James Telford Email & Phone Number

Al Khobar, Eastern, Saudi Arabia

Schmidt produces the benchmark for Abrasive Blasting Equipment; their Equipment Cost Saving performance in terms of Abrasive Usage, Fuel consumption in supporting equipment, Efficiency & Productivity of the Blasting Operation is unmatched in the marketplace.• My responsibilities cover the Manufacture and Sales of Abrasive Blasting Equipment and Ancillaries, from two manufacturing facilities in Malaysia & Saudi Arabia into the Southeast Asia & MENA Regions.• Obtained all the necessary Licenses to operate in Saudi Arabia.• Negotiated with the existing Saudi partner to buy out his shares and convert the company to 100% foreign owned.

Chon Buri, Thailand

CJ Advisory Company Limited, Thailand.Managing Partner October 2018 to July 2023I set up this boutique Advisory company to initially support the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand with existing and new UK companies needing support in Thailand, Covid curtailed these activities, so I moved onto facilitating discussions with companies in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain relating to pre ignition fire safety sensors, Aquaponic produce growing and the recruitment of Thai labour, additionally I set up a Hemp farm for the production of CBD Oil.

Al-Riyadh Governorate, Saudi Arabia

Lemal Holdings was set up in 2015 to manage the business portfolio held by senior members of the Saudi Royal Family.Represented the Board of Directors; carried out full strategic review of the business portfolio, divested the Company of unprofitable businesses with no further growth potential, whilst directing future strategy for others, evaluated potential new enterprises to add to the Group.• Worked with the business CEOs to review budgets, set KPIs, reduce Cost of Goods and improve processes, those businesses included.o Spring Water Plants in Egypt & Lebanon.o Greenfield site in Egypt for the manufacture of Rigid Plastic Products. o Rigid Plastic Products manufacturer in Riyadh.o Plastic Compound manufacturer in Riyadh.o Airline Baggage Handling Company in Riyadh.• Presented proposals to bring the following businesses into Saudi Arabia under the IKTVA initiative.o Manufacture of Reinforced Thermal Pipe for ARAMCOo High quality spring water (PH9.4) to add to the existing Spring Water Business LEMAL already has in Egypt & Lebanon.o ARAMCO-approved Indian Company to set up Filter manufacturing for Gas Turbine Electrical Generators.o Large European Company to supply armaments and ammunition to the Saudi MOI / MODo Largest global supplier of Personal Ballistic & Stab Protection Equipment to supply the Saudi MOI / MODo UAE Company to introduce Cash in Transit Vehicles, Building Security, Smart Bathrooms and Airport Security Monitoring Systems to Saudio Bahrain Company for ‘Waste to Energy’ projects in Bahrain and Saudio Chinese Company to manufacture (partial) ‘Smart Meters’ for Saudi Electricity Company

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Head-hunted to tackle a ‘Save or Close’ opportunity with one of the foremost producers of three-piece tin plate cans in the GCC with a $50M turnover, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Al Ghurair Group, Dubai.• Devised a strategy to change the business product portfolio and significantly increase turnover. • Achieved significant improvement in COGs, turning a business loss in 2016 into potential gain in 2017.• Brought stability to the Company, ensuring existing assets utilised to their full potential.• Introduced new revenue streams, identified the investment plans, and grew the business.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Held full P&L responsibility and maintained NAFCEL’s position as the largest producer of can ends for the Beverage Can Industry through continuous product innovation, first class Supply Chain methodologies, delivering unequalled quality which is competitively priced to industry OEMs – Crown, Ball/Rexam, PepsiCo, Coke Cola, and Heineken.• Oversaw a significant increase in capacity by expanding original facility and installing state-of-the-art Can End manufacturing equipment, overachieved in sales turnover vs budget in 2015.• Introduced diversified products to the existing product portfolio.

