MEET THE MLL US TEAM

Michelin Lifestyle operate out of offices all around the world: UK, France, Germany, China, Japan, South America and North America.

Here’s an opportunity to meet our North America team based in Greenville, Carolina

 

Tom Jupena is the Michelin Travel and Lifestyle Regional Manager for North America. He is responsible for the Mobility Experience business line, with a focus on the Licensing business.

Having joined the team just over 3 years ago he now has a team of 10 amazing professionals who support him to achieve the licensee’s growth ambitions, execute one of a kind consumer experiences and serve internal client needs.

Tom joined Michelin nearly 20 years ago and has had various marketing positions with the Uniroyal, BFGoodrich and Michelin brands, including BFG Brand Manager which is proving quite handy now that the brand licensing business is extending to BFG in the US aswell.

Asked what Tom’s key priorities for 2019 and beyond are? He says growth, which he will achieve by expanding the licensed product portfolio, increasing the distribution and optimizing relationships with other business lines.

Tom says his biggest challenge is identifying and securing licensees who have the same business objectives, maintain a commitment to quality, and share the same values as Michelin. We have to be very selective when it comes to entering a business relationship with a licensee and some simply don’t understand the complexity of the licensing business model.

The most exciting part of the job for Tom is the unique ability to position Michelin as a mobility company.  Our licensed products can and do contribute to safer, more convenient, more comfortable and more accessible mobility.

Outside of work Tom likes to spend time with his wife and 4 children and can often been found, club in hand, on the golf course.

 

Lisa Mullis joined the team in February 2019 as Marketing Communication Manager for MLL for North America. She is responsible for helping licensees develop and deploy their marketing plans and tools, as well as internal communications for MLL.

Lisa has worked for Michelin for several years, mainly in brand and communications roles including Brand Identity Manager, and also in IS technical support and distribution roles.

Asked what are her key priorities for 2019 and beyond? Lisa says she firstly has to learn the licensing business, whilst helping licensees promote the Michelin brand, as well as a broader promotion internally to help Michelin employees understand the licensing model.

This is also Lisa’s biggest challenge and favourite part of the job. Learning a different side of the business as quickly as possible and interacting with a new team and the licensees.

Outside of work Lisa likes to spend time with her family and to support her daughters in their activities.

Mara De Jesus is the Product Development Manager for North and South America and joined Michelin Lifestyle over 3 years ago. Prior to that she spent five years in R&D at Michelin as a process engineer and four years in recruiting for manufacturing and quality.

Mara’s key priorities for 2019 and beyond are to increase the amount of new differentiated products we approve for North and South America, because she believes that is what will grow the business.

Her biggest challenge is balancing the licensee’s commercial deadlines with our own product approval process.

Asked what she enjoys most about the job, she says “I enjoy the variety of products I get to work with and approve. As we are evolving to more categories outside of our core business of vehicle accessories and footwear, it’s exciting to learn how new products are made and how we approve them.”

Outside of work Mara likes to do yoga and has a keen interest in fitness and wellness. She also loves fashion, travel and to spend quality time with her friends and family.