Vice President & General ManagerTennessee Book Company

INGRAM CONTENT GROUP IN THE NEWS

Best-Selling Author Barbara Freethy Selects Ingram to Launge Digital Best Sellers in Physical Format

Vital Source Collaborates with Metrodigi to Enable Production of Interactive Content

Ingram and ProQuest Expand Ebook Collaboration for Libraries

Education Publisher Kendall Hunt Selects Ingram for Content Logistics

Ingram Adds New Tools for Academic Libraries on ipage Search and Order Content Platform

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer for Ingram Content Group, the Vice President & General Manager for Tennessee Book Company will be responsible for managing the company’s existing book distribution business and developing their capabilities in the digital and supplementary markets. The successful candidate will be able to leverage existing capacities both within Tennessee Book Company and within Ingram Content Group and build new relationships with district and state decision-makers, publishers, and hardware companies who are active in the education markets, to generate new business opportunities.

THE COMPANY

Ingram Content Group is the world’s largest and most trusted distributor of physical and digital content.

With almost 50 years in the book business, Ingram is a forward-thinking company that got its start as a textbook depository, but has grown and transformed to become the leader in the industry. Ingram is committed to developing technology solutions that make physical and digital books available to readers around the world. If you are reading a book, Ingram Content Group is probably behind it. Ingram is the leader in helping content reach its destination anywhere in the world. Whether it is digital or physical content, Ingram delivers to mobile phones, tablets, online retailers, bookstores, libraries, schools and consumers across the globe. Ingram is on the cutting edge of technology in automated manufacturing, digital content distribution and e-learning platforms, and is trusted by publishers, retailers, and libraries for digital and physical solutions.

As a division of Nashville-based Ingram Industries Inc., the operating units of Ingram Content Group include Ingram Book Group, Inc., Lightning Source Inc., Vital Source Technologies, Inc., Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, and Coutts Information Services.

Does this sound like the opportunity for you? Read on

Who Ingram serves:
Educators - Ingram has been helping educators for decades by providing content and services for the classroom and libraries. As the Tennessee state-approved depository, Tennessee Book Company has been supplying print and digital instructional materials to K-12 classrooms across the state for over 75 years. Additionally, Ingram’s library group provides support to hundreds of K-12 school libraries throughout the U.S. Ingram offer more print and e-textbooks than at any time in Ingram’s history and Ingram’s VitalSource Bookshelf® is the preferred and most trusted e-textbook platform in higher education today, with more than 3.25 million registered users on 6,000 campuses in 200 countries. Ingram delivers digital content to schools of all sizes around the world. Through Ingram’s cutting-edge textbook distribution systems, Ingram is designed to support learning and are built to scale.

Retailers - With the most books, in more formats, available for immediate shipment all around the world, Ingram is the largest distributor of publisher content. Both brick and mortar and online booksellers all over the world rely on Ingram’s industry-leading product selection and fast, reliable order fulfillment to get the books they need quickly and meet consumer demand. In addition to the millions of titles available in Ingram’s inventory, Ingram offer a broad range of products and more than 600,000 e-books – all in one place. Ingram’s industry-leading programs and services give retail booksellers the tools they need to stay competitive in today’s changing market.

Libraries - Ingram delivers innovative systems, expertise, and precise assistance in developing and maintaining library collections. Ingram is uniquely positioned to support the libraries of today and of the future. Ingram offer public/school, academic and professional librarians worldwide the broadest inventory of print and electronic content, leading fill rates, and expertly managed programs and services. Ingram provide service to more than 5,000 libraries and other professional organizations in over 150 countries, leading the way in service and innovation, and shaping the future of book and electronic content acquisition throughout the world of further and higher education.

Publishers – Ingram works with over 30,000 publishers of all sizes around the world and delivers the advantages of fully integrated print, digital, wholesale, and distribution services all through a single source. Ingram gives publishers access to over 35,000 distribution channels worldwide through Ingram’s wholesale division and more than 46,000 public and academic libraries around the world. Ingram’s Lightning Source® offers the most innovative, scalable and viable print and distribution solutions, making Ingram the only company in the world that seamlessly links Print on Demand to the industry’s largest distribution network, allowing more books to reach more readers faster—generating more sales. Ingram Publisher Services combines the power of Ingram’s infrastructure and adds a sales and marketing component to give publishers the broadest possible access to customers around the world. Ingram’s digital solutions provide secure, cutting-edge, and profitable answers to the questions publishers have about the changing opportunities in the market. Ingram’s goal is to help publishers sell more e-books in more places without more effort.

Over 35,000 retailers, libraries, distributors and educational institutions worldwide rely on IBG to provide them with not just the best title selection—but also with the tools, expertise and guidance to help them make the best decisions for their business. IBG’s global sales and distribution network includes special expertise in markets such as public and academic libraries, college bookstores, Christian retail, gift and game re-sellers, among others.

