Craig Thirkell Email & Phone Number

Brighouse, Gb

Normanton, England, United Kingdom

Category Head for Technology Products / EOS Print Supplies and Hardware / Office Machines / Business Luggage / Desktop Ergonomics.EVO Group Brands include VOW Wholesale, VOW Retail, Banner, Complete and Staples.co.uk.

A Global Director role reporting directly to UK MD and US CEO, I manage business wide projects that cover Ace Bayou Corp, Ace Casual Limited and X Rocker GmbH and addrerss business strategy, sourcing, product, contracts, systems and infrastructure, licensing, change management, and people. With teams in the UK, Germany, US and China and operations in China, Vietnam, Malaysia and India we serve a global marketplace on 4 continents. Retail partners include Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Williams Sonoma, Staples, Canadian Tire, JCP, Lowe's, Macy's, Amazon, Costco, Rooms 2 Go, to name just some.

West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

X Rocker is the #1 Gaming Furniture brand for all Retailers world wide. From our HQ here in the UK we lead the way in product development to meet the needs of casual and hardcore gamers the world over.With an amazing product range which includes licenses such as PlayStation & Super Mario, our products are sold in 4 continents, and include customers such as Argos, Smyth Toys, Very, Studio, The Range, Expert Group, Otto, Kaufland, Amazon, Home 24, XXXLutz, Aldi, Lidl ... to name just a few.Key responsibilities and deliverables:- Responsible for all Commercial Agreements and Contracts - suppliers, retailers and services.- Responsible for all Licensing Contract, Legal matters, IP and Trademark requirements- Mange the Product Development and Compliance Teams in UK and China through position of Product Management Director- Factory & Sourcing Strategy Planning for UK and US business divisions.- Accountable for eCommerce Trading and the various Marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon- Amazon Vendor Sales and AMS - including direct import sales for UK and EU.- ERP systems and IT across Global offices, including connectivity to all partners via EDI- Warehouse and building management, including services, HSE, security and CCTV- Setting up EU office in Germany, including 3PL services and Sales Team - ongoing management of the sales office and the EU retailers.- Managing all change projects within the business.- Recruitment and HR Policies - filling roles as we grow and reorganising the business to meet the changing needs of the business and retailer partners.- Work across offices in US and China on business wide project and improvement, including a major project to bring together 3 different businesses into 1 single group (completed in 2023).

England, United Kingdom

Originally a co-founder and owner, CFC is a boutique consultancy based across the North of England providing specialist advice and services to individuals and families about NHS Continuing Healthcare. More specifically, we help people who are paying for this care to stop paying and have the NHS cover these costs instead. We also help recover monies from the NHS should that person have been receiving free NHS Continuing Healthcare already. After 6 years running the business remains one of the unique specialist advisories on this topic and has built a reputation, through its consultants, as a leading name in CHC.

Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Direct TVs - AV & Consumer Electronics & Commercial DisplaysTelecoms - Mobile Devices and MNO PropositionsDrones Direct - Consumer and Commercial UAVsHome Security & CCTV SurveillanceResponsible for all aspects of Sourcing, Importing, Buying and Trading across all channels including B2C, B2B, Wholesale, Retail, Multi-channel, Debenhams Plus & e-commerce Marketplace. Key responsibilities;- Develop and execute the business plan and operational strategy that delivers revenue growth, embeds service into the customer proposition and aligns the key supplier relationship for the future across each of my business units- Support the organizational restructure of web traders into the procurement team to deliver wider collaboration and teamwork- Engage all key suppliers, introduce market leaders into the business as new partners, deliver terms improvements as the business looks to invest in warehouse and distribution as part of its growth plans- Implement reporting and stronger management of product, availability, NPI, excess and clearance to maximize sales and mitigate liability- lead on activity plans, customer marketing and buying trips for range selection

