Media Room:: Executive Bios:: R. Brad Martin

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R. Brad Martin
Chairman, RBM Venture Company

R. Brad Martin is chairman of RBM Venture Company, a private investment company. Martin was previously the chairman and chief executive officer of clothing retailer Saks Incorporated. Martin was a principal in the investor group with acquired Proffitt’s, Inc. (Saks’ predecessor company) in October of 1984. Over the next 20 years, this five-store chain became one of the largest retail enterprises in the United States, with peak annual revenues in excess of $6 billion.

Martin served as chief executive officer of Saks and its predecessor company for 16 years, during which time returns to shareholders compounded at an annual rate of approximately 14 percent.

Martin was also a founder of Corporate Child Care, a start-up firm which became the largest employer-affiliated child care company in the United States. Martin maintains a number of other active business and community interests and serves as a director of First Horizon Corporation, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., and Pilot Travel Centers.

He is a graduate of The University of Memphis and holds a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University. Martin served five terms as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.

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