Brian Kura is a distinguished senior executive and transformational business leader with more than 40 years of professional experience driving profitable growth, revitalizing organizations, and building high-performing teams across the consumer packaged goods (CPG), lawn and garden, horticulture, and service industries. Throughout his career, Brian has demonstrated an exceptional ability to translate strategic vision into measurable business results, combining financial discipline, operational excellence, and a people-first leadership philosophy. His experience managing $50 million to multibillion-dollar business portfolios, navigating complex organizational challenges, and partnering with executive leadership teams and boards of directors positions him as a valuable strategic advisor to companies seeking sustainable growth, stronger market positioning, and long-term shareholder value.
Brian’s professional journey reflects a steady progression through increasingly influential leadership roles, beginning with his experience in the chemical and consumer products industries. During his tenure at Monsanto Company, where he served as Director of Sales, he managed major national and regional customer relationships within a $400 million division of a global enterprise. Working with prominent retailers such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Hardware Co-Op’s and warehouse clubs, he developed expertise in strategic account management, distribution networks, customer engagement, and competitive market positioning. His ability to consistently exceed sales objectives and cultivate enduring business relationships established the foundation for a career defined by commercial leadership and operational accountability.
Brian further distinguished himself during more than 16 years with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, where he held several senior leadership positions, including Vice President of Sales, Vice President of Marketing for the Roundup brand, Senior Vice President of Sales, and President of Scotts LawnService. These roles provided extensive experience overseeing complex business operations, managing large-scale financial responsibilities, and developing strategies that balanced immediate performance with long-term organizational objectives. His leadership spanned sales, marketing, finance, operations, customer relationships, and enterprise strategy, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected functions that drive corporate success.
As Senior Vice President of Sales at Scotts Miracle-Gro, Brian oversaw a $2.2 billion sales organization with substantial financial and operational responsibilities. Under his leadership, sales increased from $1.8 billion to $2.2 billion, while EBITA grew from $324 million to $448 million. He directed a sales force of more than 700 professionals alongside over 2,000 seasonal merchandisers and counselors, demonstrating his ability to lead large, geographically dispersed organizations. Brian also introduced customer-level profit-and-loss accountability, strengthened commercial planning, and helped redesign trade programs to improve profitability and competitive positioning. His strategic approach emphasized disciplined execution, organizational alignment, and sustainable financial performance.
Brian’s leadership capabilities were further demonstrated when he assumed the presidency of Scotts LawnService, a $300 million home services business providing lawn care, tree and shrub care, and pest control through company-owned and franchised operations. In his first full year leading the business, he delivered record sales and profits, achieving 9% sales growth and 11% EBITA growth. Beyond these financial accomplishments, Brian helped establish an ambitious strategic vision for the organization’s future, developing a multiyear growth plan centered on organic expansion and mergers and acquisitions. His ability to communicate this vision effectively to executive leadership and the board of directors helped secure significant capital commitments, including more than $30 million annually in planned acquisition investment.
Innovation and commercial transformation have remained consistent themes throughout Brian’s career. While serving as Vice President of Marketing for the Roundup brand, he managed a $300 million consumer products business and an annual advertising budget of approximately $10 million. He also led product development initiatives, including the introduction of the Roundup Pump ‘N Go delivery system, recognized as the second-largest new product launch in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s history at that time. His responsibilities required collaboration with major corporate partners, advertising agencies, and cross-functional teams, reinforcing his ability to connect consumer insights, product innovation, and commercial strategy to create meaningful competitive advantages.
Following his tenure at Scotts Miracle-Gro, Brian continued applying his executive expertise to organizations seeking growth, transformation, and stronger operational performance. As Senior Vice President of Harvest Consumer Products at Harvest Power, he led a division supplying branded and commodity soils and mulches to major retailers throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions. He subsequently served as Chief Revenue Officer and Partner at Ohio Mulch, contributing to record business results in 2020. His broader turnaround experience includes successfully revitalizing a regional lawn and garden company and doubling EBITDA within the first 18 months. These experiences reinforced his reputation as a results-oriented leader capable of identifying opportunities, improving business fundamentals, and mobilizing organizations around clearly defined objectives.
Brian’s most recent executive responsibilities expanded his leadership influence into international horticulture and specialized agricultural products. As Managing Director of Quick Plug Global with Dümmen Orange, he oversaw a business serving horticultural markets across North America, Europe, and Asia. Following Quick Plug’s acquisition by Profile Products in November 2022, he also served as Vice President of Propagation, Retail and International, with responsibilities spanning the Quick Plug business, Profile Products’ retail operations, and international horticulture activities. These positions broadened his understanding of global markets, international business relationships, manufacturing operations, and the challenges of leading businesses across geographic and organizational boundaries.
