Experienced strategic leader with over 18 years in retail and marketing, specializing in Omnichannel Retail Strategy, Consumer Engagement, and Operational Excellence both DTC and wholesale. I excel at driving cross-functional initiatives, delivering measurable results, and leveraging data-driven insights to challenge the status quo. With a deep understanding of consumer behavior and market trends, I lead innovative initiatives and provide strategic recommendations to senior leaders while fostering inclusive teams and continuous improvement. After completing my bachelor's degree in architecture, I began my career as an Interior Retail Designer at Diesel, transitioned to a Visual Merchandising role at Moncler, and advanced into roles in retail marketing and retail strategy at Nike and Converse. With a solid foundation in retail branding, it was a natural progression to take on more strategic, operational, and commercial roles, broadening my skill set and strengthening my business acumen.
• Led Nike inline retail strategy to align commercial and consumer KPIs across 227 Nike doors (own and franchise) in EMEA with P&L responsibility for owned and partners doors, contributing to FY24 revenue of $700M. • Achieved KPI goals for fleet profitability: increased conversion rate by 2%, traffic by 1ppt, and improved Running and Football category shares of business (SOB) by 20% and 10%, respectively. • Led a team of 2 (Performance Manager and Concept Manager), managed a team of 4 Concept Project Managers to deliver store transformation plans, and headed up 15 cross-functional stakeholders. • Led retail transformation projects for underperforming stores, successfully adapting to consumer needs and market trends, resulting in stores exceeding revenue forecasts (+20%). • Directed fleet expansion efforts, on track to open 200 new doors by FY27. • Co-managed and executed field projects to enhance consumer experience and drive business outcomes, presenting Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to senior leadership. • Deployed global guidelines into EMEA, working closely with leadership to define geo goals, store profitability targets, and multi-year strategic roadmaps. Managed concept test-and-learn initiatives to drive future omnichannel retail efficiency. • Spearheaded Nike Store transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with brand and product strategy while enhancing retail excellence and consumer experience.
• Newly created role on leading Nike's omnichannel strategy across EMEA, leveraging data-driven insights and market trends to create consumer-first initiatives. Driving innovation and challenging existing norms by applying agile methodologies as new way of working. • Directed a portfolio of critical strategic initiatives aligned with organizational goals, overseeing a $40M budget and leading a team of 4 subject matter experts (SMEs). • Led quarterly business reviews (QBRs) for senior leadership, offering strategic insights and data-driven recommendations that influenced key decision-making. • Spearheaded strategy and operations, driving organizational change and transformation initiatives, achieving 100% budget submissions and roadmaps signed on time with a 91% project delivery rate, driving impact across brand, loyalty, and commercial KPIs. • Collaborated cross-functionally to save $100M in discounts through the development of new trade terms guidelines. • Delivered an integrated market strategy focusing on new business models, partner frameworks, sustainability, membership, and connected partnership approaches for Zalando and JD Sport. • Proactively identified and resolved project bottlenecks, ensuring timely delivery of strategic initiatives. • Developed and implemented a data-tracking system using Airtable, resulting in a 10% budget reduction. • Conducted competitive market analysis of digital capabilities, driving insights into strategic initiatives and future planning related to understanding of emerging technologies and their application in business growth.
• Led the creation and execution of distinctive consumer positioning and shopping concepts for wholesale partners like Intersport, Totalsport, and Sportler, driving 10% channel growth across EMEA. • Managed a $4M central budget ensuring efficient resource allocation and operational excellence through innovation and storytelling. Paola Toniato +316 11319724 paola.toniato@gmail.com • Developed tools and communication strategies to monitor and analyse business performance, collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize outcomes. • Led the Space Management program, implementing new E2E concept delivery processes focused on innovation, elevated environments, and investment planning. • Defined and scaled the Nike service program, ensuring sustainable training and enhanced consumer experiences in key stores. • Collaborated with strategic account teams to roll out Proof of Concept projects, creating impactful consumer positioning strategies. • Built and empowered a top-performing SG team, fostering collaboration through initiatives like the SG Summit and SG digital share point to enhance team transparency and efficiency.
• Managed centralized budgets of $1M and team of 1 direct report and 4 matrixed reports. Built role from scratch with key focus on developing stakeholder relationships with Footlocker and JD Sport. • Drove 50% increase in shelves presence in partner doors and inclusion in the marketing agendas for 1 campaign per season both offline and online (previously no campaigns displayed) by building strategic partner relationships. • Led an integrated marketplace offense at sell-in in line with regional commercial strategy and elevated seasonal storytelling by winning at key destinations. • Partnered with Commercial and Merchandising to shape an Account Retail offense for each season offering to best serve regional consumers' needs and trends, delivering engaging (digital) consumer experiences and a tailored marketing strategy per channel/retailer.
• Managed budget of $1M and team of 6 (including Visual Merchandiser Lead, Training Lead and Category Retail Manager) across Prague, Budapest and Zagreb. Oversaw territories including Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia, driving allocation of appropriate resources following concept map and company objectives. • Transformed and empowered underperforming team of 6 by assigning them to a specific category with full territory responsibility resulting in more efficient execution of territory plans and increased business. • Drove Nike Brand to premium positioning and growth of 10% in Central Europe by leveraging Retail Brand Partners resources. • Developed a process for executing renowned strategies in various countries, ensuring NIKE innovations reach consumers creatively and impactfully through retail destination doors. • Supported and oversaw functional integration to ensure premium execution of key seasonal initiatives and delivery of outstanding results. Previous Experience:
Paola was a great leader in the team. She leads with integrity and humanity which makes her inspiring to work with her. Her wide range of experiences means she is equally adapt at leading transformation, managing projects, working with wholesale accounts or partnering with stores. Pleasure to work with!