John Saunders Email and Phone Number

With focus on Footwear and Consumer Healthcare sectors - offering business change, contract and process management services to new and established businesses, UK and International experience.

To evaluate, advise SAFLEC and prescribe actionable plans to help educate, network and identify strategic opportunities for footwear manufacturing companies and brands from South Africa with a goal of growing sales in UK, USA and Europe – www.saflec.co.za;

End of consultancy with Steptronic on contract date 30 June 2020.

On the 28 February 2019 I stood down as CEO of the BFA - I wish the Association, all the Team and the Members all success for the future. I am now looking forward to new finding new challenges and opportunities in change management, international sales and marketing.

The BFA is the voice of British Footwear providing support services and training for our members, management and marketing of British Footwear Brands atteding international footwear exhibitions, development of global trade networks and business links and lobbying Government at UK and EU levels on behalf of the British Footwear Industry.

Sales and Marketing Consultant for Brown Shoe Company USA - August 2007 to December 2012Performing the following “services”:a. Identify brand opportunities and target key customers for the Company’ brands and private label opportunities in the U.K, EU countries and other internal markets. b. Representing the Company in the introduction of business culture, products/ brands, global sourcing, and support infrastructure to potential key retail partners.c. Identifying and introducing the Company to potential distributors in the UK and the EU and Near and Middle East.d. Providing market data and competitor information related to the EU markets.e. Providing strategic and product/ pricing advice for each target market.f. Identify European brands which might be available to add to Company’s license and/or distribution portfolio.g. To provide local input to business planning process to drive increase in the Company’s international business.h. Develop European regional sales budget with P & L responsibility.i. Selling to and managing key house accounts and distribution partners on a day to day basis overseeing brand/ distribution strategy. j. Day to day management of Naturalizer business in UK/ Ireland, France and Germany and Scholl (via SSL/RB) in Europe

Position: European Business Development Director – Footwear - responsible for carrying out a root and branch review of Scholl Footwear business across key European markets including: re-alignment of sales teams, NPD and range development, pricing and inventory control strategies and identifying new national distribution opportunities.

Position: Director of Northern and Eastern Europe – (European Management Board). Responsible for the providing direction and line management for 7 regional directors in Scandinavia, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania & the Balkans. Included secondment to Budapest heading up restructuring team.

Position: Controller of UK Direct Export Responsible for direction of an SSL export sales/marketing team – managing all Company’s brands sold via 3rd party distributors. Responsible for business and brand development of Durex, Scholl foot care, Scholl footwear, SSL OTC's, Marigold Gloves, Seton wound-care products and Biogel surgical gloves in 40 international countries including Russia, GCC, Israel, Middle East, South Africa, Malta and Cyprus

Position: Scholl Export Manager responsible for management 3rd party footwear and footcare distributors in key export markets in the Middle East, Israel, Cyprus, Malta N. Africa and South Africa.

UK Sales Manager - Scholl Footwear responsible UK & Ireland including range selection and pricing strategy, development of annual business plan and responsible for P&L and recruiting and managing agent sales force.

Consultant/ Agent with Scholl Footwear responsible for introduction of brand to key shoe trade customers, providing input to range development and NPD process.

General Manager - Agency Division responsible for UK range and development of distribution teams and strategy acting for 3 leading continental European footwear brand/ manufacturers – including Ara Schuhfabribriken – German Ladies comfort brand.

Regional Sales Manager – Southern England and South Wales for leading UK ladies fashion comfort brand.

Area Sales Manager – South Wales and South-west England for premium UK children’s footwear brand