General Management Executive / International Commercial Finance Leader
Energetic results oriented COO/CFO with the demonstrated ability to build businesses, increase revenues, reduce costs and develop, lead and motivate cross-functional teams to achieve global commercial success in both a large corporate and small dynamic growth environment. Broad background in finance, operations IT and HR management, including financial reporting and control, strategic planning, supply chain, warehousing, distribution, customer service, employee benefits, change management and the development of ERP systems.
2004–Present
NIKE INC,
UMBRO USA Business Unit, New York, NY, USA
2008–Present
Chief Operating Officer
Reported to the President of the Americas Region. P&L responsibility for all aspects of the US business which was managed through a staff of 12 along with shared IT, HR and Financial Accounting Services provided by UMBRO in the UK.
•Grew business from $3 million in 2004 to $25m in 2009.
•Developed and implemented hybrid route to market strategy, to re-energize UMBRO brand in the US and double sales in three years.
•Developed segment now representing 30% of sales by building brand credibility at the grassroots and retail level, collaborating with the VP of Sales and providing financial and operational leadership to launch the brand into the team sales segment.
•Enhanced ERP system functionality, providing the broker sales force and key customers direct access to on demand real time information. Upgrading their ability to make effective decisions, improve customer service and drive growth.
•Reduced variable operating costs 10% maximizing operating synergies from the Nike takeover by leveraging purchasing and service contracts.
•Reduced costs by 35% by managing the relocation and restructure of the business from New York to Oregon to leverage Nike back office services.
2004–2008
VP Finance and Operations
Recruited to the US start up of this $750 million global soccer business in 2004. Reported to the US President, provided commercial decision support, long term planning, financial control, and developed IT strategy, the S&OP process, C2C and HR. Member of Global Senior Management team meeting quarterly in the UK to map out UMBRO Group Strategy.
•Ensured delivery of the corporate strategy by completing successful relocation of the business to New York City and building a new organizational structure.
•Achieved 25% cost savings and improved customer service by executing new warehousing/customer service solution, moving third party warehouse facility from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
•Reduced costs and provided a competitive advantage in the recruitment and retention of staff by negotiating and setting up an improved employee benefits package, including the establishment and administration of 401K plan.
•Improved the organizations ability to make effective, fact based decisions and to optimize the allocation of limited resources by designing and implementing a Netsuite ERP solution.
1990-2004
CADBURY SCHWEPPES PLC,
1997-2004
Jaret International Business Unit, Iselin, NJ, USA
2000-2004
VP Finance & Operations
Reported to US President, led, built and developed the finance and operations organization for the newly established stand alone business unit, responsibilities included commercial decision support, strategic planning, financial planning and control, IT strategy, the S&OP process HR and C2C.
•Right hand man to business unit President providing commercial, strategic and back office leadership providing the foundation for business growth from $70m to $110m in 4 years.
•Enabled industry leading 30% sales growth of Swedish Fish & Sour Patch Kids core brands by creating and building a new organizational structure, which transformed the commercial support model.
•Generated a 60% increase in measured distribution of Swedish Fish brand, by initiating and guiding a distribution and availability project for the core brands.
•Coordinated the evolution of a scorecard based KPI reporting system, driving accountability to all levels within the organization.
•Improved the efficiency of trade investment 10% by designing and implementing a Cognos data warehouse, upgrading the sales force to make effective fact based decisions.
•Reduced out of stocks by $2 million per annum by developing and executing improvements within demand and operations planning.
1997-2000
Financial Controller/General Manager
Relocated from UK to USA to integrated new acquisition and provide commercial leadership to a team of Sales, Finance and Operations staff. Reported to Canadian manufacturing subsidiary President. Responsible for all aspects of financial reporting and control, the commercial strategy, S&OP process, IT and HR.
•Ensured delivery of corporate strategy by relocating business to New Jersey, transforming acquired family business into Cadbury corporate culture. Providing commercial and operational leadership to deliver sales growth from $50 million to $70 million in 3 years.
•Developed a sustainable platform for future growth by refocusing product portfolio from declining bulk candy segment to a packaged goods focus.
•Led SAP implementation achieving record sales in the first month following go-live.
•Merged $15 million unbranded seasonal business into the product portfolio, enabling a rebalancing of resources to focus against the profitable branded offering.
1990-1997
CADBURY INTERNATIONAL, Birmingham, United Kingdom
1992-1997
Director of Finance – Americas Region and International Franchise
Acted as Chief of Staff to President of the Americas. Key contributor to the profitable development of confectionery sales in the Americas Region and the development of International Franchise activity, achieving sales growth from $50 million to $450 million.
•Implemented and coordinated regional financial strategy, consolidated regional results and provided interpretation of key metrics to identify opportunities and risks to the Regional President.
•Worked with regional Finance VP’s to facilitate provision of corporate best practice and ensure adoption of corporate initiatives.
•Led the financial integration of three acquisitions in USA, Canada and Argentina, mitigating potential risks and ensuring compliance with group policies and procedures.
1990–1991
Finance Manager – Sugar Confectionery Exports
1987–1990
ALLIED DOMECQ PLC, London/Bristol, United Kingdom
Recruited to this global quoted drinks business in 1987 promoted through a variety of roles:
Assistant Cost Accountant, Operations Accountant and Customer/Brand Accountant.
EDUCATION
Fellowship (FCMA)
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom
BA (Hons) – Economics and Quantitative Methods
University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom 1986 |
