Robin Gray Email & Phone Number

Columbus, Ohio, US

Leveraging a career of Planning and Allocation leadership to assist retailers (such as Target, The Children's Place, Five Below, and Urban Outfitters) in their ongoing transformation. Creating innovative approaches to help improve their business processes, from moving inventory through a multi-tier supply chain to optimal deployment to stores and.

Houston, TX, US

• Strategic and innovative leader, and key member of the executive team, who created the Merchandise Planning and Location Planning functions from scratch. Re-engineered the Allocation and Merchandise Operations.
• Drove 7 consecutive quarters of record margin through disciplined inventory management; reduced peak inventory by 25%.
• Built high-performance Merchandise and Store/Location Planning functions.
• Integrated e-commerce and store to create an omni-channel Planning and Allocation function with shared enterprise inventory.
• Instituted localization to align product strategies with customer demand on a store-by-store basis.
• Designed and implemented innovative and integrated Merchandise and Location planning processes to drive inventory efficiency and margin growth.

Columbus, Ohio, US

Transformed Merchandise Planning from start-up to mature state. Redesigned planning methodology and implemented JDA Enterprise Planning to support new processes. Created alignment process with VP – Finance to ensure that merchandise strategies support corporate growth plans. Co-developed with VP – Allocation a process to balance store capacity needs with.

New York, New York, US

Developed planning process to align with the design cycle. Changed planning paradigm to focus on driving sales and margin. Optimized Supply Chain visibility by integrating logistics function into allocators' role. Managed four 3rd party distribution centers. Coordinated efforts of international and domestic shared-services logistics teams. Created.

US

• Built Planning function at new Martin & Osa division. Integrated start-up into existing corporate business processes, adapting them to fit much smaller-sized division.
• Developed a streamlined planning process to better align to division's limited resources.
• Coordinated merchandise plans with CFO to ensure they met financial goals.
• Created assortment plans for the launch.
• Collaborated with IT to develop systems implementation strategy.

Toronto, Ontario, CA

• Partnered with president to implement company's repositioning strategy. Implemented advanced Merchandise Planning processes. Re-aligned Merchandising processes to support monthly floor-sets. Upgraded Allocations.
• Implemented monthly planning cycle to maintain plans current with merchandise strategy.
• Introduced cross-functional weekly merchandise meetings to review performance.
• Re-engineered allocation methodology to optimize use of inventory.
• Coordinated with CFO to ensure merchandise plans are consistent with corporate financial goals.
• Analyzed AE sales to understand parallels and differences between U.S. and Canadian markets.

Pittsburgh, PA, US

• Starting as Sr. Director of Planning with 5 planners, built a P&A team of 82 that included Merchandise Analytics, Price Management, PO Management, and Systems Administration in support of growth from $300m to $1.5B..
• Developed methodology to support growth from a 300-store regional retailer to 700+ store national retailer.
• Established planning cycle and processes, and implemented Arthur Planning system in support.
• Partnered with VP – Marketing on launch of ae.com e-commerce business.
• Developed and implemented Planning and Allocation approach to launch AE Canada.
• Implemented inventory management disciplines that enabled company to achieve highest-ever margin rates, thus achieving record earnings.

Created a Merchandise Planning function while implementing the JDA Arthur Planning suite and upgrading Island Pacific. Partnered with the liquidators to wind down the company after 2 years in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Bachelor’S Degree, Computer Science

Leadership Development