THE POSITION

Tennessee Book Company (TBC)

As the Tennessee state-approved depository TBC has been supplying instructional materials to public schools for over 80 years. The primary purpose is to provide Tennessee schools with a central source of supply at the lowest costs and with the fastest service possible. TBC provides schools with customized inventory procurement and management solutions for their print, electronic or online resources. Within the arrangement TBC also affords publishers an economical means of both distributing products and sustaining business relationships with the state's schools.

Based in Ingram’s corporate offices outside of Nashville, the Vice President / General Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan for expanding the products and services of Tennessee Book Company beyond the physical, core text and into the digital and non-text realm.

The challenge and opportunity offered by this position is this: TBC is the preferred vendor for textbooks within the state of Tennessee, a book depository state. Its revenues therefore are highly dependent on the sales cycles of key adoptions for basal texts and programs (reading, math, etc.). How then to build revenues outside of core text sales? With more content and curriculum being delivered in digital form, and as course packages of print ancillaries, how to get a piece of this market? How best to leverage TBC’s reputation for reliability and service to sell a broader range of course materials to districts and teachers both in Tennessee and in other states? To leverage Ingram’s e-textbook platform (Vital Source) to deliver this digital content? To partner successfully with publishers of digital and supplemental curriculum? And to do this without in any way jeopardizing TBC’s core textbook business?

This requires an individual with strong strategic vision and a product manager’s mindset.

Specifically, the Vice President / General Manager will –

• Provide strategic and management direction for Tennessee Book Company’s existing business to ensure timely and cost-efficient operations, including sales, publisher relations, customer service, inventory management, and distribution efficiencies.
• Together with the division head develop an overall vision and strategy for TBC that takes them beyond their current business and into new digital and supplementary markets including customized products and teacher training materials. The strategy should take into account national and regional education policies, existing technology trends and activities and synergies with other Ingram products and services.
• Direct the development of a financial plan to support long-term strategies and to reduce operating costs utilizing new technologies and process improvements where possible.
• Develop deep and trusted relationships with educational publishers and create new opportunities for distribution.
• Develop a high profile for Tennessee Book Company and Ingram at the state and district decision-making level. Create new supportive partnerships to generate business opportunities and influence decision-makers in educational distribution policy.
• Develop collaborative relationships within Ingram Content Group with other business units including Vital Source, Lightning Source, and Ingram Book Company services. Work with all of these groups to develop new products and new business opportunities within the education sector.
• Deliver professional sales presentations with the ability to develop trusted advisor relationships, persuade decision-makers and close business.

THE CAREER OPPORTUNITY

For a skilled and ambitious executive in the K-12 space with proven skills in sales and business development, this position offers the following career benefits –

• The chance to work and grow within Ingram Content Group, the world’s largest and most trusted distributor of physical and digital content.
• As GM and head of P&L for the division, the chance to rebuild and expand the footprint of a trusted distribution partner, Tennessee Book Company, within the K-12 marketplace.
• The chance to access to the expertise and services of the Ingram Content Group, including its Vital Source division.
• The chance to live and work in the attractive Nashville metropolitan area, which offers a desirable quality of life.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate currently works as a CEO, President, General Manager, or VP of Sales or Business Development for a publisher, distributor, or educational service provider to the K-12 (school) market. He or she has a strong background in K-12 education markets for content (including digital content and ancillaries), curriculum, and/or assessment. He or she owns existing strong relationships with publishers and state or district leaders in K-12. Above all, this individual has a keen eye for market opportunities in digital content distribution.

Specifically this individual has the following –

• P&L and general management experience leading a business or line of businesses through a period of transition.
• An ability to develop and implement a strategic commercial business plan.
• Experience with all functional areas including product development, product management, marketing, sales management, and business development within K-12.
• A proven and outstanding ability in developing strong partnerships with K-12 stakeholders that led to increased revenue and new business opportunities.
• A proven ability to influence policymakers at the state and district level.
• Strong communication skills and ability to demonstrate thought leadership across K-12 educators, policymakers, and partners.
• A passion for education and an understanding of both print and digital learning environments.
• A college degree including an advanced degree, with an MBA preferred.

The General Manager will be responsible for driving the success of TBC. This involves a range of personal attributes – flexibility and adaptability, a strong work ethic, outstanding leadership skills, and the ability to analyze and evaluate one’s own (and other’s) performance and to develop plans to improve performance, willingness to take responsibility for both success and failure, self-confidence, a positive attitude about self, company, marketplace and a strong desire for success.

COMPENSATION

Compensation will include salary, participation in Ingram’s Annual Cash Incentive Plan and eligibility for Stock Appreciation Rights (SARS) through Ingram Industries.

TRAVEL

Travel will be approximately 25%.

CONTACT

Resume should be sent as a Word document to Ralph Protsik and Barbara Piercecci, and also posted on the BSG website, www.bsgtv.com. No phone calls please.