DKB Household is a leading global player in the housewares sector with an extensive portfolio of brands that includes, Cole & Mason, Zyliss, Culinare and Ken Hom. In the UK DKB products are found in almost every major retailer such as John Lewis, Dunelm, Tesco and many more. Our brands have a significant international presence too, stocked in department stores, grocers and independents across Europe, North America, and Asia.Within all our brands there is a common desire to inspire our customers, providing them with first class products based on brand equity, quality, consumer awareness and innovation.

West Design Products is an industry leading manufacturer, importer, distributor and wholesaler of quality art and craft, education, toy and stationery products across the UK and globally. Being the single destination for some of the most acclaimed brands in the industry such as Xcut, Papermania,Faber-Castell, Stephens, Craft Planet, Copic, Stick It!, Anita’s, Noteworthy, Creativity for Kids, Artiste, Colour Shaper and Marabu.As Head of Product I manage a team of 11 including Product Managers, Sourcing Executives and designs based in the UK and Shanghai. From the initial R&D through to manufacturing we successfully launch a range of circa 150 new products every 2 months. Along with our own brands we also develop and launch to market products for a number of well known brands including Hallmark, Roald Dahl, Santoro and Natural History Museum. In addition we also develop own label products for a number of large retailers including The Range, Hobbycraft and Cass Art.https://www.everythingartandcraft.com/docraftshttps://www.westdesignproducts.co.uk

Poolebeck Ltd predominantly design, manufacture and import licenced product and giftware for a number of large, internationally recognised brands. Distribution in the UK and Europe, is facilitated via a network of major multiple retailers, Euro-zone distributors and a number of high profile Mail Order and Internet re-sellers. In addition Poolebeck had a large independent account base within the UK. I joined the company as Director of Product to spearhead the development of the newly acquired global Sanrio brand Hello Kitty. Recruiting and setting up a product development team that successfully launched a range of cosmetic and toiletry products into large retailers that included Boots, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Carte Blanche Greetings are the creators of Me to You, Tatty Teddy, My Blue Nose Friends, Violent Veg, Bobble, and other global brands. It is a multi million pound manufacturer of greetings cards, plush toys, gift and lifestyle products, with international and national distribution in retailers such Clinton Cards, Marks & Spencer, WHSmith and Next.As a Project Manager within the 3D Product Development department, I am responsible for the successful development of plush and gift ranges. As well as researching and initiating new product ideas, my role includes taking product from initial art brief through to production and shipping, whilst meeting critical dates, negotiating with suppliers to achieve target margins and maintaining the brands. During my time with Carte Blanche I have managed large ranges within existing brands as well as having developed and launched new brands. I am also responsible for a small team of Project Managers.Within my role I have travelled extensively across Europe on retail visits as well as presenting new product ranges to our international distributors. I frequently travel to the Far East attending trade fairs, sourcing new products and conducting factory visits in China, Korea and Taiwan. Most recently I spent a month working in Carte Blanche's Hong Kong office conducting an evaluation of the staff and putting working procedures in place.http://www.carteblanchegreetings.com

Tourism South East is the official tourist board for the South East of England, responsible for the development and marketing of tourism within its regions (from Kent to Hampshire, and as far north as Oxfordshire). It works in partnership with SEEDA, industry and local government to encourage tourism growth. As the Design and Production Manager I was required to:* Act as internal 'agency' interface with internal and external clients to create a variety of briefs that constantly deliver high quality and cost-effective creative national and international marketing materials.* Project manage external design agencies, advertisers and printers * Work closely with Marketing Managers to design and deliver communication pieces for marketing contract client.* Manage the consistent implementation and integrity of corporate design guidelines across all media.* Implement, monitor and report on quality control and customer satisfaction * Liaising with and commissioning translators and copywriters* Manage, maintain and constantly renew an online photographic library * Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with internal and external clients to ensure that their expectations are always achieved and wherever possible exceeded. * Maintain professional working relationships with suppliers to deliver high quality and cost-effective print and production services, to schedule and on budget.* Proof read and press pass * Purchase all design and print (approx. £1 million per annum budget)* Manage and motivate the production team on a day to day basis