Thailand

Appointed to deliver a key project to set up a manufacturing Centre of Excellence for medium voltage ring main units to act as a springboard for Lucy Switchgear’s new business venture in the ASEAN and surrounding countries.• Delivered the project within project timelines despite it being 3 months behind when I took over the project.• Secured a manufacturing facility in a ‘Free Zone’ and Thai Bureau of Investment labour zone to ensure no import / export duties to surrounding countries.• Led project team to obtain approval by Thai Bureau of Investment and gained an 8-year corporate tax holiday.• Obtained ‘Operations Start-Up and ‘Free Zone’ Customs Import Licenses• Ran the Company as General Manager until a permanent candidate was appointed

Al Khobar Saudi Arabia

As CEO, I held full P&L responsibility for Saudi Lucy which was a Joint Venture between Lucy Switchgear in the UK and a Riyadh based Saudi National, I then led the Shares buy out of the Saudi partner to transform the company into a 100% foreign owned company with an annual turnover of $95m.• Significantly increased turnover in 2010 despite major reductions in product prices• Set up 100% foreign owned company to replace the JV.• Simplified existing Supply Chain processes to achieve a major reduction in inventory value.• Secured a new facility and led the fit out to manufacture MV RMUs.• Designed the marketing strategy based on corporate growth plans via relationships with Saudi Electric Company, ARAMCO and private construction companies/consultants.• Recruited the sales team for 3 major KSA regions; set targets in line with marketing plans.• Extended and aligned the product portfolio by building strategic alliances, joint ventures and successful product qualification processes within Saudi Electric Company and ARAMCO

Dammam, Saudi Arabia

The GCC’S biggest independent manufacturer of Aerosol, Food, Paint metal and plastic containers.Based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia and producing a variety of packaging solutions, I was responsible for the day-to-day Operational activities including Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Technical & Quality; my role was to improve the business performance of the existing facilities – three in Dammam and one in Dubai and in parallel project manage the construction of a new factory in the Techno Park area of Dubai. Proactive team member who successfully led the operational solution presentations to key customers Nestle, Kraft & Reckitt Benckiser who were investing in new facilities in Dubai and Bahrain. Winning these projects improved business turnover from 160m SAR ($42m) in 2006 to a projected 400m SAR ($110m) by the end of 2008. Project Management of the construction of a new factory in the Techno Park area of Dubai including the installation of the new capital equipment required to support the new demand. Presented ‘the Re – Engineered Supply Chain” to the top twenty customers who were 80% of the business turnover and introduced a “Replenishment System” driven by Kan Bans which was financially underwritten by the customers and targeted at 100% QOTIF (quality product, on time, in full) Identified Operational KPI’s to measure and drive through internal Business and Operational improvements. Introduction and implementation of World Class manufacturing methodologies including, Six Sigma, Kan Bans, FIFO, Kaizen, SMED, 5S. to drive the KPI’s. Material and Product rationalization then standardization which have driven a 5% reduction in the Cost of Goods.

MIF is a privately owned Midland based company manufacturing filters primarily for Hoover & DysonBrought in by the business owner to mentor his senior management team whilst the business underwent a major change specifically; reducing / closing the UK manufacturing facility and outsourcing from China.

Portsmouth, United Kingdom

Spaform was one of a number of companies owned by Hawtin plc, I led the MBO team that purchased Spaform from Hawtin, Spaform was Europe’s biggest Hot Tub and Spa manufacturer based at Portsmouth with a business turnover of $25m

USC was the global leader in the manufacture and sales of aerosol cans. As the UK Business Director, I had full P&L responsibility for the UK businesses based in Southall West London and Merthyr Tydfil South Wales with a sales turnover of $90m employing 500 employees.

USC invested $45m in a Greenfield site in Merthyr Tydfil, my responsibility was to oversee the investment and start up the Greenfield operations producing aerosol cans specifically for Gillette

Headhunted by Heidrick & Struggles to join Johnson Controls who is the Global leader in the supply of first tier products to OEM’s in the Automotive Industry; my responsibilities covered the Commercial and Operational management of the Metal Car Seats Structures Division based in Telford in Shropshire, with a sales turnover in excess of $150m across three manufacturing sites employing 800 employees.

Wilkinson Sword was the second largest Shaving product manufacturer and supplier in the Global market; my responsibilities covered the Operational management of the UK Shaving product facility at Cramlington in Northumberland along with the Sword manufacturing facility at Acton in West London

Electrical Higher National Certificate (Hnc)

Top Gun - Training Course For High Potential Employee'S

Thunderbirds Course "Negotiations In The Global Market"

Certificate In Management Studies

Maths, English, Physics & Tech Drawing