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| About Carol Mabe |
Carol M. Mabe is an exceptionally well-qualified independent consultant offering ideas, insights and inspirations in brand development, strategic planning and leadership development to clients in business, higher education and the non-profit sector. A successful, respected leader in consumer products marketing, Carol is a proven expert in the art and science of consumer brand marketing, having helped build some of the world's best-recognized, most successful brands, including Hanes, Hanes Her Way, L’eggs, Victoria’s Secret, Lee, Wrangler and Russell Athletic. After earning a bachelor of fine arts degree, magna cum laude, from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, Carol began her career as a graphic designer, advancing from art director to manager of marketing communications for a financial services company before making her pivotal move to consumer goods marketing in 1981. She spent her first 13 years in major-league consumer brand marketing with Sara Lee Corporation, where she advanced through a series of increasingly influential executive positions including vice-president of marketing for Hanes Hosiery, vice-president and general manager of Hanes Her Way Underwear, and senior vice-president of marketing for Hanes and Hanes Her Way Underwear. From Sara Lee, Columbus, Ohio-based Victoria's Secret Stores recruited Carol to serve as vice president of marketing, introducing proven consumer branding techniques to an already high-visibility brand. Three years later, she joined VF Corporation, in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she served as vice president of strategic marketing for the company's $3.5 billion VF Jeanswear division, marketers of Lee, Wrangler, Riders, Rustler and Brittania jeans, focusing on global brand positioning and corporate acquisition strategies. In 1999, Carol joined Russell Corporation as president of retail for Russell Athletic. Russell Corporation is a $1.4 billion international sporting goods company, based in Atlanta, marketing active wear, athletic wear, team uniforms and sports equipment. In July 2000, she was promoted to president and COO of Russell Athletic and elected a corporate vice president. The next year, she was named president and CEO of Russell Athletic. While with Russell, Carol served on the Executive Committee of the Kennesaw State University Foundation Board of Trustees in Atlanta, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association International in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Board of Directors of P.E.4LIFE in Washington, DC, and the Executive Committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She also served as Co-Chairman of the Atlanta Local Organizing Committee for the 2003 National NCAA Women's Final Four Basketball Championship. Previously, Carol served on the boards of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the United Way of Winston-Salem (NC) and Forsyth County and the Crosby Charity Golf Tournament. She chaired the Forsyth County YWCA's 1994 Capital Campaign and served as a loaned executive for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County United Way. Currently, Carol is a member of the East Carolina University Board of Trustees and is vice-chair of the East Carolina University Foundation Board of Directors. She also serves on the Merchandising Advisory Board for the university's College of Human Ecology. East Carolina honored Carol for her career achievements in 2002 with its Outstanding Alumni Award and again in 2007, when as part of its centennial celebration, the university named her one of "100 Incredible ECU Women." To Learn More About CarolReview Carol's Career Highlights |