Markus Winkler

I had full ownership for the DACH region (B2C and B2B) with its P&L, commercial and marketing strategy as well as accountability for customer excellence and operational best-practice. The role was created following the merger of Photobox and albelli into the leading personalised on-demand photo printing business in Europe. It was a key driver of a far-reaching strategic and operating model transformation, which included factory relocations and a comprehensive integration of functions, brands and tech platforms. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Delivered strong double-digit sales growth across key categories after shaping and completing a major re-platforming programme on time and budget, including a full review and change of IT infrastructure, tools, manufacturing processes, brand portfolio, product catalogue and UX; • Increased contribution margin against a difficult market backdrop by devising and following a new price benchmarking framework and shifting marketing spend towards more effective channels • Achieved the highest customer NPS (70+) of all group brands thanks to improvements in delivery communication, a strict focus on manufacturing excellence and improved customer service processes

I was responsible for budgeting, pricing and channel marketing of the group's leading German brand posterXXL in the context of centralisation of previously local functions. Steering this change from the outset, I drove a reset of the brand's positioning and trading & merchandising strategy as well as an org re-design, with the long-term aim of streamlining the business to reduce complexity and increase profitability. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Successfully established and remotely led an entirely new team at the start of the Covid pandemic and incorporated it into wider Group structures, ensuring the smooth running of day-to-day operations • Delivered a record sales year (€70m in 2020/21) by optimising marketing and promotional activities to capitalise on the Covid-induced boom in photo products • Grew brand awareness to 90% by sharpening the brand USPs, conceiving a refreshed visual identity and tone-of-voice and driving the launch of a Gifting range which increased relevance with the target audience

I was consulting blue-chip clients on multi-channel transformation and product launches as well as leading projects improving organisational design and capability in sales & marketing. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Helped a Financial Services firm accelerate their multi-channel transformation by using diagnostics to assess change readiness, identifying gaps & solution options and jointly defining a change roadmap • Supported a client’s multi-billion Dollar product launch by developing a bespoke success profile for their sales & marketing function and providing guidance on recruitment and development focus areas

I was in charge of driving Marks & Spencer’s international growth vision by developing the brand’s customer-centric strategy for 30+ European markets (revenue £500m/year). This included conducting market & customer research, executing market launches, creating annual marketing plans & budgets, setting and measuring KPIs, and planning full-funnel marketing initiatives. I also led in-country marketing teams (combined headcount: 40) within a matrix organisation. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Contributed to significant profit growth of the international business by managing a comprehensive and sensitive market consolidation & transformation programme • Increased brand awareness and consideration by +12% and +9% respectively and improved customer loyalty by carrying out and acting upon findings of extensive consumer research • Facilitated cross-functional alignment and operational improvements by launching a new business planning & stakeholder engagement process and organising brand conferences for over 100 attendees • Built a strong community of brand managers by hiring, coaching and developing talent across a culturally and operationally complex region and aligning them behind shared brand values and standards

I was responsible for ensuring local brand relevance across the international business by developing key full-funnel campaign concepts and creatives. In addition, I owned the selection and management of strategic suppliers and agencies as well as the creation of brand guidelines. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Drove increased brand relevance by launching the first bespoke international Christmas campaign and developing the marketing scheme for a strategic pricing initiative which led to a 30% increase in sales volumes • Created a more seamless customer journey by supporting a modernisation programme across 90 stores and coaching local teams on global best-practice and POS standards • Achieved significant efficiencies within the £10m marketing budget to free up funds for initiatives with higher ROI by streamlining and simplifying production processes and employing more suitable agencies

I was working within a newly formed department tasked with introducing innovative customer-facing technology solutions. My responsibilities were budget, resource and risk management, process design as well as KPI tracking across the whole function. I also coordinated presentations to the Board and line-managed six analysts. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Drove and accelerated process adoption across a fast-growing department which developed 20 new mobile & online applications and launched retail touch screens in 400 stores, delivering over 10% of total e-comm sales • Met profitability targets by rigorous management of the departmental budget of over £2m and developing a KPI framework balancing agile ways of working with concrete financial objectives • Supported the successful integration of over 30 innovation projects into BAU by designing and gaining buy-in for new business processes

I was working on-site with outsourcing clients, providing business development and sales support as well as managing project requests & prioritisation, resource management, contract development & negotiation. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Provided an incremental revenue stream of circa £500k/month by identifying relevant opportunities and creating and gaining sign-off for contract proposals • Managed the timely and successful realisation of technology projects by effectively prioritising up to 50 service requests at any given time, managing resources, offshore centres and third-party contracts