J C
@chorbit
I build commercial strategy and multi-unit consumer businesses, from turnaround plans to profitable restaurant operations.
United StatesWhat I'm looking for
I founded BGR in South Africa and grew the fast-casual burger brand to three locations, with store-level margins around 20% through currency crises, civil unrest, and COVID-19. I built its operating systems, commercial model, supplier partnerships, and workforce pipeline, developing more than 325 employees.
Before BGR, I spent a decade with SABMiller and A.T. Kearney, leading go-to-market redesigns, regional turnarounds, post-merger integration, and commercial planning. At SABMiller, I helped reverse share losses, delivered double-digit margin gains in the Southeast, and aligned sales, marketing, and operations across five regions.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Created a fast-casual restaurant brand from scratch and scaled it to three locations, building every operating system, team and commercial model along the way. BGR won Burger Joint of the Year at the 2022 LUXE Restaurant Awards.
* Store-level margins around 20%, sustained through currency crises, civil unrest and COVID-19.
* Negotiated all leases, renewals and supplier contracts, including a seven
Helped reverse Heineken's five-year double-digit share gains by redesigning SAB's go-to-market and commercial execution model. Built a unified commercial planning approach that aligned sales, marketing and operations across the enterprise.
* Transformed five independently operating regions from a sales-led commercial model to a marketing-led one, creating a single planning rhythm with feedback loo
Supported the integration of Miller and Coors regional operations, unifying operating models and performance routines across the Eastern U.S. Stepped in to lead Southeast strategy directly when the role opened mid-transition, beating integration milestones while preserving commercial momentum.
Redesigned Miller's competitive playbook across the Southeast: decentralized marketing, reworked distributor economics, and shifted channel mix. Ended a five-year share decline and delivered double-digit margin gains. The model went national.
Created Miller's first chain-account planning capability for national and regional chain customers, connecting strategy to what happened in the field. Built the case that secured a 25% budget increase from executive leadership.
Built planning tools that exposed gaps in commercial visibility, work that influenced IT's shift to agile development and a subsequent ~$10M investment in planning systems.
Consulting foundation in supply-chain redesign and market-entry strategy across Fortune 25 and mid-market private companies, leading client workshops and contributing to initiatives generating ~$1B in annual savings and supporting a $300M acquisition.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Harvard Business School
Executive Education, Program for Leadership Development (Alumni Status Granted)
2010 - 2011
Executive courses: Changing the Game: Negotiation and Competitive Decision Making; Finance for Senior Executives.
Case Western Reserve University
BSE, Materials Science and Engineering (Co-op)
1996 - 2001
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
United StatesAuthorized to work in
Website
chorbit.comSalary expectations
Social media
Skills
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