GREG DAVISLondon, United Kingdom

+44(0)7747 765551 gregjohndavis@hotmail.com

CAREER SUMMARY

I am an experienced senior retail manager, specialising in international franchising, with a background in UK store management and merchandising.I have a good knowledge of franchising in the Middle East, India, South East Asia and Europe and I understand the legal, operational, logistical, commercial and financial elements necessary to take UK brands overseas.I am practiced in mobilising cross-functional groups to achieve success and I can operate at both strategic and operational levels, with a proven track record of planning international strategy, launching brands globally and driving sales growth in overseas operations in brand-protected and well managed stores. I have worked with both luxury and mid-to-premium brands in most areas of clothing and apparel, including women’s fashion, lingerie, menswear, childrenswear, homeware, footwear and accessories .I have strong partner relationship skills with the ability to influence Boards and direct senior management teams across multi-cultural environments.

HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MOSS BROS GROUP PLC 2014-15

Launched Moss Bros, a well-known men’s formalwear brand which previously only operated in the UK, into the Middle East and Channel Islands through a franchise model.

Prepared the process and critical path for the launch overseas and communicated and shared the vision with all internal stakeholders.

Created and delivered the work programme covering operations, finance, logistics, buying & merchandising, marketing and IT, necessary for international trading.

Identified a shortlist of potential launch territories and set up the partner selection process and found initial partners.

Implemented the IP & Trademarks for the chosen territories. Planned and negotiated the commercial and financial models. Drew up the Legal Agreement with an external Law Firm and prepared the additional key legal

documents. Produced a Franchise Operating Manual to help the franchise partners to manage the day to day

operational activities and to protect the Moss Bros Brand. Signed Franchise Agreements with partners for the Channel Islands (Sandpiperci) and the UAE (Retail

Arabia) and managed the successful opening of the new overseas stores.

HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISING, THOMAS PINK 2011-2014

Took over at very short notice the role. Planned and delivered an International Growth Strategy. Increased retail sales from £10.5m to £14.0m, shipments from £3.5m to £4.5m and store numbers from

37 to 54 in eighteen months. Prepared all Franchise Contracts and negotiated commercial terms with both new partners and current

partners on renewals. Coordinated all activities relating to the operations of the 5 existing Thomas Pink franchise operations

(UAE, Australia, Mexico, Hong Kong and China), including the opening of new stores, coordinating the activities of other key departments - store design, finance, merchandising, marketing, logistics and retail operations.

Responsible for the financial performance (P & L) of Thomas Pink’s franchise operations.

Responsible for the wholesale arrangements with Nordstrom in the USA, amongst others. Established and managed the relationship with global franchise operators whilst ensuring compliance

with all aspects of The Franchise Agreement and The Franchise Operations Manual. Maintained franchises’ pricing and margin matrices (both retail and FOB cost prices) recognising local

country local market and regulatory conditions. Oversaw buying process and stock delivery schedules in partnership with merchandising teams to achieve

agreed store ranges and layouts. Organised bi-annual Franchise Selling Events. Negotiated and launched the brand in new territories setting up franchise partnerships in India,

Indonesia, The Philippines, Panama and South Africa and re-negotiated an expired Middle East Franchise Agreement.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, JOHN LEWIS PLC 2008-2011

Developed a solution for a future John Lewis international franchise operation. Produced the legal framework and draft documentation for international franchising including The

Franchise Agreement, Operating Principles, Employment Guidelines and Commercial Terms & Conditions. Worked with the IT & Systems team to produce a commercially and operationally effective international

systems solution. Planned the physical distribution and logistics process, including identifying the export master data

requirements. Worked with the buying, merchandising and finance teams to design the commercial and financial

models. Planned the management information deliverables and processes. Oversaw the project plan and coordinated the activities of both internal and external specialists in buying

and merchandising, logistics, IT & Systems, HR, legal and finance.

INTERNATIONAL AREA MANAGER, MARKS & SPENCER PLC 2004-2008

Fully responsible for the delivery of over £100m shipments (retail sales of £200m) and profit of £20m across 100 stores in 7 countries.

Managed the M&S business relationship with PT Mitra Group (Indonesia), Robinsons Group (Singapore & Malaysia), Central Group (Thailand), Rustans (Philippines), Sung Joo International (South Korea) and Pantaloons (India).

Doubled retail sales in the Asia Pacific region over 3 years through driving operational effectiveness, store size and brand standards throughout the portfolio.

Established strategic objectives for each market using the levers of margin, price & brand and setting and achieving demanding sales, service and profit targets.

Analysed franchisee business models and identified opportunities for improvement through the creation of individual Business Plans to achieve shared goals by setting merchandising and pricing strategies in line with their local marketplace.

Responsible for the strategic and operational development of each country to maximise the sales and profitability of both M&S and the Franchisees.

Managed the successful opening of new stores and store modernisations. Ensured the protection of the Marks & Spencer brand through compliance with the Legal Agreement and

Trading Terms and Conditions.

COUNTRY MANAGER MARKS & SPENCER PLC 2000-2004

Managed the most profitable and demanding franchise of the Marks & Spencer international portfolio (Marinopoulos Group in Greece).

Increased sales from £28m to £55m the opening of new stores and driving like for like business through better cataloguing, pricing and stock management.

Also managed other business partners and countries throughout Central Europe and the Mediterranean.

PREVIOUS ROLES IN MARKS & SPENCER PLC

TRAINING MANAGER COMMERCIAL CONTROLLER SALES DEVELOPER OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT, ISRAEL MERCHANDISER SALES DEVELOPER STORE MANAGEMENT

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

B.Sc. Honours Degree, Economics and Commerce - The University of Southampton. ‘A’ levels in Economics and French - Haberdashers Aske's School, Elstree. Member of MENSA.