Experience

• 

  Dashing

  • Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai

  • Commercial Director - Asia Pacific

    • Jan 2020 - Present
    • Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai

• 

  sfd.

  • United Kingdom
  • Wholesale
  • 200 - 300 Employee

  • Director - sfd Australia

    • Dec 2016 - Jan 2020

    Establishing our Melbourne based operation to support the Australian marketplace, providing retail design, technical engineering, store interior equipment, visual spaces, touch points & mannequins with exceptional support and communication to Australian retailers and our International clients entering the marketExciting times ahead and looking forwards to growing and developing the team, creating strong partnerships with clients and supply chain alike and contributing to the ongoing international success of the sfd groupWorking closely with the global team and in particular our Shanghai Office to provide cost effective high quality solutions for retail delivered with excellence

  • Director- sfd Asia

    • May 2012 - Dec 2016

    Developed and established the Asia Pacific business for the sfd brand providing retail design, store interior equipment, visual merchandising, Mannequins and digital technology to retailers throughout Asia with new headquarters in Shanghai All associated business start-up challenges, recruited and nurtured a successful, multi talented team with bilingual personnel Managing the business operations & implementation of IT systems and structure of all departments including, finance, design, procurement, QC, project management, compliance & technical, whilst creating harmonious work environment and driving the brand values with full financial accountability Established wholly owned foreign enterprise with both consultancy and trading companies whilst ensuring best practice and through correct channels Generated sales in excess of GBP 1.5M in first year for national and international retailers across a variety of services including design, visual merchandising, store fixture interiors & digital media solutions, consistent sees growth year on yearStrategic sales & marketing to increase brand awareness and profile, hosted an international Store of the Future event in Shanghai with 250 retailers attendingDeveloped new business throughout mainland China, Hong Kong and Australia with clients such such as H&M, Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Cotton On, Stella McCartney with key focus on international retailersNew procedures implemented for Sourcing, Production & Procurement to support the global business, developed new & existing suppliers with social, ethical and responsible production facilities with full accreditationsEvolved partnerships & relationships to enable production of multi project global rollouts for international retails across Store Interior & Visual merchandising product streamsQuality control systems and teams implemented to ensure successful production with highest quality for best cost

  • Sales Director

    • May 2008 - May 2012

    Generated substantial year on year growth to double the size of the business to over a 20m GBP revenue business with gross profit also steadily rising accordinglyRecruited and developed personnel and restructured sales department to improve account management, cost control and customer serviceIncreased top 10 Clients expenditure from GBP 6.5M to GBP 14M revenueExpanded portfolio of clients from Value & Fast Fashion to all types of retail and created multi million sales opportunities / projects in the luxury marketImplemented database of 20,000 + clients and also reformed all sales proceduresConsistently exceeded sales targets within operational budget constraintsDeveloped Primark & Next accounts to multimillion pound sales accounts each per annumPromoted sfd brand awareness and marketing in line with business strategy and launch of new company websiteProject Managed & delivered 70,000 sqft new lifestyle store in Dubai called Iconic for Landmark Group14 awards for our clients on multiple projects delivered such as Retail Interiors & UKVM Awards as well as Best International store for Iconic, Dubai Clearance of stock holding, alongside reducing cost of sales expenditure and generating increased cash flow for the businessDeveloped new product streams and expanded into new markets such as Luxury Retail

• 

  Shopfittings Direct

  • UK Logistics & Operations Manager

    • May 2004 - May 2008

    Implemented new stock management system, together with new IT software roll-outReviewed existing logistics and distribution operation, followed by implementation of out-source of complete operation to Third Party logistics partner - resulting in streamlining of services and 68% cost savingsManaged warehousing outsource changeover involving a GBP 2M stock transfer from London to Norwich without affecting customer orders over a 2 week period, with full integrationProject managed 50 store refit programme for Topman on time and on budgetSuccessfully managed and simultaneously converted 9 Roche’s department stores in multiple locations across Ireland into Debenhams stores, with new visual and interior Shopfit within 1 weekImplemented new operational company procedures and ensured best practise via personnel training & installed a new company ethos to operational challengesRestructured current distribution expenditure by negotiating group logistics and courier solutions representing a saving of 26% plus better service, timescales and account managementDay to day import / export management of all shipping and multiple client projects & logistics requirementsManaged international rollout for Next requiring containerized delivery of equipment to 47 different countries and achieved all client deadlines, whilst delivering the project under budgetHays Retail Support ServicesLogistics Department & Distribution Modern Apprenticeship

• 

  Hays Executive

  • Derby, United Kingdom

  • Retail Support Services (Apprenticship - Manager)

    • May 1998 - May 2004
    • Derby, United Kingdom

    3 year modern apprenticeship course learning all aspects of warehousing, logistics, distribution, installation and project management & operationsGNVQ levels 2, 3 & 4 in distribution, logistics & support servicesEvery function within trade learnt inside out by spending 6 months in each department, such as import/export, stock control, traffic, warehousing, installations, etc.Worked on multiple contracts for retailers such as M&S, Sainsbury’s, Nat West, Homebase & B&Q. Managed installation project of Security bulletproof glass and counters at 45 Nat West LocationsManaged new venture for M&S Home for all furniture returns to increase profitability and reduce wastage, setting up the new operations which reduce M&S loss by 60% Operations “contract trouble-shooter” seconded to any contracts / projects across the UK with operational issues to remedy problems, over a 2-3 month period