Austin Foster
Head Of Strategy and Innovation at Hammerson- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
Alex Evered
Austin is a broad thinking but pragmatic strategist who quickly filters and identifies opportunities that have genuine potential. Even more importantly, Austin is very good at engaging and bringing relevant stakeholders on the journey with him.
John Muehlbauer
I had the pleasure of working closely with Austin on the successful development of the Corporate Plan for multiple years. He has very strong business skills which enables him to effectively build business plans. He also has a keen ability to identify a strategic opportunity, and then break down the opportunity into an actionable and deliverable business plan/budget. Austin is a results-oriented person who delivers in the right way. I attribute much of his success to his strong organization skills/business acumen and his customer focus. He always puts his customer first in everything he does. Another one of Austin’s strengths is his ability to effectively manage stakeholders including executive communications/interactions. He has the keen ability to cut through the noise and get to the key message(s). This ability has helped him simplify the message to executives and drive critical decisions/actions. While he has great skills and drive, perhaps his biggest strength is how he leads through servant leadership. He provides unparalleled service to all of his stakeholders regardless of the situation or of rank. Simply put - he is a phenomenal team player. He is at the top of my list of people to work with again in the future. Austin is a pleasure to work with, committed to success, and trusted by many to deliver results. I would highly recommend him.
Alex Evered
Austin is a broad thinking but pragmatic strategist who quickly filters and identifies opportunities that have genuine potential. Even more importantly, Austin is very good at engaging and bringing relevant stakeholders on the journey with him.
John Muehlbauer
I had the pleasure of working closely with Austin on the successful development of the Corporate Plan for multiple years. He has very strong business skills which enables him to effectively build business plans. He also has a keen ability to identify a strategic opportunity, and then break down the opportunity into an actionable and deliverable business plan/budget. Austin is a results-oriented person who delivers in the right way. I attribute much of his success to his strong organization skills/business acumen and his customer focus. He always puts his customer first in everything he does. Another one of Austin’s strengths is his ability to effectively manage stakeholders including executive communications/interactions. He has the keen ability to cut through the noise and get to the key message(s). This ability has helped him simplify the message to executives and drive critical decisions/actions. While he has great skills and drive, perhaps his biggest strength is how he leads through servant leadership. He provides unparalleled service to all of his stakeholders regardless of the situation or of rank. Simply put - he is a phenomenal team player. He is at the top of my list of people to work with again in the future. Austin is a pleasure to work with, committed to success, and trusted by many to deliver results. I would highly recommend him.
Alex Evered
Austin is a broad thinking but pragmatic strategist who quickly filters and identifies opportunities that have genuine potential. Even more importantly, Austin is very good at engaging and bringing relevant stakeholders on the journey with him.
John Muehlbauer
I had the pleasure of working closely with Austin on the successful development of the Corporate Plan for multiple years. He has very strong business skills which enables him to effectively build business plans. He also has a keen ability to identify a strategic opportunity, and then break down the opportunity into an actionable and deliverable business plan/budget. Austin is a results-oriented person who delivers in the right way. I attribute much of his success to his strong organization skills/business acumen and his customer focus. He always puts his customer first in everything he does. Another one of Austin’s strengths is his ability to effectively manage stakeholders including executive communications/interactions. He has the keen ability to cut through the noise and get to the key message(s). This ability has helped him simplify the message to executives and drive critical decisions/actions. While he has great skills and drive, perhaps his biggest strength is how he leads through servant leadership. He provides unparalleled service to all of his stakeholders regardless of the situation or of rank. Simply put - he is a phenomenal team player. He is at the top of my list of people to work with again in the future. Austin is a pleasure to work with, committed to success, and trusted by many to deliver results. I would highly recommend him.
Alex Evered
Austin is a broad thinking but pragmatic strategist who quickly filters and identifies opportunities that have genuine potential. Even more importantly, Austin is very good at engaging and bringing relevant stakeholders on the journey with him.
