Patrick Garner

Pat Garner is a seasoned global business executive who shares his diverse multicultural marketing and operating expertise with aspiring students and entrepreneurs at UNC Kenan-Flagler.

Professor Garner has demonstrated broad based success in developing innovative strategies and driving exceptional business results for the world’s most valuable commercial beverage brands, a rapidly growing wireless telecommunications provider and two unique and entrepreneurial personal financial services organizations. Throughout his 40-year business career, his business accomplishments were propelled by marketing innovation nurtured by his entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative leadership style.

His career at The Coca-Cola Company spanned three decades, including senior marketing roles in the United States and Japan combined with executive management positions as president of the Philippines and Southeast and West Asia operating divisions.

The next 10 years of his career were driven by entrepreneurial endeavor beginning in 2000 when he became the first CEO of The Motley Fool.

Subsequently he led several intrapreneurial initiatives at Nextel Communications, including the launch of its Hispanic business segment and its first, prepaid wireless brand, Boost Mobile. During this time, he served on the board of directors of Intersections, when he was asked to join the company as executive vice president of strategic initiatives and chief marketing officer to strengthen its management team during its IPO.

Professor Garner continues to consult in the areas of business development and strategic brand marketing with established and early-stage companies through his independent consulting business.

He received his MBA in management and marketing from the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business and his BS in biology and chemistry from Tulane University.

Areas of Expertise

• branding
• entrepreneurship
• global business