Johnathan Stolk, Head Of Business Development

Johnathan Stolk

Head Of Business Development

Biz Design

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Diploma, Commerce: General Management
Experience
23 years, 9 Months

Share My Profile

Block User


Work Experience

Total years of experience :23 years, 9 Months

Head Of Business Development at Biz Design
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since April 2019

• Driving the overall strategic direction of the Retail Beauty Division, focusing on brand portfolio
optimization, market growth and aggressive expansion of the retail platform distribution channels, across the MENA regions.
• Part of the Executive Committee that devised and executed the business continuity and crisis
management plans, in reaction to Covid-19 pandemic.
• Developing and delivering commercial strategies that delivers on optimized revenue and profits.
• Nurturing strategic partnerships with suppliers, technology and omnichannel providers to foster long term growth.
• Continuously evaluating market position on product portfolio health, competitor analysis and new revenue channels.
• Accomplishing average +6% YoY revenue increase between 2019-2022.

National Business Head – KSA at Landmark Group - Splash
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • October 2013 to March 2019

Designations:
• 2015 to Mar 2019: National Business Head -KSA
• Oct 2013 - Feb 2015: General Manager - UAE Territory

Overview & Achievements:
• Provided Executive leadership of USD 400 million (162 stores) business operations across KSA region with full P&L accountability.
• Led a senior team of 15 direct reports comprising: 3 Regional Concept & 15 Area Managers, Finance & HR Manager, Merchandise Planning & Visual Merchandising Manager, Marketing & Retail Audit Manager.
• Abstracting strategic blueprint for the business, formulated sales strategies, ascertaining scope for business growth.
• Integrated new operational excellence standards (enhancing productivity), drove employee engagement and developed robust revenue recognition programs.
• Embedded digital transformation, the introduction of e-commerce platforms and operational change management.
• Devised and drove the retail penetration strategy across KSA, opened 24 new stores in a span of 3 years.
• Dexterously managed large scale, geographically dispersed teams with proven leadership of delivering major organizational change programs.
• Effective in consistent delivery of sales targets of SAR 2.9 per day (SPD) across 1.6M Sq. Ft of
retail space, whilst maintaining retail overheads within 24.2% of the operating budget.
• Presiding of sales strategies delivering predefined retail KPI’s; 18% conversion rate, 3.03 (UPT) and 4% (ATV) increase.
• Successful in achieving in-season stock management objectives; stock balancing with 3.5 months cover, maintaining markdown at 23% and minimizing stock ageing to 4%.
• Reduced seasonal markdowns by 7% points, re-engineering the initial stock allocation and on time bimonthly stock consolidation.
• Reduced retail overheads by 3% (27% to 24.2%) within 2 years.
• Accomplished 35% reduction in reverse logistics from stores to the warehouse.
• Achieved Great Place to Work® as number one retail company in 2017 & 2018.
• Delivered LFL growth of 9% and 6% for 2 consecutive years.
• Improved seasonal full price sell through by 3%, deploying strategic 15-day seasonal launch plans.

Regional General Manager – Arcadia Brands, CIS Countries at Fawaz A. Alhokair & Co
  • United Arab Emirates
  • February 2010 to August 2013

Overview & Achievements
• Leading international franchise due diligence programs, full lifecycle from initial contact, contract negotiations, onboarding, adapting brand standards and guideline rollouts.
• Managed and directed retail operations of 30+ stores with an annual turnover of USD 35 million, across 5 countries.
• Dexterously managed, geographically dispersed teams with proven leadership, delivering
organizational objectives.
• Advanced the store roll out expansion plan across the countries within 3 years vs. 5-year plan.
• Constantly evaluated key KPI’s (ATV, UPT, conversion) and inventory performance metrics (OTB plans, store capacities, trading densities, replenishment rate, life cycle and seasonal fluctuations).
• Effectively built a central operational infrastructure that supported all brands across the
geographic locations.

Division Manager – Fashion Division at Jawad Business Group
  • Bahrain - Manama
  • October 2008 to December 2009

• Managed the fashion division dealing with brands including BHS, Celio, Bendon, Alcott, Sacoor and Blue Inc supervising retail operations across 35 stores in the GCC region.

Retail Manager – Hallmark &The Toy Store at Gulf Greetings
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • April 2007 to September 2008

• Led a team of 4 area managers and 28 store managers and managed all aspects of retail operations to achieve predefined business objectives.

Retail Operations Manager at Sharief Group
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • February 2004 to March 2007

• Managed retail operations for a portfolio of leading international brands - Carlton, Bric’s, Zero Halliburton, Fischbacher, Valentino and Fogarty - through 18 stores with a total staff of 140 employees.

Regional Manager – Dunns and Millers Shoes at Fashion Africa (Fashaf) Pty Ltd
  • South Africa
  • November 2001 to December 2003

• Managed the retail operations of 16 Dunns and Millers stores with full P&L accountability for delivery of agreed business results

Fashion Buyer Menswear – Dunns & Millers and Beaver Canoe at Fashion Africa (Fashaf) Pty Ltd
  • South Africa
  • May 2000 to October 2001

• Managed merchandising and buying for multiple brands - Beaver Canoe (annual sales budget: ZAR 42 million), Dunns kids wear (annual sales budget: ZAR 30 million) and Dunns mens smalls (annual sales budget: ZAR 8 million), Polo, Diesel, Replay and Soviet

Education

Diploma, Commerce: General Management
  • at INTEC College
  • January 1993

Specialties & Skills

Stakeholder Relations
Strategy Work
Budgeting and Forecasting
Business
Leadership
Strategy Planning & Execution
Market Penetration and Expansion
Brand Development
E-commerce & Franchise Management
P&L, Budgeting & Cost Control
Leadership / Management
Retail Operations Management
Supply Chain Management
Stakeholder Relations
People Management

Languages

English
Expert
Afrikaans
Expert

Training and Certifications

Project Management (Training)
Training Institute:
Edcon, South Africa
Enterprise Leadership seminars (Training)
Training Institute:
2017 and 2014
Management Advancement Program (MAP) (Training)
Training Institute:
Edcon, South Africa

Hobbies

  • Golf, Gym, Reading