
President and Chief Executive Officer, HELLMAN ASSOCIATES, INC.
Member of the Media Council
Phil Akin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hellman, where he has worked since 2005. Hellman is a full service marketing and advertising agency with a client base covering 129 of the current Fortune 500 companies, including Best Buy, Advance Auto Parts, 3M, LS Power, GE, Ecolab, John Deere, Praxair, Rockwell-Collings and Factory Motor Parts - the largest AC Delco Parts distributor in North America. Hellman also has an extensive client base in the wind energy and bio-fuels industries. From 1999 to mid 2004, Mr. Akin served as the Director of Marketing at Advance Auto Parts, where he was responsible for a marketing budget of $26 million. He created the Grand Opening program for over 1000 stores, which generated an average 35% in comp increases above the previous program, and was directly involved in the planning and integration of 7 acquisitions. (This is me - Update Profile)
Opinions and analyses expressed in GLG News are solely those of the author. See the Terms of Use for details.
There is a simple fix to a complex problem.
December 17, 2007
CSK Auto plunges on credit agreement news, analyst downgrade | www.smallcapinvestor.com
CSK Auto can not "save" it's way to increased profitability. Pricing, morale, labor and merchandising issues need to be addressed, but driving traffic to the stores must occur at the same time. A short term strategy to drive trial will provide a cushion of time and revenues to implement more comprehensive improvements.
Details of Latest AutoZone Vendor Program are Enlightening
October 11, 2006
AutoZone Stalls as Lampert Exits Board | www.businessweek.com
SCR - Supplier Confirmed Receivables - allows vendors to get AutoZone receivables off their balance sheets via special arrangements with four alternative
financial sources: Suntrust Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Orbian.
Performance vs. Engineering – Advance vs. AutoZone
September 22, 2006
AutoZone quarterly profit up, same-store sales down | www.marketwatch.com
AutoZone earnings vs. Advance growth strategy
• AZ commercial comps down 3%, Advance going up 8-9%.
• AZ margins up on private label mix, but unit sales down
• Both have flat DIY comps but AZ is becoming much more promotional
• Advance is building a long-term growth strategy based on performance; AZ is engineering EPS through stock buyback.
July 31, 2006
CSK Auto gets waiver on loans | today.reuters.com
CSK needs more than a credit extension, they need to get accurate numbers reported to the public ASAP. Store managers need to have immediate reassurance about their performance earning programs. Corporate managers need to see active management not passive oversight. Stockholders need to see a plan.
Pep needs more than a replacement for Stevenson - the business model must change.
July 28, 2006
Pep Boys CEO to get $2.7M in severance package | bizjournals.com
Pep Boys can prosper again, but it will need to change it's model.
1. The service bays must be sublet to regional repair shops.
2. Pep needs be rid of the tire business.
3. Pep can and must expand its auto parts offerings and own the enthusiast and hobbyist markets in addition to commodity parts and carve out it's own position.
| Study Group Name | No. Members |
|---|---|
| TMT Council Members in Member Programs | 16437 |
| Experts in the Leisure & Lodging Council | 4887 |
| Media Experts in GLG Member Programs | 4339 |
| Experts in the Automotive Council | 3422 |
| Media Buyers | 1094 |
Phil Akin has not participated in any GLG Live Meetings.