Bob Darke Email & Phone Number

Blandford Forum, England, United Kingdom

Executive Director and shareholder at House of Sarunds, the UK's leading specialist distributor of fine chocolate and confectionery.

Dartford, England, United Kingdom

Dorset, England, United Kingdom

Working with the team at this leading Premium Confectionery importer / distributor to guide, shape and motivate the sales function as it addresses the opportunities and challenges of a changing retail landscape.

London, United Kingdom

ContextCo-founded the practice in 2016 to deliver consultancy support on prospective, new or under-performing investments & source personal investment opportunities.As one of four principal partners with extensive and complimentary operational experience, we provide leadership support and consultancy for the Private Equity sector whilst seeking strategic investment opportunities where growth potential can be unlocked.

Aylesbury, Uk

Achievements⋗ Negotiated and delivered the acquisition of the brand/asset rich Gerald Simons Healthcare⋗ Led business transformation through; exiting unprofitable distribution agreements and negotiating new ones, design & launch of a new website, initiating joint ventures with other industry players⋗ Drove efficiencies through reduced overheads, simplification of operations and reducing inventory by 20%

Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Thailand

Achievements⋗ Delivered 30% of total sales, cUS$1bn (2017)⋗ Implemented vastly improved range management and financial control⋗ Recruited & trained 5 new divisional directors⋗ Generated major savings by reducing staff churn from 40+% to c10%⋗ Grew gross margin +400 bps & reduced excessive supplier contribution reliance⋗ Negotiated away US$multiple millions of supplier disputes⋗ Moved supplier relationships from adversarial to supportive⋗ Grew profit contribution of digital business by US$1m relaunching the website (70+% yoy growth), introducing mobile shopping & launching a specialist, 1-hour, fresh food delivery serviceContextJoined Thailand’s #2 ranked large format retailer to change the culture, rebuild capability / skills for long term growth and preparation for sale. Successfully sold to TCC Group for €3+bn (2016).

Bangkok, Thailand

Achievements⋗ Reshaped business, unpicked failing strategy & performance to gain buy-in from within the wider owning family group⋗ Successfully overcame language and cultural obstacles to deliver comprehensive change⋗ Simplified KPIs & ways of working to enhance teamwork and increase pace⋗ Introduced and embedded basic retail disciplines including OTB controls, Promotional Calendar planning and weekly trading review meetings⋗ Tripled new store contribution by reduced store size by 50%⋗ Opened 20 new stores and closed 15 poor performers⋗ Delivered 9% shelf availability improvement through improved supply chain capability via new merchandise and warehouse management systems and a bespoke 15,000 m2 DC⋗ Returned Power Buy to share growth, improved margin rate by 200 bps, stabilised OPEX and property costs – resulting in robust EBITDA growth of $multiple millions⋗ Successfully set the conditions to enable the 49% acquisition of Vietnam’s largest electrical retailer Nguyen Kim making this the largest SE Asian combined group electricals retailer (cUS$150m)ContextEngaged to deliver a full turnaround plan as the first-ever non-Thai executive in Thailand’s leading electrical specialist in sharp trading decline since early 2012.

Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, Uk

Achievements⋗ Delivered the Comet sale, facilitating OpCapita purchase, dealing directly with bidding parties, collaborating with Darty leadership, legal teams & merchant bank on the turnaround strategy⋗ Generated £multiple millions improvement in EBITDA during H1 2012 on track to a 2012/13 breakeven target⋗ Realised £63m total annualised savings and stabilised LFL sales by developing and implementing a price-led promotional strategy & reducing fixed costs⋗ Successfully reduced headcount by 1,800 in 6 months through operational re-design, without damage to ongoing operations⋗ Negotiated £multiple millions saving in property costs⋗ Increased senior team competence, redefining roles, exiting underperformers and recruiting turnaround implementation capability⋗ Sustained morale at minimal cost via a proactive customer advocacy culture, arrested staff churn via weekly blogs, in-person briefings, store team video briefings and monthly key supplier updatesContext#2 ranked retailer in the highly competitive electrical / white goods sector, acquired as standalone business from Darty plc in February 2012 by OpCapita LLP.

Rickmansworth, Uk

Established strategies for trading, customer proposition and multi-channel growth. Led a team of 8 direct reports with a 250+ team and a spend budget c£60m. Member of a 5 board team; regularly deputised for MD. In the face of economic downturn and rapid share growth from internet and mass merchant competitors, built a buying team, which created improved sales revenue by £40m and market share by 0.5% over 5-years.Oversaw key strategic partnerships, implemented bespoke category management, supply chain solutions and improved commercial terms. Maintained profitability of sales through co-ordinated programmes of terms renegotiation, cost reduction initiatives and promotional activity aimed at high margin accessories and financial services products. Built a talented inetrnet team and championed the development of innovative internet capabilities including; “any product / any store” click & collect, click & chat, drop ship vending and bespoke internet ranging