JOHN B. RICHARDS

John is a Managing Partner & Principal of the New England Consulting Group and a key member of our Hospitality and Retail practices.

John possesses a consistent record in building international consumer luxury products and services brands/companies in established and emerging markets. He has significant experience in providing sound, strategic vision across marketing and operations disciplines within complex multi-unit/multi-channel businesses.

While serving as President at Starbucks, John reorganized the marketing and branding organization; designing and leading a strategic expansion to include retail in grocery, college bookstores, small towns, etc.

Immediately prior to joining the New England Consulting Group, John was President and Chief Executive Officer at Elizabeth Arden, Red Door Spa Holdings where he was recruited by private equity investors to lead the organization into a customer-focused product and service venture through corporate restructuring and business revitalization strategies. He championed the rebranding and repositioning of Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salons into Red Door Spa, resulting in the industry’s “gold standard.”

As President and Chief Executive Officer at Dean and Deluca (a specialty retailer of high-end foods, wines and kitchenware) John was instrumental in the development of a successful strategic plan to achieve 40% compound annual growth and $450MM in sales.

Beginning his career at Procter & Gamble, John progressed through successive sales and management assignments and held executive positions at Four Seasons Hotels and Royal Viking Line.

John has also held an executive position with McKinsey & Company for a number of years.

John holds a BA in History and Sociology from Bucknell and an MBA from Wharton (where he was a Public Policy Fellow) and is currently serving as Board Member and Advisor to Life Time Fitness.

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