As the Group Commercial Director at Mears Family Funerals, Mears & Jackson, Mears Repatriation, Nationwide Memorials, I am responsible for driving the commercial success and strategic direction of the group. Key achievements include:Strategic Leadership: Spearheading the development and implementation of the company's commercial strategy, aligning business objectives with market trends to ensure sustained growth and profitability.Client-Centric Approach: Focused on enhancing client experience through innovative service offerings and personalised funeral solutions. Implemented customer feedback mechanisms resulting in increased client satisfaction.Operational Excellence: Streamlining internal processes and optimising resource allocation to improve operational efficiency. Introduced cost-effective measures without compromising service quality.Business Development: Proactively identifying and capitalising on new business opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams. Instrumental in expanding the company's market presence and diversifying service offerings.Team Empowerment: Building and nurturing a high-performing team by fostering a culture of collaboration, professional development, and accountability. Encouraging innovation and creativity to address evolving industry challenges.

Identify and pursue new business opportunitiesDevelop and maintain relationships with business stakeholders, including suppliers, trade partners, trade associations etcCooperatively develop and implement marketing strategies for the businessCooperatively develop new products and services to support the growth of the businessConduct periodic market research and analysisCooperatively develop and implement strategies to minimise operating costs and increase profitsAttend conferences and events to promote the businessDevelop and maintain the business’s social media presence

Ensured consistent delivery of the highest levels of service to bereaved families.Developed and enhanced the image of the business in the local community.Grew the business and its reputation consistently through community engagement.Ensured funerals were arranged and conducted to the highest standard.Oversaw the scheduling, co-ordination and management of the smooth running of funerals and the business.Ensured compliance with business processes, procedures and policies.

Appointed General Manager on acquisition of Fibrous Ltd with responsibility for the integration and development of the business as part of the Rowland Brothers’ group of companies. Initially managing a team of four staff at the warehouse premises in Stockport, lead a programme to broaden the product range, identifying and sourcing new products and new markets, overhaul of trade sales website, new corporate identity, product brochure and other marketing collateral. Developed relationships with key suppliers, identifying new suppliers to enhance margins and enter into exclusive UK agent relationships with several overseas suppliers. Most recently oversaw the relocation of the warehouse facilities from Manchester to South London.

Ownership and management of Rowland Brothers Trade, which includes: managing workshop staff, ordering & stock control of coffins/caskets/urns/sundry workshop supplies, invoicing internal clients, processing & dispatch of external orders, liaising and negotiating with suppliers for best value, ordering & stock control of RB head office and branches' stationery requirements, design & production of printed materials, design & production of RB price lists and sales collateral, maintenance of RBT website, maintenance of RBT ebay shop.Ownership and management of Masonry Department and masonry process across the group, which includes: arrange and sell memorials, invoice clients, deal with suppliers, arrange and chase deliveries, deal with complaints, check account enquiries, deal with cemeteries and crematoria, quote and carry out existing contracts, tender for new larger memorial contract works, visit clients and cemeteries / crematoria as appropriate and provide estimates for work, inspect memorial work, negotiate with all third parties.In addition, arrange and conduct funerals where required, support the business by providing officer cover on Saturday and weekend conductors cover and deputise for General Manager and Transport Manager by arrangement.

Developed the firm's wholesale and trade sales operation sourcing and supplying American-style burial and cremation caskets, repatriation coffins, premium Italian-style coffins and cremated remains urns. Achieved year-on-year growth through established client base and development of new direct clients and other trade suppliers and developed successful online retail outlet for cremated remains urns. Also responsible for warehouse and purchase and stock control of coffins, caskets and sundry products. In addition, provided cover as funeral arranger and conductor.

Initially joining as a casual / part-time Chauffeur / Bearer for a Croydon-based independent family-owned funeral directors, I was employed on a full-time basis within two weeks and quickly progressed to hearse driver and Under Foreman.

Various assignments including:Internal PR, Nestle UKBusiness & Consumer PR Account Director, Ash CommunicationsConsumer PR Account Director, Starfish Communications

Co-founded public relations consultancy initially based in West End but quickly relocated to City of London to reflect financial and legal client base. Developed and executed successful public relations campaigns across a wide variety of media in the UK and world-wide for clients that included law firms and barristers chambers, listed companies, charities, individuals, colleges, media.

Designed and produced training courses, conferences and trade missions for East European and Russian business executives covering UK financial markets, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, legal system and telecommunications. Successfully led over 100 delegates on a two-week trade mission to South Africa, arranging meetings with local businesses and politicians.

A small trading house responsible for marketing the production of five fertiliser plants in Ukraine. Responsible for all trade-related documentation, negotiation of against Letters of Credit under Incoterms, assisting Shipping manager with chartering of vessels, developed Access-based system for tracking of train-based shipments and successfully recovered over USD250,000 in demurrage/despatch payments.

Progressing from the trading floor, joined the marketing team responsible for developing the reputation of the Exchange world-wide. Introducing in-house desktop publishing and designed and produced marketing collateral for existing markets and for prospective new markets in collaboration with the business development team. Oversaw integration of marketing function of an acquired exchange and provided support for launch of new derivative markets.