Title: Business Development Leader
Company: Whaleco Inc.
Location: Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States
Eric Cross, business development leader at Whaleco Inc. d/b/a Temu, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in e-commerce.
Mr. Cross is a leading authority in e-commerce. He is currently employed by Whaleco Inc. d/b/a Temu in New York City in business development. His role includes developing and executing strategies for U.S. supplier market expansion while engaging in meaningful relationships that promote the company’s growth objectives. Founded in Boston in 2022, Temu has already expanded across more than 70 countries and continues to grow as a foremost online retailer that offers wholesale pricing for its consumers.
A professional journey that began over a decade ago, Mr. Cross worked as a business developer for Helicopters HK from 2011 to 2013. This opportunity was proposed by a business partner he met who was interested in starting a helicopter business. As such, Mr. Cross was involved in various aspects of the company’s startup. However, the company hit a plateau and was unable to expand further. Subsequently, he joined DP CleanTech Company Ltd., a renewable energy company in Beijing, as a market and public relations specialist.
In 2015, Mr. Cross became a senior content strategist for Alibaba Group. Having to relocate to the company’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China, in 2015, he held various roles, beginning as a senior content strategist, then as a senior operations specialist, global category manager, customer success manager and head of sales, until 2024. His time at Alibaba Group allowed him to head its go-to-market strategy for North America and build out its sales and account management teams. Additionally, Mr. Cross successfully developed an operating model for e-commerce that leverages database commerce in the U.S. and devised an advertising campaign for just $1,000 that garnered the company a multi-year contract valued at over $10 million, progressively growing the company.
Born in the United States, Mr. Cross lived abroad in Sweden during his teenage years due to his father’s career as a school teacher. Following high school, he attended Dalarna University in Dalarna, Sweden, where he received a Bachelor of Science in economics, international business and marketing in 2009. Subsequently, he graduated with both a Master of Science with a focus on marketing and management from Stockholm University and a Master of Business Administration in international business from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2011.
Crediting his success to his wife’s ongoing support, Mr. Cross also mentions several mentors who guided him on his professional path. He is particularly appreciative of his former partner at Helicopters HK, who entrusted him and taught him the fundamentals of hands-on business practices right out of college. Additionally, the president of Alibaba Americas positively impacted Mr. Cross’s professional expertise, allowing him to manage teams with the flexibility and autonomy to do things his way.
Excited about Temu’s future, Mr. Cross envisions the company becoming a leading player in the market in the next decade. Grateful to have been a part of its growth, his contributions have been immensely impactful. Passionate about his work, he derives satisfaction from knowing how impactful his work has been. Mr. Cross also intends to branch out by offering his insights to small businesses, utilizing his knowledge and expertise to help them thrive.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Mr. Cross:
