AVAILABLE FOR RELOCATION
Experience summary
• Results-driven Retail Director with a wealth of international retail management experience gained mainly within the travel and domestic retail sectors including high-end fashion, leisurewear and jewelry.
• Long-standing working relationships with leading retail industry participants in the UK, South Africa, Indonesia, Caribbean, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Myanmar.
• Strong track record of working in multicultural environments across the world in very diverse and demanding environments.
• Motivational and inspirational leader with excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills who has the ability to influence critical business decisions in-house and with business partners.
• Worked closely with operational, strategic, marketing, sales and change management teams, and has a proven track record of adding value, making significant improvements to business performance whilst maintaining operational oversight.
• Able to grow business from startup most recently in International Airport’s and luxury malls; was fully involved in the development of the retail space of over 7,000 sqm, brand selection and brand sourcing, store construction, and project management. Over 30 mono brands have been built and are now in full operational condition with over 300 staff recruited and trained covering sales, management, buying, finance and HR.
Career
Title : International Opertions Director
Company : On request
Period : Jan 2018 - Present
Location : Bangkok, Thailand
• Successfully opened 100 stores of **** brands since 2018.
• Turnaround the loss-making Malaysian region operations into profitable by introducing reforms.
• Designed and implemented the stores' expansion strategy by recruiting staff and building management teams, which will increase the number of stores to 75 with 500+ staff in 2020.
Title : National Retail Director (Travel & Domestic Retail)
Company : On request
Period : Jul 2015 - Dec 2017
Location : Myanmar
Role Description:
• Strategic role in establishing and growing the travel retail and domestic retail business of ***** in Myanmar. Have held multi-million dollar P&L responsibility for the entire retail portfolio; led the business and managed 420+ employees directly and indirectly.
• Oversaw the entire business operation, which included brand selection, brand management, daily operations, sales performance, finance, HR recruitment, management development, training programs, buying, margin management and KPI reporting.
• Have overseen the fit-out of a large multi-brand duty free space, 30+ mono-brand fashion retail outlets at ***** Airport and 9 fashion retail outlets in ***** domestic market – from the design phase to store opening, with the responsibility of cost control on the capital expenditure.
Key Achievements:
• When ***** gained the concession rights for ***** International Airport’s in 2015, I was appointed to setup the 2,000 sqm duty free space, but then was given the responsibility to develop a travel retail concept of over 6,000 sqm, which, in addition, included 30+ mono brand high-end fashion retail stores, a souvenir store and two bookstores.
• Worked closely with the CEO to plan the floor layout and brought a variety of high-end fashion brands into the airport.
• Recruitment started from zero and 320+ staff were recruited and trained across the stores and all functions.
• ***** also introduced 9 brands into domestic market including Coach, Aigner, Furla and Pandora.
• The domestic retail business recruited 100 staff and is operational since March 2017.
Title : Chief Operations Officer
Company : On request
Period : Aug 2013 - Jun 2015
Location : Cambodia
Role Description:
• Involved in the design and set up of two downtown duty free shops in ***** (4,500 sqm opened in Dec 2014) and ***** (6,500 sqm opened in Dec 2015). ***** Duty Free in ***** was opened within 6 months from the start of construction. Ensured the operations reached international retail standards in a very brief period.
• As the COO, have overseen entire business operations which include brand management, daily operations, sales performance, finance, HR recruitment, management development, training programs, buying, margin management and KPI reporting. Recruited 150 sales and management staff in a market which has very little retail experience. Created a complete range of training programs for all employees including language skills, selling skills, and product knowledge.
• In addition to standard travel retail products such as liquor, tobacco, confectionaries and local souvenir, the stores carried branded sunglasses, branded luggage, beauty products, watches and fashion products.
Title : General Manager
Company : On request
Period : Sep 2009 - Jun 2013
Location : Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong
Role Description:
• Transferred from ***** to ***** Asia to manage a diverse business consisting of traditional travel retail concepts in Cambodia including liquor, tobacco, perfume, cosmetics, fashion, as well as food and confectionery. Responsible for souvenir stores as well as electronics and bookstores in Singapore.
• During a period of 3 years, increased the Cambodia turnover from USD 6 million to USD 30 million, with an average increase of 50% per year; increased gross margin by 2% during this period. Refurbished ***** and ***** airport stores and introduced fashion brands.
• Singapore operation successfully opened with five bookstores with turnover USD 30 million and a combined sales total of USD 75 million across both operations. Managed 190 staff in two airports in Cambodia and 100 staff in seven shops in ***** Airport, Singapore. Leading and being accountable for loss prevention in the region. Built a deep understanding and knowledge of ongoing development and trends in the travel retail industry; actively participated in creating a knowledge management base to enable the sharing of learning . Ensured that country strategies are effectively implemented, monitored and evaluated.
Title : General Manager
Company : On request
Period : Feb 2001 - Sep 2009
Location : Barbados
Role Description:
• Responsible for operations of 13 stores in Barbados and Trinidad
• Store profiles varied from major hotels, cruise ship terminals, airports and down town locations, mainly duty free with 20% domestic business.
• Managed an island office dealing with key functional areas: marketing, merchandising, finance and HR
• Served as a member of the Executive Committee of Duty Free Caribbean (“DFC”), which includes department stores, liquor and perfume operations.
• Introduced in-store mentorship and created a platform for learning and professional development of team members, so that they are motivated and fully equipped with the knowledge, practical skills and motivation to perform their jobs effectively
• Improved the overall layout and presentation of stores to reach international standards. Sales increased from USD 9 million in 2001 to over USD 36 million by 2008