Bill Besselman

Energizer
DISC Type : I

SVP, Corporate Strategy at American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Overview

Bill is a transformational leader with over 25 years of experience in retail, consumer brands, and logistics. A graduate of The Wharton School and Carnegie Mellon, he has a proven track record in architecting enterprise strategy and leading operational turnarounds, such as driving $40M in profitability improvements at Quiet Platforms. People who have worked with him often describe him as an inspiring, motivating, and creative leader.

Beyond his corporate roles, Bill is passionate about fostering innovation and serves as a board member and advisor to startups. He actively supports and mentors founders, particularly in the activewear, apparel, and tech sectors, helping them build their brands and accelerate growth.

Unique fact: At Under Armour, Bill was responsible for building and scaling the companys entire Connected Fitness ecosystem.

Personality Overview

Big Picture Person

Relationship Oriented

Full Of Energy

They are naturally enthusiastic, so take their promise with a pinch of salt.  They excel at seeing the bigger picture, and the long-term impact of their decisions. Unlike C or D types, they are vocal with their opinions but not so much with their questions.

Topics They Care About

Logistics Turnarounds
He designed and executed a turnaround strategy at Quiet Platforms that resulted in approximately $40 million in annual profitability improvements.
Startup Mentorship
Serves as a board member and advisor to startups like Cipher Skin, and actively helps founders of emerging brands like Kobrelms and Trusst Lingerie.
Corporate Growth Strategy
As SVP at American Eagle, he partnered with the CEO to define the company's 2030 vision and built the multi-year financial plan to support it.

Media Appearances

Bill has no verified media appearances

Work History

9-2024
SVP, Corporate Strategy at American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
2-2020 - 8-2024
SVP, Supply Chain Strategy at American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
6-2024
President at Quiet Platforms
4-2023 - 5-2024
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at Quiet Platforms
1-2022 - 3-2023
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Quiet Platforms

Education

1993 - 1995
MBA from The Wharton School
1986 - 1990
Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Carnegie Mellon University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 12 Location : Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : SVP, Corporate Strategy at American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
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Insights For Selling To Bill

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Do some small talk, ask them how things are going on their side
  • Be friendly and entertaining in your conversation
  • Speak enthusiastically with energy, maintain a clear and confident tone

DONT's

  • Avoid overloading them with too much detail
  • Don’t be excessively objective, be a storyteller
  • Don’t be too formal, focus on building comfort and trust

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Bill is

  • Relationship and trust can be vital with them, sometimes more than anything else.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Bill

  • They are unlikely to say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Bill move?

  • They are not the fastest decision makers, their friendly approach can give false positive signals.
  • Can Bill take some risk or not?

  • They can accept limited risks, ones that they think will not impact them personally.

You And Bill

Personality Compatibility


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