FRANCIS D. NICHOLS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Accomplished P&L manager and business development executive with substantial experience in public and governmental affairs, corporate communications, human resources consulting, and law. Exceptional negotiator and communicator with proven team-building and leadership skills. International business experience in Russia, the Pacific Rim, West Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada. Expertise in hiring the right people and leading staff to understand and embrace organization’s vision to produce success.

SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

General Management

Was directly accountable for developing and implementing market strategy, selecting and training key employees, coordinating workflow, forecasting/budgeting revenue, and controlling costs.

Reengineered three-state Pacific Northwest market; grew revenues by 34.9% over 3-year period; improved profit margins by 50%.

Grew tristate Southwest market by 43% over 3-year period; profitability improved by 11%. Market share grew from estimated 14% to 33% over same period.

Reduced operating costs by 31% in a challenging business climate with resultant net profit contribution of 8% over Plan.

Business Development

Led elite sales team responsible for large-scale global transactions. Responsibilities included direction of RFP response strategy, client presentation, and negotiation of terms and global pricing.

Accounted for 24% of the firm’s global revenue with win rate that exceeded 70% in competitive bid setting.

Won sizable multiyear exclusive agreement with Fortune 500 energy company resulting in long-term satisfied customer and improvement of revenues and profit to company.

Converted from a preferred to exclusive provider agreement with international natural resource company and expanded other line-of-business service offerings. Resulted in quadrupling of annual revenues from account.

Strategic Planning

Identified opportunities to strategically move business units beyond current company success profiles. Established new directions that challenged accepted business practices and managed the risks to improve profitability.

Selected as one of ten (out of 10,000 employees) to serve on blue-ribbon corporate energy-related strategic planning task force utilizing scenario-based planning (Stanford Research Institute principles). Focused on government regulation as primary business driver that would define company’s role both as significant energy user and as supplier. Senior Management ultimately merged company’s coal and oil and gas operations into one comprehensive energy business.

Developed innovative marketing strategy to sell both coal and natural gas to utility and large industrial energy customers by taking advantage of deregulation of natural gas, changes in interstate pipeline regulation, and emissions trading permitted under the Clean Air Act Amendment.

Communications, Investor Relations, Government Affairs, Law

Substantial experience and proven track record corporate communications; global investment strategies; print and electronic media; employee communications/community relations; and international, federal, state, and local governmental affairs.

Provided leadership in company’s drive to position itself with key stakeholders through corporate communications, identification of programs focusing on company’s commitment to environmental excellence, and partnerships with communities and host governments.

Designed and directed sustainable development community programs for mining projects in third world countries.

Initiated regular face-to-face meetings with investment constituencies resulting in increased information flow between company, large investors, and industry analysts.

Advocated company policy before Congress, federal regulatory agencies, and several state governments on energy, environment, public lands, corporate tax, and health and safety issues. Resulted in advancement of government policy that positively affected company’s profitability.

Chaired industry task force on global climate change and successfully lobbied against unilateral CO₂ reduction and carbon tax, thereby saving company millions of dollars for its coal, oil and gas, and aluminum business units.

WORK HISTORY

A worldwide leader in human capital consulting (formerly traded on NYSE)

Senior Vice President—Global Response Team, Houston, Texas (2005–2006)

Regional Managing Principal—West Region, Houston, Texas (2004–2005)

Managing Principal—Southwest Market, Houston, Texas (2002–2004)

Managing Principal—Northwest Market, Seattle, Washington (1999–2002)

Managing Director—Washington and Alaska, Seattle, Washington (1998–1999)

International Gold Mining Company

Vice President—Communications and Investor Relations (1997)

Director—Government Affairs (1995–1997)

Director—Marketing Services, Amax Gas Marketing, Inc., Houston, Texas (1992–1994)

Senior Counsel—AMAX, Inc., Washington, DC (1985–1992)

Various legal and regulatory analysis positions, Indianapolis, Indiana (1975–1985)

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor, Indiana University School of Law—Indianapolis

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, cum laude, Ball State University