Michael Connell

Leading the Timberland store, factory outlet and e-commerce business.

Leading Crocs Retail / Franchise expansion in Europe

Operationally responsible for 140 stores in Western Europe plus functional responsibility for Russia, the Middle East and south Africa. Total revenues over 1 Mrd. * Defined and Implemented new retail model; hired international staff * Created standard KPI suite, improving profitability by 19% * Improved store staff productivity by 40 % * Built Real Estate team and improved first year profitability by 60%

* Achieved above market trend comparable sales gains of 6% and profitability of 12% despite global financial crisis * Re-focused demoralised head office team on key financial priorities, reducing head office overhead costs by 7% * Developed store portfolio segmentation strategy, including new, more commercial store format. * Launched review of merchandising strategy in owned stores, 20% article reduction and 10% better stock turn

Operating as an independent consultant through the Gerson Lehrman Group Council of Advisors, provided insight of European retail matters with special focus on athletic footwear and apparel retail and brands. Clients included retail companies, investment houses and press organisations

Responsible for strategy, website development, implementation and P&L of online presence; staff of 11 specialists. * Launched e-commerce site in five months, starting from initial planning, including hiring new team. Site went live on schedule and 10% under budget * Achieved sales of 9% over budget; profit 10% better than budget

Responsible for providing business-critical IT support to 400 stores and HQ; leading a team of 7 people. * Led strategic alignment, system modification, implementation and roll out of a new core retail platform into all stores, allowing smooth conversion to the Euro and reducing in store administrative hours by 15% * Reduced telecommunications costs by 10%, while improving service and availability

Responsible for identifying inefficiencies, then building cross-functional, international teams to accomplish critical strategic and tactical projects to address those inefficiencies. * Led design, build and implementation of new European distribution centre, including new management software, reducing logistics costs by 30% and time-to-store by 20% * Designed and built European flagship store on London’s Oxford Street * Created and implemented new vendor standards manual

Responsible for locating, sourcing and building new store locations. Managed and allocated a US$ 3 Mio capital budget; leading a 12 person team. * Opened 20 profitable locations in one year, against a plan of 18 locations * Led the move of the real estate function from the UK to the Netherlands, whilst maintaining budgeted store opening pace

Responsible for Merchandise Planning, Buying, Allocation and Logistics; leading a team of 30 people. * Achieved growth of 150 basis points in gross margin, double digit comparable sales growth and 20% improvement in inventory turn

Responsible for Merchandise Planning and Allocation for all 1500 North American stores (USA, Canada, Mexico); leading a 75 person team. * Improved stock turn by 20% over two years

Responsible for a US$ 1.2 billion annual open to buy budget. * Gross margin improved by 150 basis points through more focused buying strategy

Began as Merchandise Allocator in corporate office and was promoted to various roles over time, including Senior Merchandiser, Associate Buyer and Assistant VP Distribution