John Muehlbauer
I had the pleasure of working closely with Austin on the successful development of the Corporate Plan for multiple years. He has very strong business skills which enables him to effectively build business plans. He also has a keen ability to identify a strategic opportunity, and then break down the opportunity into an actionable and deliverable business plan/budget. Austin is a results-oriented person who delivers in the right way. I attribute much of his success to his strong organization skills/business acumen and his customer focus. He always puts his customer first in everything he does. Another one of Austin’s strengths is his ability to effectively manage stakeholders including executive communications/interactions. He has the keen ability to cut through the noise and get to the key message(s). This ability has helped him simplify the message to executives and drive critical decisions/actions. While he has great skills and drive, perhaps his biggest strength is how he leads through servant leadership. He provides unparalleled service to all of his stakeholders regardless of the situation or of rank. Simply put - he is a phenomenal team player. He is at the top of my list of people to work with again in the future. Austin is a pleasure to work with, committed to success, and trusted by many to deliver results. I would highly recommend him.
Experience
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Hammerson
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United Kingdom
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Real Estate
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200 - 300 Employee
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Head Of Strategy and Innovation
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Aug 2021 - Present
Pivotal role to transform the business and lead strategic workstreams. Focused on transforming a diverse set of assets from a retail led 'traditional’ fast fashion/ department store anchored shopping mall focus to a vibrant destination with a diverse offering, to appeal to more customers. - Established and championed culture of innovation, delivering trials in the first 90 days - Led asset turnaround through strategic projects to drive growth across the portfolio - Developed new corporate strategy working with the GEC and external consultants. Successfully embedded change and developed clear narrative for the market through clear communication and colleague engagement - Brought in new creative alternative uses by working cross functionally and with operations teams which are delivering improved satisfaction for our tenants and visitors
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IHG Hotels & Resorts
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United Kingdom
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Hospitality
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700 & Above Employee
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Director, Corporate Strategy and Planning
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May 2017 - Apr 2021
☛ Integral role developing and implementing IHG’s ‘2X Strategy’ to double net system size growth through brand, development and hotel growth initiatives. Doubled net system size growth within 2 years and increased pipeline of new signings☛Led IHG's Strategic Planning Process to efficiently employ multi-billion dollar system fund, providing strategic input and challenge to the business to deliver a clear 3 year strategic plan☛Explored organic & inorganic growth opportunities, providing recommendations for Board & EC including extensions into the sharing economy, analysing value at stake & ability to implement☛Led InterContinental’s premium ‘Club’ rooms strategy. By analysing numerous data sources and working with agencies I developed a new product offer and commercial strategy to target travellers and drive revenue through website enhancements, marketing and loyalty initiatives☛Key role implementing IHG’s multi-faceted COVID-19 response to support customers and franchisees
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Senior Manager, Commercial Strategy & Planning
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Apr 2016 - May 2017
☛ Co-developed IHG's commercial strategy and turnaround plan for the Global Sales & Marketing organisation: defining a roadmap with clear priorities; modelling cost implications and expected returns; and delivering a communications plan leading to a promotion to Senior Manager☛ Modelled luxury international travel flows to create a holistic media strategy for ~$100m campaigns targeting key consumer segments, resulting in more impressions and tagged revenue than ever before☛ Supported a variety of commercial projects such as customer segmentation, resort and leisure strategy and guest experience leading a number of workstreams☛ Identified opportunity to grow owned channel revenue through specific language enhancements, securing $15m seed investment
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Manager, Commercial Strategy and Portfolio Planning
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Dec 2012 - Apr 2016
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Senior Analyst, Integrated Marketing Planning
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Apr 2011 - Dec 2012
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Strategy Intern
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Oct 2010 - Apr 2011
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Education
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University of Bath
Bachelor of Science (BSc), Economics -
1997 - 2004
Dr Challoner's Grammar School
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