SASHA STOJANOV

4292 Diamond Drive, Weston, Florida 33331

954.217.2512 (Home)
305.213.1986 (Mobile)
stojanov@att.net

SENIOR MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL (International Business)

PROFILE OVERVIEW
Globally accomplished and dynamic management professional, offering a well-round
ed business management experience and synergistic set of qualifications geared t
oward ensuring stellar corporate growth and multimillion increases in revenues.
More than 20 years of results-based experience directing international sales and
account management, marketing, finance, and operations. Tenacious and visionary
business strategist with expertise in building global industry-wide alliances;
articulate multilingual with proficiency in eight languages and broad internatio
nal experience. Outstanding record of analyzing complex market and industry cond
itions, identifying needs, initiating cost-efficiency strategies, and delivering
innovative business solutions. Fluent in English, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian an
d Spanish; proficient in
Czech, Italian, Russian, and Slovak languages combined with working know
ledge of Portuguese.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Global market positioning and sales optimization
- Matrix management of geographically dispersed business locations
- Business analysis, human resource management, and continuous process imp
rovement
- Oversight and development of cross-culturally diverse teams and leaders
- Turnaround management, strategic planning, and cultivation of worldwide
business alliances
- Product development, pricing, market and industry analyses
- Resolution of complex global business issues
- Financial operations, accounting, treasury, and general business operati
ons

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Whirlpool Corporation-Benton Harbor, MI

DIRECTOR (Caribbean and Central America Region)-Miami, FL Jan 2009-Present

Oversee and streamline functional areas of sales, marketing, finance, logistics,

service, and human resources in multiple offices across Miami, Puerto Rico, and
Guatemala serving 36 countries. Align and continuously improve organizational s
tructure while providing strategic direction in the selection of top talents and
leaders. Simultaneously manage lines of business in Central America and Caribbe
an while continuously improving purchasing experience and strategizing product i
ntroductions, floor execution, and pricing. Gather and analyze key performance i
ndicators to realign plans and decisions in ensuring business growth. Develop an
d present business reports to executive management as well as provide advice, so
lutions, and strategies to broaden business, expedite resolution of issues, and
maximize efficiency and profitability.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Outmaneuvered the challenges of the recession period, successfully incre
asing sales in the Caribbean and Central America Region (2008-2010) by 2% and se
curing $140M in revenue
- Key person in driving market share from 13% to 15% in Central America an
d from 20% to 24% in the Caribbean (2008-2010)
- Projected a free cash flow of $14M or 10% of sales in 2010 for the Carib
bean and Central America Region with anticipated record high revenues of $140M a
nd operating profit of $16.6M
- Continuously improved key performance indicators and implemented cost co
ntrol strategies, resulting in lower freight and warehousing cost per unit from
$17 in 2008 to $12 in 2010
- Generated 37% sales increase in the Caribbean and Central America Region
(2009-2010)
- Formulated and strategized plans to grow sales by 60% to $225M (2010-201
4)
- Revitalized operations in Guatemala to ensure business continuity; direc
ted and developed the country manager while overseeing the hiring process for to
p talents and leaders
- Successfully propelled sales increases by 35% from $43M to $58M in Centr
al America through efficient restructuring of the distribution process (2009-201
0)
- Established and broadened marketing presence in Costa Rica and Panama by
ensuring overall efficiency of the sales force and through successful new produ
ct launches
- Improved credit and collections by reducing month-end past due receivabl
es from 20% to 4% and decreased inventory in Guatemala from 95 days to 68 days t
hrough enhanced forecasting and inventory management (2009-2010)
- Optimized new distribution channels that enabled the company to grow sal
es from $58M to $82M in the Caribbean (2009-2010)

Director (Caribbean Region)-Miami, FL Jul 2007-Jan 2009

Spearheaded business operations in Miami and Puerto Rico serving 30 countries; o
versaw and maximized performance efficiency of direct reports from all functiona
l areas, such as sales, marketing, finance, logistics, service, and human resour
ces. Hired and delegated staff for key leadership positions while maintaining sa
les at $77M and doubleâ⠬â digit percent operating profit during a recessionary period.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Restructured the Caribbean region to ensure proficient operational overs
ight to both Caribbean 1 and 2, which comprised of 30 smaller countries
- Cultivated relationships with trade partners while sustaining broad-base
d support to international staff
- Focused on coaching and development initiatives, resulting in rapid prom
otion and professional advancement of direct reports
- Strategically reduced logistics complexity by reducing the number of mod
els offered (SKUs) by half from 1,000 to 500
- Developed and implemented innovative brand strategy and successfully too
k ownership of the Puerto Rico warehouse by concentrating on stocking fast movin
g inventory, which resulted in availability increase from 80% to 97% while reduc
ing total inventory levels

