Jim McCann is a highly successful entrepreneur whose vision and energy have helped grow 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, the company he founded in 1976, into the world's leading florist and gift company. McCann's focus on customer relationships and his willingness to embrace new technologies and business channels helped change the way flowers and other gifts are marketed for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and special occasions.
McCann recognized early on the enormous potential in providing on-the-go consumers with the ability to express themselves and connect with the important people in their lives through top quality floral gifts combined with exemplary, personal service. McCann has also consistently managed to stay ahead of the curve in multi-channel retailing by embracing new technologies, such as 800 phone numbers and the Internet, often long before other retailers recognized the opportunities that these developments would provide both for business and consumers.
In addition to being the first company to have its 800-telephone number as its name – a marketing insight that helped solidify the brand in consumer's minds – McCann was a pioneer in online retailing – seizing the enormous reach of the Internet as early as 1991. Utilizing thorough knowledge of his customer base and market, McCann focused on expanding brand name awareness and instilling a sense of trust and convenience.
McCann's strategy for growth includes an effective combination of birthing new businesses and making acquisitions of businesses and brands that resonate with customers as great sources for exceptional gifts. One such new business is the BloomNet® wire service which provides retail florists with diverse resources such as website hosting, a comprehensive technology platform for retail store management and the industry's first and only online digital floral directory. On the acquisition front, McCann has expanded his company's gift offerings, and become a leading player in the Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets business, by acquiring such iconic brands as: Fannie May®, makers of gourmet chocolate and other confections; Cheryl&Co.®, creators of individually-wrapped fresh baked cookies, brownies and cakes; and The Popcorn Factory®, which offers gourmet popcorn and other snacks in exclusively designed collectible tins.
McCann attributes much of his success to the lessons he learned in his first career, in the social services. At St. John's Home for Boys in Rockaway, New York, McCann recalls, he helped underprivileged youths learn how to overcome the many challenges of their environment. His experiences greatly influenced his management style and prepared him to lead 1-800-FLOWERS.COM toward becoming one of the world's most successful multi-channel retailers.
McCann is a published author and award winning public speaker as well as a frequent guest on radio and television programs nationwide. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, McCann is a member of the Board of Directors of Willis Group Holdings Limited and Gruppo Lottomatica.
Updated: January 22, 2009
Christopher G. McCann
President, Director
Chris McCann is President of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and is responsible for the Company's overall performance and direction. Under his guidance, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has earned a reputation as one of the leading multi-channel retailers in the country. Additionally, McCann's role in building
1-800-FLOWERS.COM's e-commerce channel has helped accelerate the Company's growth and earned him speaking engagements at numerous interactive conferences and universities around the country.
McCann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York. Prior to his association with 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, he served as President of Flora Plenty, a floral retail chain. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Marist College.
McCann lives on Long Island with his wife and three children.
Updated 2/2009
Gerard M. Gallagher
SVP, General Counsel and Secretary
Gerard M. Gallagher has been the Company's Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary since August 1999 and has been providing legal services to the Company since its inception. Mr. Gallagher is the founder and a managing partner in the law firm Gallagher, Walker, Bianco and Plastaras, based in Mineola, New York, specializing in corporate, litigation and intellectual property matters since 1993. Mr. Gallagher is duly admitted to practice before the New York State Courts and the United States District Courts of both the Eastern District and Southern District of New York.
William E. Shea
SVP, Finance and Administration, Treasurer and CFO
William E. Shea has been the Company's Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer since September 2000. Before holding his current position, Mr. Shea was Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller after joining the Company in April 1996. From 1980-1996, Mr. Shea was a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young LLP.
Jan L. Murley
Interim President, Consumer Floral Brand, Director
Jan L. Murley has been a Director of the Company since February 2007. Ms. Murley is currently serving as Interim President for the Company's Consumer Floral business segment since September 15, 2008. From June 30, 2008 to September 15, 2008, she rendered marketing consulting services to the Company. Ms. Murley has served as a consultant to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) (a private equity firm) from November 2006. From October 2003 to July 2006, Ms. Murley was Chief Executive Officer and a Director of The Boyds Collection, Ltd. (a publicly traded designer and manufacturer of gifts and collectibles), which was majority-owned by KKR. Boyds filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in October 2005 and emerged from Chapter 11 in June 2006 as a private company. Prior to that, she was group Vice President - Marketing of Hallmark Cards, Inc. (a publisher of greeting cards and related gifts) from 1999 to 2002. Previously, Ms. Murley was employed by Procter & Gamble for more than 20 years, with her last position being Vice President for skin care and personal cleansing products. Ms. Murley has been a Director of The Clorox Company since November 2001 and serves as a member of its Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees.
