John J Graham

About John J Graham

I’ve spent my career building and leading businesses—bringing together strategy, people, and execution to drive durable growth.Over 35+ years, I’ve held senior leadership roles across global brands including Nike, Quiksilver, Speedo, and Easton Bell Sports. Those experiences shaped a practical, disciplined approach to growth—grounded in clear positioning, strong teams, and accountable execution.Today, I focus on working with founders, CEOs, and investors—supporting companies as they navigate early-stage decisions, growth transitions, and market complexity. I’m particularly interested in opportunities where experience and perspective can help bring clarity to what matters most.I was engaged at the outset of GrailPay with founder William Messina and his family, helping shape the company’s early direction and next steps. I remain an aligned shareholder and support the founder as needed.My work increasingly centers on selective board participation, early-stage collaboration, and partnerships that connect business, workforce, and long-term value creation.Focus areas:Growth strategy & market developmentEarly-stage and scaling businessesBoard and founder supportPublic-private partnership alignment

Experience

1. Founding Board Member

   Grailpay

   Jan 2020 — Present · Chestnut Hill, MA, US

   Early collaborator to define strategy, positioning and growth direction

Education

• The Wharton School

  Global Strategic Leadership Program, 2018

• Boston College

  Bachelor of Arts (cum laude)

Skills

• Brand Management
• Sportswear
• Marketing Strategy
• Sports Marketing
• Fashion
• Sporting Goods
• Brand Development
• Apparel
• Action Sports
• Strategic Planning
• Footwear
• Leadership
• Retail
• Management
• Merchandising
• Sales Management
• Product Development
• Sports
• Sales
• Wholesale
• Forecasting
• Marketing
• Strategy
• Business Planning