David Simpson Email & Phone Number

Auckland, New Zealand

Successfully reviewed and renegotiated supply terms for Office Products Depot in several major categories with five key vendors.Successfully researched and assessed total market value of printing and subsequent business opportunities in primary and secondary educational institutions for Blue Star Print

New Zealand Head Office

BLUE STAR BUSINESS SUPPLIES GROUP 1996-2000(General Manager - Procurement)• Blue Star Business Supplies Group Responsible for renegotiating and realigning all purchasing terms for the new enlarged Group• Negotiated $2.6 million savings within 6 months on supplier purchase terms (excluding sister company Croxley Stationery)• Worked very successfully with sister company Croxley Stationery Ltd. to extend the range purchased from them, replacing Croxley's lost business caused by non-Group customer backlash after merger• Retained substantial profit within Croxley to ensure maximum Group EBIT retention• 1998 - Procurement responsibility extended to include Blue Star, Australia • November 2000 - Change of ownership of the New Zealand and Australian businesses from US Office Products to Boise Cascade Office Products.BOISE OFFICE SUPPLIES/OFFICEMAX 2000-2009(General Manager – Procurement)• January 2001 appointed General Manager Group Procurement to head the New Zealand Procurement and Category Management services.• 2001 - grew rebate and “off-invoice” margin by 60% over previous year, and exceeded all budgeted targets by over 30%. • 2002 - substantially exceeded budgeted rebate and “off-invoice” margin (exceeding $15 million)• 2003 - increased rebates by over 30% through improved purchasing terms• 2004 - increased total $ rebates by over 10% on flat sales• 2005 - increased total $ rebates by over 4% on falling sales• 2006 - increased total $ rebates by over 6% on falling sales• 2007 - increased total $ rebates by over 7% on flat sales• 2008 - increased total $ rebates by 9% on flat sales• 2009 - successfully concluded a 6 month project dealing with a significant Australian obsolete stock issue ($5 million, 10,000 SKUs) living in Melbourne working from the Australasian Head Office

Head Office, Auckland, New Zealand

• Initial business NZ$17 million sales, EBIT minus $300K, 10 branches• Successfully introduced computerized invoicing and sales systems for accurate monthly accounting• Introduced new base plus commission remuneration for sales representatives (previously paid a salary)• Quickly corrected purchasing terms imbalance between Whitcoulls (the parent company), and the new Whitcoulls Office Products,(WOP) benefitting both organisations• Introduced importing of stationery items to the office products reseller channel, resulting in significant margin gains. Additionally leveraged much better local purchasing terms as a result.• 1991 - Whitcoulls Group sold to Graeme Hart’s Rank Group• Aligned all purchasing terms of all businesses within the expanded Group to those of Whitcoulls Office Products for maximum benefit• By 1993 - WOP sales had grown generically by 76% to $30 million and NPBT to +$3.5 million (from -$300k)• 1993 - following acquisitions by Graeme Hart, Microtronix and AllenBank Office Products were all successfully and profitably integrated with Whitcoulls Office Products.• 1996 - the business was trading with sales of $66 million, EBIT of $6 million and a staff of 280.• 1996 - Whitcoulls Group purchased by United States Office Products via Blue Star Group

Head Office, Auckland, New Zealand

• July 1967 - founded School Supplies Ltd. with a staff of 4 and capital of NZ$2000• Arranged NZ$40,000 debenture with a potential key supplier of school stationery for initial capital• 1973 - through both generic growth and competitor acquisition, the business was nationally operating in 5 locations with a staff of 30• 1970's hyperinflation (following the oil shock) taught strong and immediate lessons in stock control and cash flow management! Managed successfully • 1980 - recruited a Marketing Manager from a major competitor• 1983 - recruited a Sales Manager from the same competitor• 1983 - commenced importing (1st reseller in industry) taking margins to a new high• 1985 - after 3 consecutive years of rebuffing approaches, sold my Company at my stated price.School Supplies was at that time the clear market leader with 7 branch locations nation-wide and very profitable. Staff numbers were 60.• After the acquisition I continued as CEO• Maintained growth and profitability• Successfully integrated another four regional branches into the network• Took advantage of the new “Tomorrow’s Schools” government programme opportunities by considerably expanding the range• Introduced global importing as an integral part of the sourcing programme• In 1990 nominated my Marketing Manager as my successor