for demand-side elements of the PSI process, proactively identifying and implementing creative solutions to address potential challenges.
• Critically analyze and validate sales forecasts generated by customer account teams and fulfillment managers, ensuring alignment with overall demand and supply plans.
• Establish and communicate clear customer prioritization guidelines during periods of supply constraints, ensuring equitable allocation and minimizing disruption.
• Develop and execute strategic plans for the effective liquidation of discontinued and excess inventory, minimizing financial impact and optimizing warehouse space.

Distribution Strategy

• Collaborate with Sales to develop and implement comprehensive distribution strategies designed to achieve multifaceted objectives, including market penetration, sales growth, and channel optimization.
• Directly influence and support the development and execution of channel pricing strategies (e.g., Caf Elite, flat pricing, everyday value), customer-specific promotional plans (e.g., for racetracks), and customer-specific product derivatives to maximize profitability and market competitiveness.
• Support the evaluation and pursuit of new distribution channels and private label opportunities, contributing to strategic business growth and market diversification.

Product Strategy

• Influence the strategic direction of Marketing Growth Planning Process (MGPP), Growth Playbook initiatives, and Product Plans to ensure the company's sustained market success and competitive advantage.
• Proactively leverage in-depth expertise regarding competitive product landscapes and evolving customer strategies to inform product positioning and maximize the company's win rate in the market.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of two direct reports, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment while effectively managing individual performance and contributions.
• Provide strategic leadership and insightful guidance to Regional Sales Managers and Area Sales Managers, equipping them with the necessary tools and insights to drive revenue, margin, and market share growth in their respective territories, aligning their execution with the broader business strategy.
• Proactively contribute to building a robust talent pipeline by identifying, mentoring, and developing potential future leaders within both direct and indirect reporting structures.
• Develop and lead executive leadership reviews including weekly QMI, commercial hoshin pulsing, weekly commercial council topics, as well as other ad hoc requests.

What You'll Bring to Our Team

Position Competencies (Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities)

• Strategic Leadership: Demonstrates exceptional leadership skills to lead and execute functional results for a major business segment, aligning actions with organizational objectives.
• Team Management: Proficiently manages large teams, including multiple teams led by managers and/or supervisors, fostering collaboration, and driving performance.
• Strategic Planning: Ability to develop and implement strategic plans for a product line over a 1-3 year horizon, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and the agility to adapt to evolving priorities.
• Strategy Implementation: Ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable plans, recommending and implementing strategies that drive functional success and alignment with broader organizational goals.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an effective change agent in dynamic organizational environments
• Process Improvement: Ability to design and implement innovative processes, standards, and operational plans that enhance efficiency and support achievement of strategic objectives within a job family or functional area.
• Complex Problem-Solving: Proficiently addresses complex problems, conducting extensive investigation and analysis to develop effective solutions.
• Influence and Communication: Ability to influence and gain buy-in from stakeholders, including executive leadership, by effectively communicating the value of strategic initiatives and promoting adoption of key practices and approaches.
• Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively, leveraging clear messaging and active listening to build alignment and drive outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions and work as a team player, applying an "outside-in" perspective to align efforts with broader organizational goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships and communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Management and Leadership: Comprehensive knowledge of management and leadership principles, with the ability to lead multiple functional areas through effective team development, performance management, and strategic execution.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to apply an entrepreneurial and innovation-driven mindset, leveraging outside-in thinking to identify new opportunities and solutions.
• Ability to synthesize diverse perspectives while exercising independent judgment, effectively addressing complex business challenges.
• Foundational knowledge of operations and project management principles, with practical experience supporting cross-functional initiatives.
• Skill in facilitating discussions and delivering compelling presentations to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work with energy and urgency, showing self-motivation and a proactive approach to achieving goals.

Educational and Experiential Background

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) from an accredited university or college required.
• Minimum of 12 years of commercial experience in one or more of the following areas: Marketing, Sales, or Product Management.

Preferred Education/Experience

• Business-to-consumer (B2C) experience is a plus.
• Prior experience in a people leadership role is preferred.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

• Working conditions are typical for an office environment.
• May require occasional weekend or evening work, including regular off-hour calls with partners in different time zones
• 20% ongoing travel, domestic and international, to travel to vendors, customers, plants, etc. Occasional conferencing and/or external training attendance may be required at times.

Our Culture

Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D). This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.

This reflects our dedication to creating solutions that: Empower colleagues by fostering an environment where all voices are heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute. Strengthen communities where we live and work. Reinforce a culture of belonging, purpose, and engagement. Reflect the diversity of the communities we serve through our workforce, products, and practices.

By further embedding Zero Distance into our People and Culture framework, we will continue to build a deeply connected organization. We are cultivating a culture of engagement, belonging, and connection, because while attracting new talent remains a priority, retention is a cornerstone of our strategy.

GE Appliances is a trust-based organization. It is important we offer our employees the flexibility they need to do their best work while balancing the needs of the business and individuals. When you join GE Appliances, you will have the opportunity to work with your leader to create a flexible work arrangement that balances the needs of the individual, team, and organization.

GE Appliances is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Appliances participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply, please send an e-mail to ask.recruiting@geappliances.com