Greg Ackard’s distinguished career is a testament to the power of unwavering integrity, strategic foresight, and a passion for developing people and businesses alike. With over four decades of progressive leadership in sales, marketing, corporate strategy, and executive management, Greg has consistently demonstrated a rare ability to align vision with action, delivering transformative results across multiple industries. His professional journey reflects not just a commitment to organizational excellence, but also a personal philosophy that emphasizes honesty, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of improvement.
Beginning his career with Nestlé USA in the early 1980s, Greg quickly established himself as a dynamic sales leader, mastering the fundamentals of team development, customer relationships, and operational excellence. His early experiences laid a strong foundation for his future executive roles, equipping him with an acute understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior. At Nestlé and later Drackett Products Company, Greg refined his expertise in managing regional sales operations and corporate category management, earning accolades for his ability to drive revenue growth and enhance team performance.
As he transitioned into senior leadership roles, Greg’s impact became even more pronounced. At Del Monte Foods, he was entrusted with managing the company’s largest division, overseeing $250 million in annual sales across five states. His hands-on leadership style and strategic planning acumen enabled him to lead a team of eight broker organizations to achieve consistent market share growth in highly competitive channels. Greg’s efforts demonstrated his remarkable capacity to build and motivate high-performing teams, a trait that would define much of his later career.
Greg’s tenure at World Kitchen and R.G. Barry Corporation further solidified his reputation as a transformational leader. At R.G. Barry, he rose from Vice President of Sales to Senior Vice President, ultimately leading national account strategies for major retailers like Kohl’s, JC Penney, and Target. Under his leadership, the company achieved consecutive years of record-breaking sales and profitability, securing Vendor of the Year awards and significantly expanding its product footprint. Greg’s ability to integrate brand development with strategic sales initiatives was pivotal in boosting R.G. Barry’s market valuation and shareholder returns.
A hallmark of Greg’s career is his adeptness at restructuring and revitalizing organizations. As President and Corporate EVP of Renfro Corporation, he led the company’s largest operating division, representing 70% of corporate revenue. He orchestrated comprehensive restructuring efforts that improved collaboration across sales, marketing, merchandising, and design teams, while simultaneously reducing SG&A costs by $1.4 million. Greg’s leadership was instrumental in launching a successful “Made in the USA” program at Walmart, generating $75 million in incremental revenue and significantly enhancing brand prestige.
Greg’s entrepreneurial spirit was further demonstrated at Pacific Market International, where he served as Executive Vice President of Sales under an interim leadership contract. Tasked with navigating a leadership transition, Greg realigned the company’s sales strategy, eliminated underperforming segments, and helped boost EBITDA from 9% to 15%. His strategic interventions and hands-on management approach left a lasting legacy of operational excellence and financial growth.
At PeopleSuite Talent Solutions, Greg embraced a new challenge, applying his vast industry experience to the field of executive recruitment. As Managing Director, he opened a new branch office and successfully built client relationships across consumer goods, manufacturing, and private equity sectors. His consultative style and keen eye for talent made him a trusted partner to both clients and candidates, further reinforcing his reputation as a builder of teams and culture.
Most recently, Greg served as Executive Vice President of Global Sales for Superior Uniform Healthcare Group, a division of Superior Group of Companies. In this role, he developed and implemented global sales strategies that spanned North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Under his leadership, the company navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve two of the most successful revenue years in its history, introduced innovative CRM systems, and launched international business expansions that yielded substantial incremental revenues.
Throughout his career, Greg’s leadership philosophy has been grounded in a deep respect for people, a commitment to operational excellence, and an entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving. He believes that organizational success is driven by alignment between strategy and execution, supported by strong, engaged teams. His international experiences across Europe, Asia, and Latin America have given him a global perspective, while his work with companies of all sizes has equipped him to adapt and thrive in diverse business environments.
Personally, Greg is driven by a desire to mentor the next generation of leaders and to continue building organizations that stand the test of time. His passion for golf, exercise, and mentoring young people speaks to his belief in continuous growth, resilience, and the importance of balancing professional success with personal fulfillment. Now, as he seeks opportunities to serve on corporate boards, Greg brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record of transformational leadership, and an unwavering commitment to integrity, strategic thinking, and human development.
Character:
Greg Ackard embodies unwavering integrity and leads with a values-first mindset, fostering trust among colleagues, customers, and partners. His dedication to ethical leadership has consistently earned him the respect and admiration of teams across the organizations he has served.
Knowledge:
With a career spanning over four decades across consumer goods, retail, manufacturing, and apparel, Greg’s deep industry knowledge allows him to navigate complex business environments with confidence. His international experience further enhances his understanding of global markets and multicultural business dynamics.
Strategic:
Greg is a master strategist who consistently aligns organizational vision with practical, data-driven execution plans that yield measurable results. His ability to restructure organizations and drive profitable growth demonstrates a keen understanding of both macro trends and operational intricacies.
Communication:
A gifted communicator, Greg excels at building consensus among diverse stakeholders and leading teams through change with clarity and inspiration. His ability to articulate complex ideas simply and persuasively has been a key driver of his success in high-level executive roles.
