Dr. Phil Smith

Experience

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  Asda

  Jan 1977 - Jan 1981

  Store Management
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  B&Q

  Jan 1981 - Jan 1988

  District Manager

  In 1981, approached by B&Q to open and manage the first ever store in Liverpool, and then managed and developed a region across Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire with a great deal of local autonomy.A member of the 1983 ATT study team selected by the main board to work with IBM on the introduction of EPOS and Inventory Management. Subsequently co-authored a store staff function review report that was accepted by the main board and recommendation implemented company wide.

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  SHV - Makro UK

  Jan 1988 - Jan 1997

  Regional Director

  In 1992, created and established the north region from Aberdeen to Nottingham, Belfast to Hull with annualised sales of c. £500m and a staff of 4,000. Developed trading policy in addition to business development, new stores including the first store in Ireland (Belfast) and £multi-million store refurbishments. Previously managed Washington and, the flagship, Manchester store.A member of SHV Makro Global Chairman's Development Group 1995.

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  Finelist Group plc

  Jan 1997 - Jan 1999

  Managing Director, Maccess Group

  Headhunted by Finelist soon after they acquired Maccess, the UK's leading automotive 'cash & carry' and supplier of automotive and related products to both smaller independents and major retailers across the UK. Annualised sales of c. £100m. Over this two year period ROS was improved to 10%.After buying Maccess at the beginning of 1997, Finelist sold the company towards the end of 1999 for £60 million, the best price they got for any business they bought and sold.

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  Saint-Gobain

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2005

  Managing Director, Platform

  Approached by Saint-Gobain to set-up a new 'retail' format in the UK, based on a concept (La Plateforme) trading in France. With a high degree of local autonomy, directed and managed the project from a “virtual concept” into a £50m trading business. The first store opened in Birmingham July 2002. At over 70,000 sq. ft and up to 20,000 products under one roof with retail merchandising techniques and a culture of service excellence.Platform was recognised in research by "Retail World", November 2003 as the most innovative concept development in the UK. Show less

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  Hagemeyer UK

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2008

  COO, Newey & Eyre and Hagemeyer Main Board Member

  Newey & Eyre is the largest operating unit of Hagemeyer UK, with sales of £500m through a network of 180 branches serving SMEs, utility companies and public-sector customers with electrical parts and supplies. 2100 employees. In 2008, the global business of Hagemeyer was acquired by Rexel in a $4.6bn hostile takeover.

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  Self-employed

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2020

  Various Projects

  Working with business leaders, and academics across global higher education institutions.

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  University of Chester

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2016

  Retail and Sector Related Topics

  • Visiting Research Fellow

    Jan 2013 - Jan 2016

  • Guest Lectures & Consultancy Project

    Jan 2011 - Jan 2013
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  National Skills Academy for Retail

  Jan 2013 - Aug 2014

  Lead Retail Mentor

  Retained as Lead Retail Mentor. Recruited and managed a team of highly experienced (Grey4Gold) retail mentors on this Welsh Government project. Just over 100 independent retailers mentored. I was subsequently retained to mentor retailers in Liverpool and Ellesmere Port.

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  University of Chester

  Sept 2019 - now

  The International Centre: Research Methods & Study Skills. Business School: MSc Dissertation Lead Supervisor.Past Teaching Experience: International Business Operations, Leadership and Change Management, Strategic Management, Contemporary Issues in Business and Management, International MBA Dissertation Supervision. Research Methods, Intercultural Communication.

  • Visiting Lecturer

    Jan 2013 - now

  • Accredited PGR Supervisor

    Mar 2020 - now

  • Senior Lecturer in International Business and Management

    Sept 2019 - Oct 2021