martin johnson

RESPNSIBILITIES
 To deliver all aspects of Retail operations for Hypermarket expansion in the Kurdistan Region
 Participate in annual business planning and provide inputs to the CEO and the rest of the senior management team
 Analyze concept strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats from, competition and assess market opportunity
 Oversee the category / brand management with the objective of maximizing sales and profits
 Ensure growth in sales and gross margins for all categories / brands by driving focus on individual categories / brands
 Set individual and team activity targets
 Training and development of multi-cultural workforce
 Delivering New store expansion program in Iraq and Kurdistan
 Responsible for all Retail and Marketing strategies including loyalty card rollout

ACHIEVMENTS

 Established the City Centre Brand and modern retail concept in Erbil Kurdistan with the opening of Iraq’s first Hypermarket 16000 Sq. mtrs.
 Opened 2nd/3rd Hypermarket and Food Court in Erbil/Zahko with 4rd Branch to open in Jan 2013.
 Set up distribution Centre to support addition 5 new stores planned for the next two years.

SENIOR STORE MANAGER TKMAXX 2005- 2009

RESPONSIBILITIES
◆ To run store 30, 000 sq. ft., 5 managers 70 colleagues
◆ Drive sales to achieve targets and minimize loss.
◆ Ensure excellent level of customer service at all times measured by mystery shop (currently achieving 95% average)
◆ Recruit and develop high caliber teams. 90% of current team has been developed from within.
◆ Excellent levels of retail standards and visual merchandising creating a good shopping environment.
◆ Maximize stock flow efficiency
◆ Ensure company information is communicated to the team in an accurate and timely manner.

ACHEIVEMENTS
◆ Performing above my district average for sales in a tough economic environment.
◆ Mystery shop scores at 95% average reflecting consistent standards of customer service.
◆ Shrink has reduced consistently year on year and audit scores are above district average.
◆ Development of my team is a major success with all managers except one being promoted from within the team.
◆ Became number two to the Area Manager deputizing in his absence at Area meetings, conference calls and store visits.

RETAIL OPERATIONS MANAGER NEW STORES - ASDA STORES LTD 2003-2005

RESPONSIBILITIES
◆ Delivering new store openings from a retail operations perspective from week -18 to +4.
◆ Coaching and developing new teams of all skill types.
◆ Responsible for team of 6 managers and 8 analysts in head office, ensuring that they all had a live PDP.
◆ Improving profit by devising new smarter ways of working.
◆ Ensuring that stores were capable of delivering availability and service standards post opening.

ACHEIVEMENTS
◆ £30 million sales increase to the chain in one year as a direct result of my project on waste reduction.
◆ Average 98% availability in new stores under my remit.
◆ Recognition by senior managers at head office for my contribution to the smooth operation.

REGIONAL MANAGER PROCESS AND AVAILABILITY ASDA STORES 1999-2003

RESPONSIBILITIES
◆ Coordinate aspects of retail operations in the Hypermarkets division. Turnover per store £2 million per week.
◆ 10 stores and one store of learning, focus on service, standards and availability,
◆ Making recommendations to senior management to bring about change and improvements.
◆ Communicating at all levels via meetings, store visits and conference calls.
◆ Succession planning in stores and subsequent training and development.
◆ Validating processes in store and measuring improvements

ACHEIVEMENTS

◆ Sheffield Hypermarket awarded most profitable store 2002.
◆ Best region for yearly availability 2002.

STORE MANAGER ASDA STORES 1998-1999

RESPONSIBILITIES
◆ Lead team from the front 25 managers 600 colleagues motivating and providing them with decisive actions
And effective prioritizing of tasks. Celebrating success.
◆ Drive sales and maximize profits store turnover £2million per week
◆ Achieve highest levels of customer service
◆ Drive on shelf availability to 98% target
◆ Management of 25 managers co-coordinating performance of promotional activity, waste and markdown,
◆ Setting team targets.
◆ Store business planning
◆ Developing teams

ACHEIVEMENTS
◆ Awarded most profitable store in the chain
◆ Promoted to field role due to my success in store.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

DEPUTY STORE MANAGER ASDA STORES 1997-1998
◆ Hypermarkets division Sheffield 75, 000 sq. ft. 25 managers 600 colleagues.

DEPUTY STORE MANAGER ASDA STORES 1997
◆ Kingswood store Hull, Troubleshooting role to support the store manager after 4 senior managers dismissed.

DEPUTY STORE MANAGER ASDA STORES 1996-1997
◆ Bilton store Hull
◆ Presented with most profitable store on the company award by Archie Norman. Sales improved from 650k per week to 950k per week in 12 months.
◆ 50, 000 sq. ft. 400 colleagues 10 direct reports.
◆ To manage the daily operations of Grocery, BWS, Non Food depts., and warehouse.
◆ To ensure the effective implementation of all promotional activity.


EMPLOYMENT HISTORY CONTINUED

ASDA STORES LTD NON FOOD MANAGER BILTON STORE 1994-1996

ASDA STORES LTD NON FOOD MANAGER SCUNTHORPE STORE 1992-1994

ASDA STORES LTD DEPUTY NON FOOD MANAGER GRIMSBY STORE 1990-1992

ASDA STORES LTD CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR MANAGER 1989-1990