SoCal Approach recently announced the addition of John Finlay as senior vice president of global business development. He will be based in the Greater Boston area and will report directly to George Owens, the company’s founder and president. His responsibilities will include growing sales of SoCal’s suite of research, marketing and consulting programs across North America and internationally.
Originally from Ireland, Finlay has 25 years of experience as a senior executive and adviser with a number of companies in North America, Europe and Australia, and specializes in growing businesses and executing strategic partnerships. He was the founder of Legacy Tribute, a company that pioneered a fresh approach to product design and funeral home merchandising, including a core focus on culture and ethnicity to create value and differentiation. Legacy Tribute products are sold to funeral homes in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Australia. Following acquisition by the Victoriaville Group in 2021, Legacy Tribute pivoted to focus on marketing and technology solutions for funeral homes in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada.
“John joins us at a time when global growth presents an incredible opportunity for our organization,” Owens said. “John’s international roots align perfectly with our growth goals, and his sterling reputation as an innovator and a problem solver make him a great fit for the team. We’re thrilled to add a talent like John to our business development team, helping us to expand in the U.S. and to develop internationally.”
Prior to founding Legacy Tribute, Finlay served as international business development adviser for Matthews International, was president of Heritage Memorial and managing director of the Finlay Group in Ireland. He currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees of FINE Mortuary School in Boston, Massachusetts.
“The SoCal Approach Team has made their mark delivering valuable insights about consumers in the U.S., and I’m excited to help expand and bring that innovation to the global market,” said Finlay. “I’m inspired to join this wonderfully talented team bringing strategic business and marketing solutions to funeral businesses and other industries that desperately need them.”
Finlay’s family has been associated with the funeral business in Ireland since the 1930s. He earned a master’s degree in international business at Trinity College in Dublin and completed his undergraduate degree at University of Limerick. He has also attended business programs at Babson College in Boston and IMD in Switzerland.
About SoCal Approach Marketing and Consulting Group
SoCal Approach Marketing and Consulting Group is a full-service marketing and research agency founded to measure and deliver data-driven market insights businesses can use to understand and reach their target audiences. For additional information on SoCal Approach, visit www.socalapproach.com.
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