Chief Operating Officer
Living In Interiors
مجموع سنوات الخبرة :22 years, 5 أشهر
Brought on board as COO, assumed CEO role to turn around underperforming operations marred by a lack of coordinated vision, conflicting priorities and a culture of blame. Provided strong leadership and direction through an open-door management style that freed channels of communication, broke down fiefdoms, inspired trust and confidence, built consensus at all levels of the organisation, and instilled a unified approach. Reported to Chairman.
★ Restructured the company and improved business performance by executing a fundamental overhaul and streamlining workflow to accelerate commercial, design, fit-out and retail processes.
★ Created strategy and set short-term goals that allowed each employee a sense of achievement, facilitated positive critical analysis, and opened the way to discussion and collaboration.
★ Transformed company culture and increased client focus by achieving buy-in to a strategy that developed individual and team potential, raised employee commitment to customers, and ignited pride in the company.
★ Signed projects totalling 50% of previous year’s turnover within 4 months of tenure, including a corporate project valued at QAR 20MM, two residential projects valued at QAR 26MM, and a QAR35MM Palace 1st Phase.
Appointed by Chairman following a prolonged troubled period of operation resulting in heavy losses and debt, to lead the company turnaround in revitalising operations, closing out projects, and recovering uncollected funds. Negotiated recovery of uncollected funds, reversed ongoing losses, and created a platform for future development.
★ Created and implemented strategy to address remedial and future development. Clearly communicated the change process to ensure collaboration and positive action during an austere period.
★ Defined overhead/operational cost structure in line with inflows and resources by drastically downscaling operations. Closed manufacturing facility, laid off 330 employees, and outsourced non-core activities.
★ Established close communication and clarity with company bankers, debtors and creditors to create cooperative relationships, which resulted in extension of finance and payment of salaries to key company personnel.
★ Improved cash flow and renewed confidence from bankers. Negotiated new projects including $3MM fit-out for JBR Hilton. Created cash inflow via successful execution and close-out of Rotana Hotel FF&E package
CONSULTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER (reporting to CEO) - short-term consultancy.
ROMEO DESIGN LLC - DUBAI, UAE
Established in 1981, Romeo Design is one of the leading Fit-out and Design Companies in the G.C.C. region serving the contract furnishing and interiors market.
Provided support to the CEO in establishing a clear set of strategically aligned objectives to relocate and consolidate the company and its resources in the aim of creating a streamlined and efficient facility to serve future needs.
★ Created a strategic road map to achieve objectives and guided the company through each phase of the change process.
★ Executed entire relocation and consolidation process significantly below budget and with close to zero disruption to productivity.
★ Enabled clear improvements, streamlined business operations and enhanced client service delivery.
★ Enabled the client to achieve sustainable improvement in operating efficiencies and management systems that led to a profitable business.
OPERATIONS MANAGER (reporting to the CEO)
GREENLINE YACHT INTERIORS - DUBAI, UAE
Leading firm with 30 years of experience in the design, manufacturing and contracting field providing turnkey solutions for super yacht outfitting via a dedicated management team, engineering department and 600+ craftsmen..
Managed budgets and day to day administration of production, logistics and installation operations of luxury super yachts across multiple simultaneous high-value projects throughout the Middle East, Europe and United States.
★ Managed all facets of operations and projects from inception to completion, including facilities management, project coordination and schedules, logistics and resource management.
★ Oversaw compliance and legislation encompassing ISO, Lloyds Registry, statutory national standards and Health and Safety for local and international teams.
★ Created a culture of heightened collaboration between departments, projects, team members and exterior contractors - resulting in significant performance improvements to budgets and schedules, and reduced conflict for resources.
★ Added value to the company through instrumental role in the profitable completion of turnkey solutions for ultra high-net-worth private clients.
★ Managed completion of the manufacture and installation of interiors on the world’s largest private mega yacht, ‘MY Eclipse’. Concurrently managed fit-out of 4 private super yachts with combined project values in excess of $60MM. Delivered all projects on time, to client specification and within budget.
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER (reporting to the CEO)
SD CONCEPT - DUBAI, UAE
35 years of experience in manufacturing custom-made furniture/decorative joinery works and in providing complete interior design and fit-out solutions to royal palaces, private residences, private yachts and mixed-use developments.
★ Completed $12MM joinery fit-out of Fairmont Residences at the Palm Jumeirah within budget and on schedule.
★ Facilitated all phases of project management by building and maintaining effective, productive working relationships with the main contractors, consultants and stakeholders.
★ Achieved successful resolution in favour of employer of all contractual and commercial conflicts through comprehensive, accurate and well-supported documentation.
MANAGING PARTNER
AMAVITA (PT) LTD - JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
MANAGING PARTNER
Founded a successful manufacturing, fit-out and FF&E firm serving high-end hospitality & residential sectors
Developed a business model that integrated a profitable marketing and distribution strategy into a self-perpetuating and ethical community skills development model. Conducted and concluded commercial & contractual negotiations at government ministerial level to JV in the roll-out of this model with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
★ Managed every facet of the business across all marketing, business development, financial, commercial and operational aspects of the manufacture, supply and installation of furniture and joinery works.
★ Successfully tendered for & executed projects, to include interior fit-out and FF&E involved in major refurbishment of 450-room Elangeni Hotel in Durban, fit-out works for Sun International, and high-end villa developments in South Africa and Angola with projects valued at up to $5MM.
★ Reduced overheads in the supply of school furniture by outsourcing assembly to school leavers - an initiative that enabled community leaders to generate income through delivery of skills training and workshops.
PRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT- JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Engaged to perform short to mid-term senior management consultancy projects
AUGRAY CABINET MAKERS (2003-2005): Engaged to define strategic goals, set-up a new manufacturing facility in new 29, 000m² property, develop new designs, and implement production management systems & technology.
★ Achieved fully operational plant in 6 months and hit first year target turnover within 9 months.
LEGACY MODUTEC (2003): Elevated furniture supplier from ‘workshop’ status to a sophisticated manufacturing facility and project managed transfer to new premises, including staff hiring & training, purchase and integration of new plant, design and implementation of production flows, QC, QA, MRS and Design Standards.
★ Successful completion of project considered key to subsequent establishment as one of the leading manufacturers in SA.
FALCON SHOP-FITTERS (2002-2003): As Design & Special Projects Consultant, managed the peer commended innovation and design of complex calligraphic moulds for concrete for the Johannesburg Constitutional Court building.
★ Project managed the highly acclaimed and profitable $4MM interior fit-out of Kilimanjaro Club.
BUSINESS FURNITURE CENTRE (2000-2002): Recruited as Operations Consultant to increase production by 350% for a 3 month period to enable company to satisfy contract demands for 3, 000 individual work stations for the NedCor building. Retained on completion of the project below budget to set up new division for the manufacture of retail furniture, including strategy formulation and roll-out, product design and development, training, plant acquisition and commissioning.
★ New Division exceeded $300, 000 turnover within 5 months.
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
FAIRMONT FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS- JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Joined the company shortly after its inception to manage all operational aspects, design development and product concepts of firm producing around $14k of domestic furniture per month and employing 12 full-time staff.
★ Led and managed the company to outstanding growth during a 7-year tenure with an average monthly turnover of $2MM. Increased staff to 350+ full-time employees.
★ Achieved consistent growth of 70% per annum in bottom line profit for the company - reinforced by concomitant increase in turnover during latter 5-year period.
★ Developed a technically advanced, industry respected and very pleasant production environment. Built and developed a high-performance team of loyal and motivated staff.
