Experience

Kent Foods, Ltd.

• United Kingdom
• Food and Beverage Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• International Trade Development Manager

  • May 2020 - Present

• General Manager Operations - Basildon, Essex

  • Jul 2019 - Apr 2020

• Chief Operating Officer BFP Ltd

  • Sep 2018 - Jun 2019

  BFP is fully owned subsidiary of Kent Foods Ltd



Kent Foodservice Ltd

• Managing Director

  • Feb 2022 - Present



Gold Star Wholesale Limited

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CEO

  • Dec 2012 - Apr 2016

  Gold Star Wholesale Ltd. Harrow, London Start-up food wholesaler, distributor and exporter £20m with 50 staff • Transformed the fortunes of underperforming business. • Led the acquisition and successful integration of a delivered sub-wholesale business with the core operations to become a delivered wholesaler. • Initiated a strategic review of the business in 2015 resulting in the recommendation to close this labour intensive, low margin business with a fast declining and a high risk “independent retail customer base”, for better utilisation of capital. A strategy that won Board approval. • Project managed the orderly closure of the business.



Natco Foods

• United Kingdom
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of UK Operations

  • Jul 2006 - Nov 2012

  Commercial Director/Head of U.K. Operations NATCO Foods Ltd, Buckingham. £60m/160 people multi-business/site food manufacturer and distributor to the retailers and leading multiples. Appointed to lead and deliver a turnaround strategy required because of a business relocation which caused a profitable business to become substantially loss-making. Subsequently, with relocation of Managing Director to Dubai in 2008 assumed full responsibility for UK operations. • Conducted fact-based business case review covering strategy, finance and operations which resulted in a change plan– won Board approval. • Created a sense of urgency for change, the vision of a nice future picture kept in the frame, building stakeholder alignment, strong coalitions and communications in support. • Programme managed change at central level and successfully project managed multiple projects across functional levels with cross-functional teams. • Led and successfully delivered on the company’s change strategy. Sustained continuous improvement and change management initiatives throughout all areas of operations overcoming strong cultural and organisational resistance maintaining personal resilience and enthusiasm. • Elevated and led HR to a strategic leadership function, introduced a strong HR framework including all policies, procedures– an environment for people to succeed. • Introduced strong financial discipline, budgetary & internal controls, information systems, provision of timely, accurate and relevant management information enabling proactive decision making on cost management, variance analysis, operational effectiveness and working capital management. • Led and project managed the company’s new ERP solutions to serve customers better. • Led cross-functional teams in a relentless pursuit of waste reduction • Business Benefit review - all the above contributed to turning a £2.4m loss in 2006 to a £2.3m profit 2010 in challenging economic



Brandix

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• CEO

  • Oct 1999 - Dec 2005

  Brandix Ltd, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s largest apparel manufacturer and exporter with 14 different apparel manufacturing businesses with clients including Abercrombie, Marks and Spencer, Gap, Next, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret. Brandix Casual Wear - Chief Executive Promoted rapidly through key positions in subsidiary companies for the largest exporter of clothing in Sri Lanka - etc., then promoted to CEO within 6 months having attained considerable operating results in GM role at this plant employing 700 staff. • Led commercial, finance, manufacturing, product development, QA and work study teams. Had oversight of a factory expansion programme adding 40,000 sq. ft. completed within budget and on time; no loss in productivity or order fulfilment during transition. DIRECTOR OF STUDIES, Brandix College, The Group’s Training and Development Centre In recognition of my strong people growing and influencing skills; capability to identify, source, coach and develop talent, I was also tasked with heading up the group’s HR managers across 14 SBUs. This included the role as Director of Studies at Brandix College providing training and development leadership across the group for 17,500 people. • Initiated and developed high quality graduate management training programme to provide future leaders for the Group • Led the groups’ HR committee (14 HRMs) and achieved a cohesive training and development strategy



John Keells Holdings PLC

• Sri Lanka
• Holding Companies
• 700 & Above Employee

• General Manager

  • Feb 1994 - Oct 1999

  John Keells Holdings Ltd, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka’s premier blue chip company. GENERAL MANAGER – Keells Super – food retailer (Subsidiary of John Keells Holdings Ltd) Initially joined as operations manager to Jaykay Marketing Services in the retail arm introducing significant improvements to operational standards, P&L business development and customer service. Rapidly promoted to Deputy General Manager and later GM responsible for 600 people. John Keells Holdings Ltd, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka’s premier blue chip company. GENERAL MANAGER – Keells Super – food retailer (Subsidiary of John Keells Holdings Ltd) Initially joined as operations manager to Jaykay Marketing Services in the retail arm introducing significant improvements to operational standards, P&L business development and customer service. Rapidly promoted to Deputy General Manager and later GM responsible for 600 people.



Al-Faisaliah Group (JSC)

• Saudi Arabia
• Investment Management
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Sales Admin/Order Processing Manager - Hewlett Packard Div

  • Feb 1984 - Dec 1993

  Managing all aspects of supply chian operations - logistics, contract administration and customer service for the Saudi Arabian arm of this global technology solutions provider with turnover of $US100m. Managing all aspects of supply chian operations - logistics, contract administration and customer service for the Saudi Arabian arm of this global technology solutions provider with turnover of $US100m.