Mr. Howard L. Brown
Mr. Howard Brown has over 34 years of experience in the office products industry. Mr. Brown’s background includes experience in sales, distribution, financial forecasting and planning, mergers and acquisitions and quality assurance in his own office products company as well as at BT.
In the 1980’s, Mr. Brown successfully pursued a roll-up strategy to form Summit Office Supply, a commercial office products business in the New York metropolitan area with roughly $50million in sales prior to its sale to BT in 1987. Mr. Brown subsequently served as President for the Northeast Region at BT until 1996 and grew the division’s revenues to approximately $375 million.
In January 1998, Mr. Brown’s 18-month non-compete arrangement with BT expired, which made it possible for Mr. Brown to help form a new company which purchased Allied Office Products, along with 9 other companies which created a $120,000,000 foundation. These 10 companies squarely put Mr. Brown in the “one solution” office products business by offering complete services in office products, printing, promotional products, coffee and beverage, furniture and print management.
In September of 2003 Mr. Brown successfully purchased Allied back from the banks and venture firms. The company was doing $250,000,000 in sales at small bottom line results. 2001 was a very challenging year for Allied, which expanded and at the same time the recession hit and further complications arose out of the events of September 11th, when $10,000,000 of sales were lost with customers in the financial centers. As a result of reducing cost and consolidating warehouses, the company was able to return to profitability.
In May of 2006, Allied’s run rate was $360,000,000 with a strong bottom line and a enviable customer base, which attracted Office Depot to purchase Allied.
Mr. Brown is an advisor to several companies, sits on several Boards and is very involved in philanthropy.