Throughout her 30 years’ corporate career, Rosa Zeegers has successfully led global Fortune 500 brands and businesses in various industries, ranging from Consumer Goods, (Unilever), to Airlines (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines), Toys & Entertainment (Mattel), Retail (Justice) and Publishing, Events & Entertainment (National Geographic), to new growth levels.
Ultimately in C-Suite roles, she is described as a Transformational Global Business Executive, managing substantial P&Ls with proven success, developing and implementing brand and business strategies that have consistently led to double digits growth and profitability; as a Start-up & Growth Architect, who identifies and capitalizes on opportunities that maximize business potential, while creating strategic alliances along the way, as a Marketing & Brand Strategist with a proven track record of innovative and successful brand (extension) launches, and as a Change Agent with the ability to quickly assess organizational needs and devise solutions that result in greater effectiveness and productivity gains. She is highly regarded as a Charismatic Leader who attracts and cultivates high-performing leaders and teams that consistently drive business objectives across multiple continents and markets. She has lived and/or worked in many continents and is fluent in five languages.
Recently, Rosa joined ‘Newport LLC’ as a partner. Newport is a national strategic advisory firm that helps founders, owners and CEOs of middle market companies grow and improve the performance of their businesses, often in support of a successful capital transaction or sale. They do this by serving as peer advisors, fractional C-Suite executives, and board directors.
In 2015, Zeegers founded and is the CEO of ‘BrandFolia LLC’, a brand strategy consulting company. It serves public, global, fortune 500 companies, as well as start ups, non profits and governments in entertainment, financial services, high tech and the travel & tourism industry many continents around the world.
Additionally, she serves/served as a Director on the Boards of: the Qiddiya Investment Company, (a Saudi Sports, Arts and Entertainment Company, part of The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030”); EZCORP, (a publicly traded Financial Services Company); EdgeSoft Inc., (a privately held citygovernment software company start-up); and two non-profit organizations: The AHA Foundation, (Women’s Rights); The Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership, (Educatio).
In her last corporate role as Executive Vice President Global Consumer Products for National Geographic Partners Zeegers led all Consumer Products businesses for National Geographic: Global Books Publishing, International Magazines, Ecommerce, Live Events, Kids Business, Consumer Products Licensing, and Location Based Entertainment. She was responsible for global Revenue of $200 Million, Profit of $30 Million, and led a team of 200 people in 40 countries, with 8 direct reports.
In this role, she developed NatGeo’s global brand extension strategy which has led to a sales growth of 40% and profit growth of 100% in year 1. This success was driven by the launch of a global Consumer Products Licensing business, the successful opening of Location Based Entertainment initiatives around the world, the global launch of the first ever NatGeo Kids Franchise: ‘Explorer Academy’ and the turnaround of NatGeo’s Ecommerce and Live Events businesses.
Before National Geographic, Zeegers worked 2 years as a CMO for Justice , The world’s largest Tween girls Fashion retailer and for 14 years at Mattel Inc., the world’s #1 Toy Company, in various Marketing and Licensing Roles. During her tenure, as SVP of Global Licensing, Marketing and Entertainment, she led the launch of iconic brands like Fisher Price, Hot Wheels, Barbie, My Scene, Masters of the Universe and Monster High in Consumer Products, she developed Mattel’s global Entertainment, Marketing and Licensing strategies, opened up new markets and categories worldwide and doubled the Consumer Products business in 3 years (from $1,5B to $3B retail sales) as a result.
Prior to Mattel, Rosa was VP of Global Brand Management for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, where for 8 years she directed all consumer touch points, including marketing, CRM and the inflight and ground experiences. Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and working across the world, she re-defined the KLM brand strategy, and launched a new flight class concept – Economy Plus – which was a first in the Airline industry. It still operates today and is followed by all major airlines.
Rosa first began her robust marketing career at Unilever PLC, working in various sales and marketing positions, managing Europe’s biggest Detergent and Ice Cream Brands, launching several new brands and categories and growing the business significantly as a result.
Rosa is a regular, sought after guest speaker at various universities across the country, (Stanford, USC, UC Davis, CSULB), teaching: “Doing Business in Different Cultures”.
Guest Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosazeegers/