James Garner Email & Phone Number

Galway, Ie

SourceDogg is a SaaS supply chain management company that connects businesses to their supply chain. SourceDogg collects, unifies data, making processes and workflows smoother ensuing supply chain compliance.

London, London, Gb

Joined at the concept stage of an innovative wellness and travel initiative to revolutionise the market.• Led initial team formation and structuring for product development• Established structured product processes within the team• Developed the initial strategy and product backlog using commercial and user research insights• Facilitated the commercial marketing of the prototype.

London, Gb

International home improvement company, £13.1bn sales, 1,980 stores, 82,000 employeesJoining Kingfisher initially within their innovation business, then moving over to a more corporate digital business function concentrating on rollout, strategy and management. Main aspects of the role encompass:• Responsible for the long-term vision across cross-functional feature teams• Roadmap management• Stakeholder engagement at all levels (inc. international)• Drive key KPIs; improve speed to launch, data quality and automation• Product owner/ team development and management• Leading multiple feature teams to deliver exceptional results across multiple OpCos• Adherence to SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) principles and methodology Highlights include:- Launched the B&Q Gardens app with plant identifier (500K+ downloads in first 6 months)- Accelerated online sales growth by 3rd party SKU volume capacity, enabling Marketplace presence (year 1 £190M gross market value)- Launched 3D planning design tool (bathrooms) for consumer/colleague- Launched product configurators (to aid complex product journeys), resulting in 25% sales uplift- Managed online appointment booking rollout – initially for in-store, but also virtually during COVID. - Created the career progression framework for the product function

London, Gb

UK’s 2nd largest Supermarket, £30.96bn sales, 1,400 stores, 190,000 employeesWorking within the “Entertainment on Demand” division, eCommerce apps and website selling eBooks, VOD, MP3s and Digital Magazines. Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Responsible for product strategy for the website (primarily admin/CMS) and mobile apps• Continually breaking down longer-term strategic objectives into prioritised, deliverable units of work• Extensive conceptualisation and wireframing• Heavy involvement in the approvement of product deliverables• Management/facilitation of customer insight, NPS and A/B testing & F2F customer usability interviews• Management of outsourced, overseas agency for app-build and incremental improvements (including accessibility). Facilitated the move to run development in-houseHighlights included:- Launched the eBook reading app (800K+ downloads in first 6 months)- Launched the updated video-on-demand website, incorporating single-sign-on and Nectar loyalty scheme for seamless customer experience and data collection- Lead Product Manager for Agrihack (Hackathon), to bring technology solutions to early stages of supply chain ultimately enabling “Farm to Fork” accountability- Spearheaded Agile working practices within Sainsbury’s

Torino, It

Anobii Ltd, trading as “eBooks by Sainsbury’s”, was a Sainsbury’s majority-owned eBook eCommerce platform and app. The business is operated away from Sainsbury’s headquarters to maintain a start-up culture to ensure continuous innovation. Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Engaging with publishers• Management of an outsourced overseas agency for app-build and incremental improvements (including accessibility)Highlights included:- Introducing and promoting Agile practices into the wider Sainsbury's business

London, Gb

International magazine publishers with UK operating business, now part of Future Publishing Managed the digital “Inspire: Men & Music” division (NME, Uncut, Wallpaper, Nuts, Mousebreaker, Feelgood Games and What’s On TV).Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Managing a team consisting of product managers, developers and designers and working closely with multi-disciplinary teams from throughout the wider business• Utilising strong leadership skills and in-depth product knowledge to work with each brand in the portfolio on the development of their digital strategies and roadmap• Working with brands to develop products, managing through to launch and for the duration of their lifecycle, whilst continuously measuring and validating against stringent KPIs • Using the Agile (Lean) Kanban project management toolkit• Extensive use of MVT and A/B testing tools to determine correct solutions and direction• Conceptualising and wireframingHighlights included:- Implementation of a paywall solution- Site gamification resulting in reduced average monthly churn rate (17% to 4%)- Creation of a core (super) user proposition

London, Gb

Hearst UK publishes some of the world’s most recognised magazine brands including Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Good Housekeeping. Heading up the Production Department of Hearst Digital, ensuring the success of Hearst’s online properties. Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Employed Agile project management techniques whilst overseeing strict business and commercial requirements according to pre-defined SLAs and roadmap objectives• Managed commercial projects from inception to build and delivery• Managed usability and performance enhancements• Directed implementation of online processes and change management systems to satisfy Sarbanes Oxley requirements and reduce business risk• Supervised post-launch development and support, ensuring maximum up-time and fast response to issues• Managed outsourced supplier relationships• Advised on other areas of online strategy through cross-functional steering groups• Excellent record in individual and team management and development• Introduced measurable KPIs to monitor progress and ensure deviations were quickly identified• Corporate Environmental Board memberHighlights include:- Directed the corporate video strategy, successfully extending the average time spent on site per user- Successfully led the re-launch of cosmopolitan.co.uk, allaboutyou.com, getlippy.com and 30daysoffashion.co.uk. Cosmopolitan increased six-fold page impressions recorded prior to the re-launch

London, Gb

Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Responsible for the digital Hearst brands in a non-sales role• Project managed the building of new infrastructure, participating in all aspects of site launch• Managed the company’s 600+ domains and IP, advising on compliance and domain protection in line with company trademark policyHighlights included:- Integral part of the re-launch team for handbag.com in 2007 (formerly one of the UK's biggest female destination sites with over 1.5 million monthly unique users and 23 million page impressions)- “Eagle Award’ for Central Department of the Year in 2007

London, Gb

Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Organising and running workshops and seminars to bring about a company culture shift to embrace digital publishing • Worked with multi-level teams achieving cross-promotional objectivesHighlights included:- Co-led and project-managed the initial launch of the full editorial sites for cosmopolitan.co.uk, babyexpert.com, youandyourwedding.co.uk, goodhousekeeping.co.uk and countryliving.co.uk- Sole project manager for the re-launch of menshealth.co.uk onto group platform- Introduced video production workflow into the company

London, Gb

Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Managed site developments with agencies, including amendments and new builds• Direct involvement in and accountability for sales (mostly direct to clients) • Oversaw the design and production of house ad pages for web products within the magazinesHighlights included:- Creation of a business case to enable the recruitment of a small team led by me to project manage Hearst UK's microsites' portfolio ongoing roadmap- Created strategy for internal marketing and training for all our sites

London, Gb

Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Responsible for day-to-day running of sites – technically and editorially • Responsible for the sites’ commercial interests• Collated, analysed and reacted to site statistics and ad-tracking • Designed and sent out HTML emails to opt-in subscriber base • Upon client request and brief, designed and produced online ad creativesHighlights included:- Increased registrations by 400% through promotion, contra-initiatives and viral campaigns

London, London, Gb

The PPAi was the interactive arm of the Professional Publishers Association which focused on online issues, setting standards and acting as a united voice to the government (UK and EU). Elected Chair of this body for a 2-year tenure within my Hearst UK position. The role encompassed: • Representing the PPAi on the AOP board (Association of Online Publishers)• Promoting consumer magazines online across the media industry and influencing policy and direction, often quoted by the trade pressHighlights included:- Chairing the PPAi conference interactive days to an audience of 400+

Hamburg, Hamburg, De

Gruner & Jahr is a magazine publishing company owned by Bertelsmann AG. The UK operation was purchased by Hearst UK in 2000.Main aspects of the role encompassed:• Liaised with client and agency personnel working with the sales team• Designed, researched and prepared creative sales presentationsHighlights included:- Project managed the launch of the company's first internet site

Ba (Hons), Business Admin (Maj Marketing)

Business Analysis Essentials

Dipm, Dip. Marketing

Hnd, Business Studies

Btec, Business Studies

Gcse