Thomas G. Hartnett has been the Company's Senior Vice President of Retail and Fulfillment since September 2000. Before holding this position, Mr. Hartnett held various positions within the Company since joining in 1991, including Controller, Director of Store Operations, Vice President of Retail Operations and Vice President of Strategic Development. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hartnett was a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young LLP.
Mark Nance
President, Bloomnet
Directs all initiatives within the BloomNet organization, ensuring member florist expectations and company goals are met and exceeded. Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Mark joined 1-800-FLOWERS.COM in December 2004 as Vice President Marketing and Sales for BloomNet, the Company's B2B "Flowers by Wire" Florist business. Mark was promoted to President of BloomNet in August 2006 reflecting his leadership in growing the BloomNet operations significantly during his tenure. He oversees all aspects of the BloomNet business ensuring member florist expectations and company goals are met and exceeded.
After a successful profession in the oil and gas industry, Mark started his career in the floral industry at American Floral Services (AFS), where, during his 17-year tenure, he held a variety of positions in sales, marketing, technology, international development and senior management with the final position being Chief Marketing Officer. In 1994, he was part of the senior management team that led to the successful sale and re-capitalization of AFS. In November 2000, he was a member of the executive team that successfully united AFS and Teleflora under the Teleflora banner to create the world's largest flowers-by-wire company, with over 33,000 independent retail florists in the United States and Canada.
Mark has served on the boards or been active in Sales and Marketing Executives International, The Society of American Florists, American Academy of Floriculture, American Floral Endowment, Floral Retailers Conference, Texas State Florist Association, Oklahoma State Florist Association, Historical Society of Setauket New York, PTF and other community and of personal interest organizations.
David Taiclet
President, Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets
David Taiclet currently serves as President, Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets for 1800Flowers.com, Inc. 1800Flowers.com, Inc. is a leading internet consumer retailer of floral, food and gift products with revenues exceeding $900 million in 2008. Mr. Taiclet's current role includes responsibility for more than 1,000 employees, a growing collection of consumer food gift brands (including Fannie May Confections, Harry London, Cheryl&Co., The Popcorn Factory, The WineTasting Network, Ambrosia Wines, DesignPac Gifts and 1-800-Baskets.com, among others) and several manufacturing plants and distribution facilities located throughout the United States. Mr. Taiclet assumed his current position after serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Fannie May Confections Brands, Inc., which is a multi-branded retailer, wholesaler and manufacturer of confectionery products under the Fannie May, Fanny Farmer and Harry London brands.
Mr. Taiclet was the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Alpine Confections, Inc. and in ten years grew Alpine Confections from $12 million in sales to $120 million, becoming one of the top 15 confectionery manufacturers and wholesalers in North America. Alpine Confections, Inc. was named Candy Industry Magazine's "Manufacturer of the Year" in 2005 and received numerous awards over its existence, including two that Mr. Taiclet is most proud - Employer of the Year by the Utah ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) and Utah's most Family Friendly Large Company by the Governor's Employment Council for two years in a row. In May, 2006, 1800Flowers.com, Inc. purchased the holding company, Alpine Confections, Inc. and two of the five Alpine subsidiaries, Fannie May Confections, Inc. and Harry London Candies, Inc.
Previously, Mr. Taiclet worked for four years in the Strategy and Business Development Group of Cargill, Inc., an international marketer, processor and distributor of food, financial and industrial products. Mr. Taiclet spent a vast amount of time traveling internationally with a focus on various food and financial businesses in South America and Europe. Prior to his employment with Cargill and graduate school, Mr. Taiclet served four years of active duty in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Captain. Most of Mr. Taiclet's time on active duty was with the 4th Infantry Division.
Mr. Taiclet graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A., Finance and also earned an M.B.A., with Second Year Honors, from Harvard University.
Charles Fraas
Sr. Vice President, Operations
Timothy J. Hopkins
President, Madison Brands
Prior to joining 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. in March, 2005, Tim's most recent position was as CEO of Sur La Table, a multi-channel retailer with stores nationwide, catalog, e-commerce and cooking schools. Previous to that, he was President, Corporate Merchandising and Logistics, Worldwide at Borders Group, Inc., where he had full merchandising and supply chain responsibility for a $3.3 billion business with 1200 stores worldwide, including Borders Books and Music, Waldenbooks, Brentano's, Kiosk operations, International and E-Commerce. Tim has also held senior management positions at QVC, Cargo Express and Jordan Marsh.
Vincent J. McVeigh
SVP, BloomNet
Mr. McVeigh has been a Senior Vice President with the Company since October 2000. Before holding this position, Mr. McVeigh held various positions within the Company since joining in 1991, including Bloomnet Manager, Director of Call Center Operations and Vice President of Merchandising.
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