SENIOR SALES MANAGER (Miami Region)-Miami, FL Apr 2005-Jul 2007

Managed and developed revenue streams in Miami Region, including Ecuador, Centra
l America (excluding Guatemala), and the Caribbean Islands (excluding Puerto Ric
o).
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Dramatically increased sales by 48%, driving $103M for Miami Region of E
cuador, Central America (excluding Guatemala), and the Caribbean islands (exclud
ing Puerto Rico)
- Consistently delivered double-digit percent operating profit every year
- Improved territory coverage by restructuring the sales force in Miami an
d hiring local sales representative in Ecuador
- Orchestrated the successful launch of distribution channel in Ecuador an
d was the key person in opening key retail chains that for the first time began
buying full containers directly from the factories
- Facilitated a more efficient geographical coverage by strategic restruct
uring of the sales force in Miami and through redistribution of accounts
- Maximized skills of account managers in managing competition and in main
taining double-digit profit performance, acting as a subject matter expert in pr
ice analysis, promotion, and product line optimization

SENIOR SALES MANAGER (Puerto Rico and Venezuela Region)-Miami, FL Mar 2003
-Apr 2005
Challenged and succeeded in the successful transition of a declining sales perfo
rmance of Venezuela while leading the implementation of change management system
involving unnecessary labor cost. Strengthened relations with international tra
de partners; traveled extensively to initiate and conduct face-to-face negotiati
ons.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Increased sales in the Puerto Rico and Venezuela regions by 45% to $55M
- Delegated two account managers and directed initiatives in remarkably tu
rning around revenues from $10M to $25M in Venezuela
- Established rapport and productive business relations with trade partner
s while developing training and development strategies to ensure overall effecti
veness of account management leaders
- Revitalized business relationships in Puerto Rico and generated growth i
n accounts by implementing motivational incentive strategies, resulting in sales
increase from $28M to $30M during a recession and a down market

REGIONAL FINANCE MANAGER -Miami, FL Jun 1999-Mar 2003

Oversaw and ensured overall efficiency in finance, accounting, treasury, credit
and collections, and operations in Miami, which included Venezuela, Puerto Rico,
the Andean Region, Central America, and the Caribbean and in Colombia where Whi
rlpool had its own legal entity. Developed and realigned plans affecting all are
as of the business, including sales, marketing, logistics, and finance functions
.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Defined viable business strategies to drive substantial growth in existi
ng markets and capitalized on new business opportunities; provided strategic dir
ection in brand strategy in all regions and in merchandising of all product line
s to improve mix and margins
- Instituted and implemented a hedging strategy that generated $2M cost re
duction for Colombia to reduce cost in devaluation-related expenses; established
and executed optimum capital structure for Colombia and achieved significant ma
rket advantage
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of key procedures for con
tinuous improvement, ensuring seamless product launches, pricing and programming
, UL approvals, invoice to payment cycle, and setting up of new accounts
- Initiated the credit function in-house and saved $3M
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Whirlpool Corporation
- Merchandising Manager-Benton Harbor, MI (1997-1999)
- Regional Marketing Manager-Comerio, Italy (1996-1997)
- Marketing Manager-Prague, Czech Republic / Poprad, Slovakia (1993-1996)
- Financial Analyst-Benton Harbor, MI (1991-1993)
Boatmenâ⠬⠢s First National Bank
- Foreign Exchange Specialist-Kansas City, MO (1988-1989)
Mercantile Bank
- Paying and Receiving Teller, Kansas City, MO (1987-1988)
Harlan International Corporation
- Sales Associate-Kansas City, KS (1986-1987)

EDUCATION
(MIM) MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT ~ GRADUATED MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Thunderbird School of Global Management, Phoenix, AZ
(BS) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MAJOR IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETING, MINOR IN SPANISH ~ GR
ADUATED MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE IN BUSINESS
The United World College of the Atlantic, South Glamorgan-Wales, United Kingdom

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
1999 onward Talent Pool at Whirlpool
2007 onward Sponsored Black Belts and Green Belts
2008 Price and Margin Realization Training at Whirlpool
Leadership for Directors at Whirlpool
2005 Leadership for Managers at Whirlpool
2004 Innovation Mentoring at Whirlpool
1992 Global Management Development Program at Whirlpool
Effective Presentations Skills Seminar

AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

- Member, Omicron Delta Epsilon (Honor Society in Economics), Northwest Mi
ssouri State University
- Member, Foreign Languages Society, Northwest Missouri State University
- Member, Russian and Spanish Clubs, Thunderbird School of Global Manageme
nt

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Microsoft Office Applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
SAP Applications: Dimensional Reporting, Global Pricing System