2022 Most Influential Black Executives in Cor...
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Founding Member Ralph Santana
CEO, recteq
“Never has the time been more critical for professionals to create opportunities for and help develop the next generation of leaders, particularly those in the marketing industry. As CMOs, we have the potential to advance real change toward a more equitable and inclusive world, but we all know that no one of us can change things alone. It takes cooperation and leadership, and BECA provides a tremendously powerful forum to align our intent to meaningful action.”
Ralph Santana has served as Chief Executive Officer of recteq LLC, a multi-faceted designer, marketer, and direct seller of premium pellet grills, accessories, and other outdoor products, since June 2022.
Prior thereto, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of HARMAN International. HARMAN designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide. With leading audio brands including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, and Revel, Ralph led a global organization and drove all aspects of HARMAN’s B2B and B2C marketing strategy.
In addition to overseeing marketing worldwide, during his tenure, Ralph also had P&L responsibility for HARMAN’s ecommerce business, its Huemen design agency, and served as the Head of the Latin American region, where he was accountable for strategic business development, and delivering the operating budget and P&L.
Before joining HARMAN, Ralph served as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Electronics North America, where he launched the company’s U.S. e-commerce business, and worked at PepsiCo, Inc. where he served in a number of international and domestic leadership roles during a 16-year career, including Vice President of Marketing for the North American Beverage portfolio.
Ralph began his career as a beverage industry consultant at Beverage Marketing Corporation, where he designed market entry and expansion strategies for clients.
Ralph received his bachelor’s degree in English literature from Dartmouth College, and his MBA from Duke University.
He currently serves on the board of Dollar General Corporation as well as the board of recteq.