Manu Mathew

Support the Founder and senior leadership while overseeing core operational and administrative functions within a luxury fashion house specialising in bridal and evening gowns.

Executive and Leadership Support
* Provide direct, high-level executive assistance to the Founder and Creative Director, including diary management, meeting coordination, travel planning, and confidential correspondence.
* Act as the central point of contact between leadership, internal teams, suppliers, and external partners.
* Prepare reports, schedules, and briefing documents to support informed decision-making.

Operations and Office Management
* Oversee daily operations across administration, production coordination, and procurement to ensure uninterrupted business flow.
* Develop, document, and implement operational procedures to improve cross-department coordination and reduce delays.
* Maintain accurate records for contracts, internal documentation, and compliance-related filings.
* Ensure adherence to local regulations, company policies, and internal control standards.

Procurement, Inventory and Supplier Coordination
* Coordinate sourcing of fabrics, accessories, and services through local and international suppliers.
* Negotiate pricing, delivery timelines, and terms to balance quality, cost control, and production needs.
* Monitor supplier performance and resolve delivery, quality, or compliance issues.
* Track inventory levels, forecast material requirements, and manage reordering schedules to support production continuity.

Human Resources and Recruitment Support
* Manage end-to-end recruitment coordination, including candidate shortlisting, interview scheduling, onboarding, and employee documentation.
* Maintain staff records, contracts, attendance data, and HR documentation.
* Support employee welfare arrangements and internal communications.

* Streamlined the founder's calendar by 20%, minimising scheduling conflicts and ensuring efficient time utilisation through meticulous calendar management.

* Drafted, reviewed, and disseminated clear and concise communications to internal teams and external customers on behalf of the Founder.

* Coordinated appointments, board meetings, conferences, and teleconferences, meticulously documenting accurate meeting minutes, resulting in a 20% increase in scheduling efficiency.

* Organized and maintained a comprehensive CRM database, facilitating efficient onboarding of new clients and improving management of existing relationships achieving a 30% reduction in filing time through a new paperwork system implementation.

* Accurately recorded daily expenses, prepared detailed reports, and documented project invoices.

* Contributed to infrastructure development for company expansion by assisting with marketing efforts, creating lead sheets, and demonstrating initiative through self-directed learning, gaining a thorough understanding of the fashion industry, manufacturing, and design processes.

* Provided comprehensive administrative support to the Chief Operations Officer and senior managers, encompassing travel arrangements, visa procurement, meticulous scheduling, and confidential correspondence management.

* Managed over 300 emails weekly for senior staff, ensuring timely responses and maintaining confidentiality of sensitive communications and documentation.

* Improved efficiency in expense reporting for nine executives by implementing a new spreadsheet system.

* Introduced Calendly, a scheduling platform, resulting in a 70% increase in employee satisfaction with appointment scheduling.

* Led a team of administrative assistants, effectively delegating tasks and coordinating schedules, travel arrangements, and appointments.

* Ensured the highest level of confidentiality and discretion with all sensitive information.

* Co-led branch sales management, implementing strategies to achieve sales targets through effective customer profiling, event organisation, and meticulous sales activity tracking, resulting in 50% business growth and increased product sales.

* Developed dealer relationships through regular visits and effective communication, increasing business by 50% and boosting product sales.

* Assisted the Branch Manager with sales team activities, including interviewing, hiring, coaching, and managing performance.