Robert Noyes
If you’ve got big shoes to fill, who better to do so than a former employee of Bass Shoes? Robert Noyes not only fits the footwear bill, but his years with Phillips-Van Heusen and Warnaco Men’s Apparel have given him a unique perspective on fashion, and fashioning deals. Noyes believes his 25+ years sitting on the client side of the table, often chairing the creditors’ committee in bankruptcy situations, have helped him develop a deep understanding of both the financial and emotional aspects of workouts.
The fact that Scouler & Company marches to a different, and faster-paced, drummer is just one reason Noyes chose to sign on after ten years with Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The two things that most attracted Noyes were the unflinching integrity of Scouler consultants, and the diversity of disciplines and personalities that comprise its tightly-knit team.
The world of credit and finance is familiar turf for Noyes. In the role of vice president, customer financial relations with Sony, Noyes managed a receivable portfolio averaging $460 million, decreased deduction resolution time by 50% improving cash flow, and re-engineered the department resulting in an 80% capacity increase with no additional head count. In a prior role as vice president, corporate credit and treasury, at Phillips-Van Heusen, Noyes managed more than 12,000 accounts, 10 marketing divisions and a staff of 53.
Those treasury responsibilities align perfectly with Noyes’ scope of work at Scouler, including bank relations, covenant compliance and working capital management. More recently, Noyes found himself cast in the role of “go to” guy whenever a music supplier ended up in a distressed situation. In turn, this shaped the focus of his job, placing a heavier emphasis on risk management along with financial fundamentals. What Noyes learned from these experiences was that companies end up in trouble because they don’t pay enough attention to leading financial indicators, and even if they do, management is often reluctant to seek the necessary outside counsel—until the company is on the brink.
A hands-on executive, Noyes complemented his professional experience with continuing education including completing the rigorous requirements necessary to earn the coveted Certified Credit Executive [CCE] designation through Dartmouth College. Noyes has pursued graduate studies at the University of Maine and holds a B.S. in business and administration from Colby College.
Committed to professional excellence, Noyes has contributed his time unstintingly to industry associations and has served as the past chairman of the Board of Directors for the Federation of Credit and Financial Professionals, vice chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Credit Management, past president of the National Music Credit Association, and co-founder of the National Vendor Compliance Association to name a few.
People often refer to the world of workouts and distress situations as a “zoo”. This reference makes Noyes smile, since he counts a llama, 20 sheep, 15 goats and a Shetland pony among his neighbors in New Jersey. The menagerie is topped off by two Cavalier King Charles spaniels who run the Noyes household. So, as Noyes puts it, when a company finds itself in financial upheaval, he’s quite comfortable in the role of ringmaster and familiar with the necessary functions to get operations and finance back in alignment, whether that calls for “herding cats”, “running with the big dogs”, or “saddling up” for a negotiation.