General Manager
WHSmith
Total years of experience :13 years, 8 Months
Worked within a challenging fast-paced, high volume environment, with responsibility for 7 retail units
within Glasgow Airport terminal building. Responsible for driving sales and service standards and
working to strict KPIs, including being fully accountable for profit and loss and managing costs and
compliance. In undertaking this role, I led from the front on the shop floor, ensured due diligence was
adhered to in relation to food hygiene / food law and was responsible for health & safety and managing
the employee lifecycle. Managed team of 50 plus employees.
• Combined annual turnover of £10M.
• Increased turnover by £193K over a 20-week period.
• Built a strong relationship with airport management, working closely to problem solve issues in high
stress situations.
Baroue is Kuwait’s one-stop-store for a variety of products and services for children up to the age of 12.
Product range includes toys, maternity items, baby and children’s clothing, baby toiletries, nursery
products, travel systems and home furniture. Baroue also provides children’s entertainment onsite
which includes children’s parties, arcade games, bubble football, roller skate rink, trampolines, climbing
wall, sand-pit / ball-pit / soft play area for small children. The flagship store covered 69, 000 square feet.
Delivered operational excellence across Baroue to maximise sales and profitability. Responsible for
Area / Operations management of 5 stores.
In-directly managed team of 190 employees:
• Exceeded sales targets and profit across all retail stores by maximizing opportunities and ensured
clear processes maintained to control stock shrinkage.
• Year on year growth £600, 000 (264, 272KD).
• Led and inspired store managers to deliver consistently high standards, strong customer service
and maximise business development opportunities.
• Co-ordinated the successful refit of two stores, liaising directly with contractors and partners.
• Fully revised and introduced updated job descriptions for all roles in Baroue.
• Developed and implemented robust audit process and procedure for managing damaged stock
across all stores.
• Achieved improved productivity, delivered through team by introduction of revised bonus scheme
for staff.
Recruited to spearhead all operations for opening of new flagship concept store in Edinburgh.
Responsible for growing the business, leading by example and guiding the team to deliver outstanding
customer experiences to support Three’s aim of being the UKs most loved brand. Undertook Lead
Store Manager duties and was called upon to deputise for the Area Manager when required.
• Motivated and inspired the team.
• Encouraged personal development and sharing of ideas.
• Fostered succession planning and mentored high performing staff through to manager roles.
• Managed significant staffing challenges involving high levels of fraud with professionalism and
integrity.
• Oversaw refit and opening of store.
• Met and exceeded KPI targets.
Recruited to bring expert electrical retail experience to Comet. Responsible for all retail store manager
duties. Managed Aberdeen and quickly moved to flagship North Shields store by senior managers to
drive performance.
North Shields: Managed team of 60 plus employees
• Increased turnover by £400K.
• Reduced payroll by £6400 per period.
• Managed store operations and demonstrated strong people management throughout administration
period and closure, with top 5 final audit result.
Aberdeen: Managed team of 20 plus employees
• Increased turnover by £20K per week.
• Increased cash margin by 30%.
• Lowered clearance by £51K.
• Made significant progress on main KPI drivers and store standards.
Recruited into YTS post within Dixons and progressed through management programme as peak
performer. Undertook role in PC World, another division of Dixons Stores Group, following successful
career with Dixons.
Edinburgh: Managed team of 60 plus employees
• Managed the largest PC World store in Scotland. Through entrepreneurial approach identified need
for store improvement to maximise profitability. Secured funding to refit the store resulting in £480k
transformation.
• Successfully managed transformation which resulted in increased profits.
• Introduced total lock down procedures which reduced shrinkage from 3.5% to 0.24%.
• Introduced 100% compliance with Absence Management Policy and reduced staff absenteeism from
8.2% to 1.1%.
Dundee: Managed team of 80 plus employees:
• Increased turnover by £1.3m YOY in the first Currys / PC World combined store in Scotland.
• Reduced payroll by £282k in year one through resource re-allocation and performance
management.
• Top 5 stores for internal store standards and top 10 for income country-wide.
• Ambassador for renewal and transformation program