David White Email & Phone Number

Dubai, Ae

• Spearhead business operations across the GCC, with full P&L responsibility, leading a motivated team through strategic planning, operational excellence, and creative initiatives that consistently achieve business targets.• Lead the Buying, Marketing, and Planning teams, improving cross-functional collaboration and optimizing processes to drive profitability and operational efficiency across all regions.• Led the successful launch of Hamleys PLAY - a unique blend of retail, play, and F&B achievingoverwhelming success and establishing a highly profitable high-EBITDA model for future expansion.• Opened 8 Hamleys stores, including flagship and iconic locations such as Mall of Emirates and Atlantis the Palm, boosting brand presence and market share. Empower teams to deliver exceptional in-store experiences and customer satisfaction.• Fostered a high-performance culture, driving continuous improvement across all operations, resulting in a double-digit YoY revenue growth and enhanced employee engagement

Dubai, Ae

• Led daily operations across the Middle East for Hamleys, focusing on optimizing store performance and driving operational efficiency across stores in The UAE, KSA, Qatar, and Kuwait. Ensured alignment with company strategy through strong leadership and collaboration.• Developed and executed regional operational strategies that optimized business performance, contributing to a 10% increase in profitability and 15% YoY sales growth.• Managed cross-functional teams (operations, buying, planning, merchandising, and marketing) to ensure smooth execution of business goals, streamlining processes, and enhancing store productivity.• Reduced costs by 8% through streamlined operational processes and renegotiated vendor contracts, improving overall profitability and efficiency.• Empowered store managers through structured training and development programs, leading to an increase in employee engagement and fostering a culture of high performance.• Spearheaded operational process improvements, reducing inefficiencies and cutting waste by 12%, contributing to more sustainable store operations.

Dubai, Ae

The Dubai Mall• Delivered measurable success in Hamleys Flagship GCC store, integrating streamlined processes that enhanced operational efficiency and contributed to a 15% increase in overall store productivity.• Conducted team-building initiatives, implemented self-funded incentives, and fostered strong team relationships, resulting in an improvement in team morale and empowering employees to take greaterownership of their roles.• Reversed LFL de-growth despite regional footfall challenges by leveraging KPI-driven insights and collaborating closely with the marketing team, achieving a 15% growth in LFL sales over six months.• Conducted extensive product-level analysis, identifying underperforming categories and implementing customer-centric store enhancements, which led to a 12% increase in footfall and improved overall customer satisfaction.• Achieved positive month-on-month growth for six consecutive months, reversing a downward trend since 2015, and securing a 15% increase in total sales during that period.• Analysed footfall, conversion, and sales mix trends throughout trading hours to identify operational vulnerabilities, leading to optimized staffing and stock allocation, which improved conversion rates by 10%.• Conducted competitor analysis to ensure Hamleys offered a competitive product range, driving strategic pricing decisions that enhanced product availability and resulted in a 7% increase in category sales.• Optimized stock mix by aligning it with sales trends, managing ageing stock, and implementing cyclical count processes, improving inventory turnover by 15% and reducing excess stock by 10%.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Gb

• Led operations across 25 stores, managing a team of 1,000+ employees, including Store Managers, and driving operational excellence that delivered a 12% increase in regional turnover.• Developed and implemented new waste reduction processes for 75 store teams, reducing food waste by 132 tonnes across 96 stores since July 2016, contributing to cost savings of 8% and supporting sustainability goals.• Prepared and delivered in-depth quarterly performance reports to senior management, providing actionable insights that led to an improvement in operational efficiency across the region.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Gb

Upper Tooting• Restructured and reorganized a failing store, achieving 15% sales growth and exceeding payroll forecasts by 10% by the end of the fiscal year.• Spearheaded team development programs across 25 stores, improving service quality and employee morale, resulting in a 15% increase in customer satisfaction scores and higher team engagement.• Appointed Cash/Loss Prevention Manager for 55 stores, leading initiatives that reduced cash loss by 18% and shrinkage by 10%, contributing to improved financial performance and store accountability.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Gb

St James Street• Delivered 10.7% YTD LFL sales growth, with 12.5% in Q3 and 9.6% in Q4, positioning the store as the second-highest performer in the London region by leading a focused strategy on customer engagement and operational efficiency.• Reversed a £45k stock loss in Q1 and Q2 by implementing loss prevention strategies in a high-crime area, including stricter inventory controls and staff training, significantly reducing theft and improving stock management.• Conducted internal lockdown audits for 16 stores, successfully reducing group shrinkage from 1.6% to 1%, improving financial performance and operational accountability across the region.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Gb

Theydon Bois• Managed a £650k investment portfolio, successfully transforming the store into a high-end, upmarket location, resulting in a 45% sales growth in the first six months post-transformation.• Exceeded sales targets by £120k in Q1 and Q2 of 2014 by implementing strategic customer engagement initiatives and optimizing product placement to maximize revenue.• Developed and launched a successful public relations strategy, improving community relationships and driving a 15% increase in footfall, resulting in higher community engagement and stronger brandloyalty.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Gb

Chaseside Southgate• Improved KPIs, including a 10% reduction in shrinkage and 12% increase in sales, leading to a fast-track promotion and full managerial appointment after just six weeks.• Revamped store standards, significantly enhancing customer experience by maintaining a cleaner, more organized, and clutter-free environment, resulting in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Gb

Line Manager / Deputy Manager• Served in various Line Manager roles across multiple departments as well as Deputy Manager in Superstore / Extra format.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Gb