Gillingham, England, United Kingdom
About I am a Strategic Category Manager specialising in logistics procurement, with more than 20 years' experience across logistics operations, strategic sourcing and category management within international manufacturing and FMCG organisations. I lead the European Warehousing & Distribution category for Wilkinson Sword, part of Edgewell Personal Care. My role includes developing category strategies, leading competitive sourcing programmes, negotiating commercial agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships across transportation and warehousing. I am responsible for a double-digit million-dollar spend portfolio supporting multiple European markets. Over the course of my career, I have led strategic sourcing programmes that have delivered multi-million-dollar cost savings, strengthened supplier relationships and improved supply chain performance. My experience includes competitive tendering, contract negotiation, supplier governance, logistics network optimisation and the delivery of complex procurement projects across Europe. My operational background in logistics enables me to develop procurement strategies that are both commercially robust and operationally practical across transportation and warehousing categories. Having worked on both the operational and procurement sides of the supply chain, I understand that successful sourcing is about more than achieving cost savings. It is about balancing commercial objectives with service, resilience, supplier capability and long-term business value. Procurement decisions are only successful when they deliver commercially and operationally. My focus is on building strong supplier relationships, developing sourcing strategies and delivering solutions that create sustainable value rather than short-term savings alone.
Responsible for the strategic procurement of warehousing and distribution services across Europe for Wilkinson Sword (part of Edgewell Personal Care), leading category strategy, supplier management and strategic sourcing across transportation and warehousing. Managing a double-digit million-dollar European spend portfolio, I work closely with Supply Chain, Finance and Operations to develop sourcing strategies that balance commercial objectives with operational performance and long-term supply chain resilience. Develop and execute European category strategies across transportation and warehousing. Lead strategic sourcing programmes, competitive tenders and commercial negotiations. Manage strategic supplier relationships, governance and performance. Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver commercially robust and operationally practical procurement solutions. Delivered multi-million-dollar logistics cost savings through strategic sourcing initiatives. Oversaw the sourcing, commercial evaluation, contract negotiation and SLA development for the company's new European Distribution Centre. Currently driving a pan-European transportation sourcing programme focused on supplier consolidation and network optimisation.
Sales and Account management of export accounts in the industrial food and pharma sector selling dry and liquid sugars of up to several thousand metric tons per year. Possessed full P&L budget responsibility of several multi-million USD customer accounts. Managed existing clients and have been the main Tate & Lyle Sugars contact for assigned customers on all subject matters such as, legal, payment, pricing, marketing, quality and customer service. Negotiated contract prices and volumes to achieve budget targets within agreed service levels Created monthly and annual forecasts and collaborated with Planning and Finance teams to ensure correct budget figures were established. Lead and participated in projects cross-functionally to increase customer satisfaction and company bottom line.
Lead and managed Tate & Lyle's Bulk Industrial Customer Service Team and Bulk Logistics Team Management of Tate & Lyle’s bulk operations overseeing the contractual relationship of bulk transport suppliers. The operation consisted of 100+ daily road tanker movements. Onboarded, managed and replaced carriers as well as negotiated contracts and annual freight rates. Collaborated and provided support to the legal team creating logistics contracts as well as designing and implementing Service Level Agreements. Functioned as the link between sugar refining operations, bulk logistics service providers and customers to ensure an optimal customer service as per designated KPI's.
Managed customer accounts and have been the main contact on all subject matters regarding the contractual relationship. Participated in tenders to win or maintain new business Designed outbound logistics flows to optimise my customer's deliveries to its ultimate location.. Point of escalation on service-related matters. Communicated and liaised with mid and senior level management of network partners and customers to guarantee a smooth flow of information and goods through the entire supply chain. Ensured that Service Level Agreements were always upheld through KPI ownership and immediate investigation and implementation of corrective actions.
Responsible for the contractual relationship of 10 Third Party Logistics providers to facilitate the achievement of the company’s cost and quality targets. Instigated tenders to benchmark existing carriers and if required to select and onboard new carriers, Full responsibility given for the creation and spent of a multi-million US$ transport budget. Negotiation of contracts and freight rates and ultimate decision maker on the company’s transport strategy for Western Europe. Designed national and global inbound and outbound supply flows and subsequently monitored KPI’s against created Service Level Agreements. Spearheaded projects and initiatives aimed at driving down costs whilst improving efficiency and quality.
Recruited, trained and managed a team of 16 Customer Service Representatives and 2 Customer Service Team Leaders and motivated them to provide customer service excellence to B2B customers in the Consumer Electronic sector. First point of escalation for all Order to Cash and Customer Service issues Streamlined daily operations and improved service levels through the creation, implementation and review of operational processes and customer satisfaction KPIs such as CSAT, First Call Resolution and First Response Time. Responsible for ensuring that the team was fully trained in company procedures and external auditing standards. Conducted regular staff appraisals, providing constructive feedback on performance and dealt with disciplinary matters that arose
Recruited, trained and managed a team of 8 Customer Service Representatives and motivated them to provide customer service excellence to B2B customers in the Consumer Electronic sector. Streamlined daily operations and improved service levels through monitoring and enforcement of operational processes of customer satisfaction KPIs such as CSAT, First Call Resolution and First Response Time. Responsible for ensuring that the team was fully trained in company procedures and external auditing standards.
Played a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient management of the back-office function to support key accounts in Germany and Great Britain Responsible for product allocation for high demand products and monitoring rates and discounts for customers Managed claims processes to improve cash flow target for the company and dealt with invoicing, crediting and debiting of goods, services and promotional activities Worked in close conjunction with Third Party Warehouses and Key Account Mangers to solve any account related issues such as deliveries, payments, orders.