Mike Summers

About Mike Summers

Brand and growth operator building consumer businesses where retail, DTC, and culture meet.I scaled Scotch Porter to #1 in national beard care and through its PE-backed exit. I 3X’d Cristina’s Curls in 9 months on a multi-million-dollar brand. I led marketing and digital for Atlanta United FC’s record-setting MLS run, including top-15 global soccer attendance and #1 in MLS retail sales per capita. At Johnson & Johnson I managed Listerine and Johnson’s Baby and launched BAND-AID OurTone, the first bandage line designed for the full range of skin tones.I came up through brand management at J&J, moved into sports and entertainment with Atlanta United, and spent the last few years operating as a fractional CMO across PE-backed and founder-led consumer brands. Along the way I was Lil Wayne’s tour DJ, a Hot 97 radio host, and strategy partner on the 3-time Grammy-winning campaign for Killer Mike’s Michael. Culture is how I think about business, not a line I put on a deck.Today I run Yellow Apple Marketing, a fractional CMO practice serving growth-stage consumer brands, PE portfolio companies, and founder-led teams. Current and recent engagements: Scotch Porter, Cristina’s Curls, Slutty Vegan, Killer Mike, Lockerverse, CultureCon, and Black Innovation Alliance.

Experience

1. Founder and Fractional CMO

   Yellow Apple Marketing

   Dec 2022 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

   Fractional CMO practice for growth-stage consumer brands, PE portfolio companies, and founder-led teams. Slutty Vegan, Lockerverse (NFL, NBA, and NCAA athlete content platform), CultureCon, Scotch Porter, Cristina’s Curls, and Black Innovation Alliance. Brand strategy and positioning, DTC growth and performance marketing, full-funnel creative and CRO, retail and omnichannel scaling, unit economics, and exit readiness. Strategy partner on the 3-time Grammy-winning Michael campaign.

Education

• Morehouse College

  B.A., Business-Marketing

• Emory University - Goizueta Business School

  MBA, Marketing