United Kingdom
I'm a supply chain and commercial leader with 15+ years managing complex, high-value operations - most recently leading supply chain planning and purchasing for Avolta's £600m+ UK beauty category, managing 90+ global vendor relationships and replenishment to 100+ locations. My career combines strategic planning depth with hands-on operational experience. I've managed 10,000+ SKUs, owned multi-million pound budgets, and led teams from 6 to 400 people. In 2019, I was recognised as Manager of the Year across the entire UK business, beating hundreds of colleagues after delivering five years of sustained performance improvements across all KPIs at Heathrow Terminal 2. I understand both how SAP and forecasting systems work, and how to make those plans actually deliver results on the ground. I'm what you might call a systems thinker with a people focus. I thrive on bringing order to complexity - whether that's optimising inventory flows, negotiating with vendor networks, or building the processes and teams that make operations run smoothly under pressure. I've worked across the full supply chain from demand planning through to last-mile delivery. What I do best is translate between worlds: commercial and operations, data and people, strategy and execution. I can build a Power BI dashboard and explain it to finance, I can negotiate with a global brand and implement the outcome on a store floor, I can spot the pattern in the data that explains why something isn't working in practice. I've spent my career in retail, but my skills are broader than that sector. Demand forecasting, vendor management, S&OP, inventory optimisation, P&L ownership, cross-functional leadership - these work across FMCG, beauty, pharmaceutical, technology, or any environment where supply chains matter and complexity is the norm. I'm looking for senior leadership opportunities where I can bring this combination of commercial acumen, systems expertise, and calm operational leadership to organisations that value structure, data, and getting things done properly. If you're looking for someone who can manage scale, build resilience into supply chains, and lead teams through complexity - let's connect. 📧 [email protected]
Lead end-to-end supply chain operations for the £600M+ UK Beauty category, working as part of the Global Demand Planning structure whilst holding additional UK-specific responsibilities. Inspire and align a team of 6 category planners and maintain relationships with 90+ international vendors across the globe. Global Demand Planning & Procurement: • Responsible for forecasting, vendor strategy, and procurement across 13,000+ SKUs in Perfume & Cosmetics, managing inbound flows into the London Global DC • Work closely with global colleagues in Basel, Madrid, Hong Kong, and Montevideo to align supply chain strategy across international markets • Negotiate and manage 90+ supplier relationships across multiple continents, navigating varied lead times, compliance requirements, and logistical complexities • Build challenging but productive and collaborative vendor partnerships, positioning the business as customer of choice UK Replenishment & Inventory Management: • Set parameters for outbound replenishment from London DC to 85+ UK stores with seasonal expansion, optimising stock levels and availability whilst minimising discontinued product exposure • Collaborate with in-house logistics and retail operations to ensure aligned system setup and real world execution • Oversee key financial controls including open to buy, stock productivity, obsolescence reduction, and working capital • Ensure high service levels across a high velocity retail network operating 16 to 24 hours daily Systems & Business Development: • Lead business development projects using SAP Retail/BW knowledge and operational background to simplify processes, modernise systems, and improve efficiency • Implement accessible data-driven decision-making using Excel, Power Query, and forecasting tools to reduce administration • Work across global planning and UK commercial teams including buying, pricing, finance, marketing and digital, balancing competing priorities and stakeholder demands
Accountable for all commercial, operational and people outcomes for Heathrow Terminal 2's retail operations, growing annual turnover from £62m to £96m across 5 stores with 29 managers and 400 staff in a high-volume, regulated airport environment. Commercial Performance & P&L Ownership -Grew turnover from £62m to £96m through assortment planning, supplier engagement, promotional execution, and improved EBITDA margin across Beauty, Liquor, Tobacco, Confectionery and Luxury -Full P&L accountability including sales, COGS, labour productivity, and operational expenditure, delivering year-on-year income improvements while reducing PEX and GEX -Managed stock control, shrinkage, replenishment efficiency and stock turn Operational Leadership & Stakeholder Management -Primary interface with Heathrow Airport, Metropolitan Police, Border Force, and staffing agencies, maintaining security, HSE, and regulatory compliance in landside and airside zones -Managed replenishment logistics for 5 stores operating 16 hours daily, coordinating with London DC to maintain availability during peak flows and promotions -Led crisis response during security incidents and disruptions, maintaining service continuity and staff safety People & Organisational Development -Built team structure spanning 6 senior managers and 23 middle managers, planning succession and reducing turnover through structured development -Developed training frameworks and operational standards improving execution consistency nationally, designing development programs for the UK workforce Systems & Continuous Improvement -Used real-world data to model performance forecasts, tracking KPIs including sales per square foot, conversion rates, basket size, and labour productivity -Drove process improvements across merchandising, stock accuracy, and workflows -Collaborated with commercial functions to deliver flagship-level standards and execution
Progressed through a number of roles across Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4, focused on driving category performance managing £60m+ portfolios with accountability for assortment planning, range selection, pricing, promotions, and commercial execution across Beauty, Liquor, Tobacco, Confectionery, Souvenirs and Luxury Accessory categories. - Managed cross-functional execution with merchandising, operations, and brand partners to deliver sales, margin, and stock performance targets - Led teams of 200+ staff across multiple high-traffic terminal locations, ensuring consistent service standards and commercial discipline - Responsible for visual merchandising, retail execution standards, and brand relationship management across premium and mass-market portfolios - Drove promotional planning and pricing strategies, balancing commercial objectives with competitive positioning and customer value perception
Led department operations in premium retail environments, delivering commercial KPIs and service excellence standards while managing teams in high-pressure, high-footfall settings. - Managed daily operations, stock control, and team performance for assigned departmentsm - Delivered sales targets, margin objectives, and customer service standards - Developed team capability through coaching and performance management
Progressed through roles from Sales Associate to Supervisor level, building foundational retail operations, customer service, and people management experience in high-volume environments. - Managed store operations, visual standards, and team coordination - Delivered sales performance and customer satisfaction targets - Developed early leadership skills managing small teams in fast-paced retail settings