Darren Hopkins
Strategic Brand Marketing Consultant @Growthdriver
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WORK HISTORY
Strategic Brand Marketing Consultant @Growthdriver
US
Research and strategy consultation to create a shared deep understanding of the target consumer as well as the risks and opportunities for brands. This work provides immediate impact for PE diligence bids and CPG growth strategy.
EDUCATION
University of Saskatchewan
BA, Psychology
Schulich School of Business - York University
MBA, Marketing
SKILLS
ABOUT DARREN HOPKINS
Marketing and Strategy Executive with successful exit experience. Skilled in Consumer Products, Marketing, Management, Start-ups, and Consumer Insight. Strategic leader with a track record of developing high-performing teams and delivering growth.My first entry into business—after earning a Psych undergrad—was as a scrappy entrepreneur. I built and later sold a small distribution company and the Wanna Snack brand.To compete at the highest level, I earned an MBA and joined General Mills, a top-tier CPG marketing training company. I advanced through several blue-chip CPGs, mastering the fundamentals and discipline of brand-building.Biggest lesson: discipline alone doesn’t necessarily manifest as success. Teams of smart people pushing forward without clear consumer strategy often feel helpless watching great brands become lost. The reality is that a lot of Fortune 100 teams don’t have the market and consumer insight necessary to create great strategy. When I joined Landis, a boutique consulting firm, the lights really went on for me. We combined advanced consumer research with strategy to identify high-value targets and the most motivating benefits, creating focused growth for brands like Miller Lite and Taco Bell. This work taught me how to move quickly from insight to impactful action. Then came the real test. Kainos Capital recruited me as VP Marketing for their SlimFast acquisition. I had the opportunity to both shape strategy and lead execution. Our lean team launched three waves of innovation—Advanced Nutrition, Energy, and Keto—fueling growth from $121.4MM (2015) to $303MM (2019). SlimFast exited to Glanbia for $350MM (14.6x multiple).Post-exit, a SlimFast PE suitor offered a high-risk/high-reward CEO role to turn around a distressed retail weight loss brand. The turnaround was on track for profitability—until COVID’s retail shutdown cut us short.Today I run GrowthDriver, helping CPG brands close growth gaps and advising PE firms on diligence bids and value creation. Reach out if you\'re looking to unlock exponential growth.
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