Throughout his career, Brian has developed extensive international business exposure, including experience involving the Netherlands, broader European markets, Canada, Latin America, and Asia. His ability to navigate different markets and business environments complements his deep understanding of domestic commercial operations. While his primary professional focus has been on national business leadership, his international perspective enables him to evaluate opportunities through a broader strategic lens, recognizing the importance of market dynamics, operational adaptability, and effective collaboration across cultures and regions.
Beyond his executive accomplishments, Brian brings meaningful experience engaging with boards of directors, investors, industry organizations, and other influential stakeholders. At Scotts Miracle-Gro, he participated in the development and presentation of multiyear strategic plans for board approval, communicated key business initiatives during annual investor conferences, and contributed sales and customer perspectives to quarterly earnings discussions. He has also demonstrated industry leadership through his involvement with the Mulch & Soil Council, including leading an annual meeting for the organization. These experiences reflect his ability to communicate complex business strategies clearly, build confidence among stakeholders, and contribute thoughtfully to discussions involving corporate performance, market trends, and organizational direction.
Brian’s leadership philosophy is grounded in transparency, inclusion, accountability, and a strong belief in the power of organizational alignment. He recognizes that lasting business success requires more than financial expertise or operational efficiency; it depends on developing capable teams, establishing shared priorities, and creating an environment in which individuals understand how their contributions support broader organizational objectives. His experience working with executive teams, employees, customers, financial analysts, and corporate boards has strengthened his ability to bring diverse perspectives together while maintaining a clear focus on performance and results.
Brian’s academic foundation complements his extensive practical experience. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of Arizona. His combination of advanced business education and decades of hands-on executive leadership provides a well-rounded perspective on corporate finance, strategic planning, commercial operations, and organizational development. This blend of analytical thinking and practical execution has been central to his effectiveness in leading businesses through periods of expansion, transition, and transformation.
Having taken a two-year hiatus following retirement, Brian is now entering a new chapter with renewed energy, perspective, and a clear commitment to meaningful board service. The time away from day-to-day executive responsibilities has provided an opportunity to reset and thoughtfully consider how his experience can create the greatest value for organizations and their stakeholders. He is particularly interested in board opportunities within consumer packaged goods and service-oriented industries, ranging from companies generating approximately $40 million in annual revenue to Fortune 100 enterprises. Open to both privately held and publicly traded organizations, Brian seeks opportunities where his expertise in profitable growth, business transformation, P&L management, and strategic execution can contribute to long-term success.
What distinguishes Brian as a prospective board member is not simply the scale of the businesses he has managed, but the consistency with which he has translated leadership responsibility into measurable outcomes. He understands the challenges of balancing revenue expansion with profitability, developing effective management teams, allocating resources strategically, and maintaining accountability throughout an organization. His experience spans established multinational corporations, specialized businesses, and organizations requiring operational improvement, providing him with the versatility to contribute across different stages of corporate development.
As Brian looks toward the future, he brings the perspective of an accomplished executive who values preparation, meaningful engagement, and a commitment to seeing important initiatives through to completion. He approaches board service as a serious responsibility requiring active participation, thoughtful judgment, and sustained dedication. With the time and motivation to engage fully, Brian is prepared to help organizations navigate change, capitalize on emerging opportunities, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and build enduring enterprise value. His professional legacy is defined by profitable growth, strategic transformation, and the belief that exceptional results are achieved when clear vision, disciplined execution, and empowered people work together.
Character:
Brian Kura exemplifies integrity, accountability, and a deep commitment to transparent, inclusive leadership that encourages trust and organizational alignment. His willingness to fully dedicate himself to meaningful responsibilities reflects a professional philosophy grounded in personal ownership, perseverance, and delivering on commitments.
Knowledge:
With more than four decades of experience across consumer packaged goods, service industries, horticulture, and international business operations, Brian possesses extensive expertise in financial performance, commercial strategy, operational management, and organizational transformation. His leadership of multibillion-dollar business portfolios, combined with an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, enables him to contribute informed, practical perspectives to complex business challenges.
Strategic:
Brian has consistently demonstrated the ability to develop and execute ambitious growth strategies, improve profitability, and guide organizations through meaningful business transformation. His accomplishments in revenue expansion, EBITDA improvement, strategic capital planning, and mergers and acquisitions demonstrate his ability to balance immediate performance objectives with long-term enterprise value creation.
Communication:
An accomplished executive communicator with experience presenting strategic initiatives to boards of directors, engaging financial analysts, addressing industry audiences, and leading large, cross-functional teams. His collaborative leadership approach emphasizes clarity, transparency, and shared understanding, enabling him to build stakeholder confidence and inspire collective action toward important business objectives.
