Cara Finger

About Cara Finger

Cara Finger leads a dynamic organization in the barbeque grill industry, encompassing the Char-Griller, Masterbuilt, and Kamado Joe brands, located in Atlanta, Georgia. With extensive experience in global consumer goods, Cara has a proven track record of driving organic growth and profitability in private equity settings for $200M+ brands, culminating in a successful sale to a strategic buyer.Cara\'s background includes foundational experiences at industry leaders such as General Mills and Newell Brands, complemented by entrepreneurial roles in founder-led and private equity environments. She has successfully managed P & Ls for various brands, revitalizing turnaround brands and optimizing profitability across the value chain. Her early career in sales provided her with a robust understanding of go-to-market strategies, including retailer relations, account management, and channel negotiation.Passionate about product innovation and brand building, Cara emphasizes a digital-first approach that enhances engagement throughout the consumer journey. She successfully integrated brick-and-mortar sales with a strong digital presence, launching several DTC ecommerce websites and leading pioneering digital advertising initiatives. Additionally, she oversees one of the most highly rated connected app platforms in the grilling industry.Since joining the company in 2019, Cara has taken the lead on innovation and marketing initiatives that played a pivotal role in achieving a successful exit in late 2021. She has been instrumental in driving omni-channel revenue growth, developing a robust innovation pipeline, and implementing ROI-focused performance marketing strategies. Her trajectory within the organization has been marked by two promotions, culminating in her current position as President. In this role, she is dedicated to amplifying synergies from acquisitions, executing a comprehensive global commercial plan, and diversifying the organization’s supply chain to enhance resilience and efficiency.Cara holds an undergraduate degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Stephen, and their two children.

Experience

1. President

   Middleby Outdoor

   Mar 2023 — Present

Education

• University of Virginia

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Commerce

• Harvard Business School

  Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Skills

• Product Marketing
• Merchandising
• Strategy
• Shopper Marketing
• Product Development
• Sales Management
• Brand Development
• P&L Management
• Brand Architecture
• Marketing
• Brand Management
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Marketing Strategy
• Customer Insight
• Marketing Management
• Competitive Analysis
• Retail
• Consumer Products