After two decades building and managing some of the world’s most recognized brands and high-performing teams — I transitioned from active executive leadership to found Ben Pruess Consulting. This move gave me the freedom to work across industries, support more founders and investors directly, and focus on where I could drive meaningful impact — free from the constraints of large, traditional corporate environments. Today, I help C-suite leaders, founders, and private equity partners solve critical business challenges, unlock growth, and build enduring brands. With 25+ years of leadership and consulting experience, I specialize in: - Brand transformation and growth strategy - Organizational scaling and leadership development - Product and creative innovation - Global expansion and market entry - Fundraising and investor strategy Previously, I served as Global Vice President of adidas Originals, scaling the brand from $450M to $2.5B, and held senior roles at Salomon, Under Armour, and Tommy Hilfiger, consistently driving growth, profitability, and brand value. Partnering with businesses of all sizes — from emerging startups to global brands — delivering: - Strategic advisory - Fractional executive leadership - Founder coaching - Organizational design - Board advisory and governance I also work closely with leading private equity and growth investment firms — supporting portfolio companies on brand building, operational scaling, market expansion, and leadership development, as well as helping identify, evaluate, and position new investment and acquisition opportunities. I'm an active investor and advisor to 30+ high-growth brands, including Yola Mezcal, Jolie Beauty, Milo Action Communicators, and MoonPay, with successful exits like Highsnobiety (acquired by Zalando) and Marshall Group (acquired by HongShan capital) As a former professional athlete, I bring a competitive spirit, team work, resilience, and a passion for continuous innovation to every engagement. Collaboration, creativity, and empowerment are at the core of my leadership style — helping businesses unlock agility, ownership, and long-term success. Today, my work is solely focused on partnering with great founders and funds to build differentiated brands, and scale truly innovative business ideas. Freed from the constraints of corporate politics and undifferentiated “me-too” products, I am committed to helping leaders bring the next generation of meaningful, high-impact businesses to life. If you’re building something great— let's connect.