Leeds, United Kingdom

Responsible for two distinct telecoms buying/procurement teams, one team managing the network "Asda Mobile", delivering mobile services to +300k customers in strategic partnership with EE. The second, the retail team for procurement of goods and services sold in stores and on-line, including the dedicated retail 'shop-in-shop' mobile stores.Key responsibilities are;- Delivery of the commercial and contractual management of the agreement between Asda and EE for the Asda Mobile network. Including; Procurement of goods for sale, services for resale, outsourced customer services, revenue validation and integrity, legislation, regulation through OFCOM and the day-to-day management of running a mobile phone network.- Engaging with all senior stakeholders, from account manager through to CEO level.- The procurement strategies for all devices and services sold by both teams- The outsources professional services running the phone shops and the customer services team- Delivery of the customer proposition, the offer, CRM, sales, life-time value and service offering.- Operational management – change projects, key legislation delivery, field sales team – this included the UKs first ever mass change of over 250k customers from Vodafone to EE as we changed host partner, managing the Process, Contract changes, PR, Disruption, Communication to customers and position with OFCOM.- Team development and building of the UK’s 6th largest mobile phone service. Voted as best in class for customers by WHICH? Magazine 2016

Leeds, United Kingdom

Head up Asda's Video Games Buying Team. Covers P&L responsibility for £130m+ annual turnover across 550+ stores and mutli-channel retail. Procurement of all categories including Games Software, Hardware, Accessories, Live Points and Subscriptions services, Pre-order and Pre-owned sales.Key responsibilities include; - Term Negotiations and commercial agreements for all NPI and major releases- Supplier Strategy to grow and develop category plans and extend margins- Managing supplier relationships at senior and board level- Collaboration internally with stakeholders on retail activity and store change programmes- Working internationally with Walmart US and Canada to harmonize on a number of key product launches reducing costs and improving supply. - Events and Promotions, Buying and Forecasting, Stock and Inventory Management, Multi-channel strategy and execution and Team Management and Development.- Delivered a significant improvement in Market Share from 12% to 18% in this category.As a part of this role I sit on the retail advisory board at ERA, helping shape video games retail and the games industry.

Leeds

Senior Buying Manager with full responsibility for the buying and procurement team for a spend budget over £100m. Covering branded and OEM/private label product buying and supplier strategy, range management, NPD/NPI, EOL management, pricing management, supplier risk and mitigation and leading and developing a team both locally and internationally out in china. - Consistent reduction in costs delivering the companies "buy for less" programme- Managing tenders and contracts for supply of goods into the category working with major FMCG manufacturers and brands- Sourcing goods, including bespoke designs on key consumer electronics ranges to compete against branded items - very deep technical understanding required- Procurement of services from key suppliers. Contracting for provision of services for use in stores and with licence holders for use of their IP/Technology in the products sourced- Building a market leading buying team who grew market share in both private and branded categories and established Asda as a major seller in consumer electronics.

Running the retail MVNO 'ASDA Mobile' network for Asda Stores. Responsible for the whole proposition covering the development of the partner network with Vodafone, tariff management, instore ranging and supply chain, customer aquasition, customer services & loyalty, retention and marketing. A hugely challenging and rewarding role developing a business still in start up within a mature retailer environment whist remain new, appealing and different to the everyone else out there selling mobiles.

Buying & supply chain responsibility for the telco network Asda Mobile. Buying Manager and senior member of the 'go to market' team. Lead negotiations of terms and product supply from handset manufacturers and 3PL services such as top up providers, multi-channel retailing and outsourced distribution.

Manager of the Factory Gate Team - negotiation and migration of all Asda's strategic FMCG suppliers logistics over to an in-house Primary Distribution solution. Lowering the cost of goods and the cost of doing business with Asda to enable EDLP

Full responsibility for 180 customer cafes and 320 colleague canteens - P&L, Menu, Supply, Operations. Feeding the Asda customers and keeping the troops marching in store.

Responsible for Retail Operations of Deli, Rotis, Pizza and Cheese across the chain. Implementation of c200 store renewal programme launching rotis, serve over curry pot and china town. Retail standards, operating guides, colleague training and Health and safety.

Asda Graduate Programme holding various retail manager positions in both superstores and hyper-market stores covering Grocery, Fresh, Produce & Admin - specialised in store renewals, closures and new store openings / set-up.

Education (Teaching And Learning) Pgce & Masters, Secondary Education And Teaching, Distinction

Developing Effective Leadership; Managing Learning and Development in Organisations; Education, Society and Development

Business Management, Business Studies

Activities and Societies: Leading and Managing in a Global Environment; Exploring Management and Business Practice; Business Accounting.

B.A. Hons, Geography

Negotiation

Activities and Societies: Strategic negotiation. Negotiation tutor