Robert Perkins's Email Addresses & Phone Numbers

📖 Summary

Successful leader with a 30 year track record in building market-leading, premium, sports, outdoor & footwear brands (Hotter, inov-8, Kukri, Brasher, Pittards & Clarks) in 40+ international markets. Wide ranging board level experience in CEO, President, MD, Chairman, NXD, PLC and Operations Director roles, in 8 countries combined with multiple successes in transitioning founders, managing multiple shareholders, investment due diligence & raising private equity/bank finance. A creative strategist with core skills in global strategy & brand definition, team culture creation, organisational & systems development, staff recruitment in multiple international countries, new market entry, technical footwear/apparel innovation & sourcing, product segmentation, multi-channel category management, marketing & building international retail distribution. A passionate & visionary leader with an energising, empowering, entrepreneurial & consensus building style, good public speaking skills, who values organisational agility, ambition, teamwork & partnerships. Wide experience in establishing, managing & transitioning global subsidiaries, distributors, sales agencies & licensees, together with managing large scale footwear/apparel manufacturing, complex international supply chains, rapid organisational change & the creation/protection of IP. A 14 year career at Clarks provided a thorough grounding in all aspects of the branded footwear business with wide experience in one of the world's largest vertically integrated shoe companies with high levels of professionalism and management integrity. I was the Group's youngest ever factory manager (22) and senior manager (24) before spending five years in divisional general management. Extensive travel to 40+ countries, a passion for sport and the outdoors, together with 30+ years experience in branded footwear & apparel give a unique perspective on global opportunities. Three times winner of a Queens Award for Enterprise.Group Operations Director @ Creating shoes with unparalleled levels of comfort, quality and appeal, supplied through a highly responsive supply chain and multi channel distribution to drive rapid global sales growth of Hotter brand shoes. Awarded Queens Award for Enterprise and UK Manufacturer of the Year in 2015. From August 2014 to Present (1 year 5 months) CEO @ Led a programme of rapid global growth in 40+ countries, building the strategy, team of 70 staff, 30 sales agents & 30 distributors, growing sales from £2m to £18m (60% pa compound), building profits to £2.4m whilst maintaining inov-8’s unique culture, athlete-led brand DNA, accelerating its successful track record in product innovation (4 ISPO innovation awards in last 12 months), making active investments in staff, systems & marketing for future growth and maintaining positive cash flow. The most recent product successes were the launches of the Fastlift weightlifting shoe, lightweight running apparel and race ultra series of shoes and packs. New facilities were established in the UK, Germany & USA. Distributors in the USA, Germany, Austria and France were transitioned to a subsidiary sales agency model with significant growth in retail distribution. There were significant improvements to supply chain capability and capacity. The brand is more clearly defined as focussed on the off-road running and functional fitness committed athlete. Awarded Queens Award for Enterprise in 2014 in recognition of the huge growth in export sales. From October 2011 to June 2014 (2 years 9 months) President @ As President of inov-8 inc based in Greater Boston, MA. I led a programme of staff, system, premises and marketing investments to radically grow brand distribution & sales, improve customer service levels, strengthen financial results, create a stronger sense of teamwork and a greater focus on the CrossFit, Trail Running and Road Running markets.. From May 2009 to June 2014 (5 years 2 months) Global Operations Director @ Responsible for driving inov-8's rapid sales growth in the USA, UK, Europe & Rest of the World through distribution partners in 42 countries and direct sales teams in three countries. Full P&L responsibility plus strategy development, team leadership, staff recruitment, systems development, sourcing and a strong input to marketing, range planning and product development. From January 2009 to September 2011 (2 years 9 months) Group Managing Director @ Led a management buy-in and created the strategy, staff structure, brand model, innovative culture and 8-week (10 garment minimum) bespoke manufacturing supply chain to drive rapid global sales growth from £1m to £14m sales. Oversaw recruitment of 100+ staff, systems development and established subsidiaries in nine countries (UK, Ireland, Spain, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong & China) to extend Kukri's global brand footprint. Planned and oversaw the construction of two dedicated clothing factories in China employing 600 staff & producing 1m garments per annum. From July 2002 to December 2008 (6 years 6 months) Preston, United KingdomChairman @ Led a team to rescue (from closure), reopen and re-grow Windermere School, by creating a strategic plan that included asset sales, new investment, international marketing, management changes, improved operational management and alignment of the academic framework within the longstanding school philosophy. Fee income grew from £2m to £5m pa through a combination of improved pupil retention, better marketing and higher fees. The charitable trust managed assets totalling £10m+. From July 1999 to July 2008 (9 years 1 month) Non Executive Director @ Contributed to improvements in corporate governance, organisational vision, strategic planning, creating greater international ambition, leveraging core footwear research & testing competences in new consumer markets (apparel, furniture etc), investment in new office & laboratory facilities and redesigning staff pension provision. From April 2000 to June 2005 (5 years 3 months) Managing Director - Brasher Boot Company @ Led a restructuring of the Brasher business, including product innovation (Supalite), range rationalisation (clothing), branding, marketing and product updates, product quality improvements, sourcing cost reduction, 50% sales growth to £6m, buyout of the minority shareholder and a relocation of the UK office. From September 1998 to December 2001 (3 years 4 months) Lancaster, United KingdomManaging Director @ Led the merger of Miers (Leeds) and Keunan (Northampton) tanneries to create a world class branded leather partner supplying WR100 technical sports leathers for Puma (King), Footjoy (Dryjoys), Nike (golf) & Timex (watch straps), technical outdoor leathers for Timberland, Rocky & Clarks and premium leathers for Louis Vuitton and Coach. Sat on the PLC Board with full divisional P&L responsibility, sales of £50m pa, leather production totalling 20m square feet pa, 450 staff and £18m of operating assets.. From April 1996 to August 1998 (2 years 5 months) Leeds, United KingdomGeneral Manager, Manufacturing Division @ Joined as a Management Trainee. Gained wide experience in retail management, wholesale sales, product development, brand marketing, product management, financial analysis and operations management, Led several factories before two Divisional General Manager appointments; firstly for K Shoes in Kendal, Cumbria (awarded Queens Award for Exports) and secondly for Clarks Childrens shoes in Street, Somerset, where I was responsible for 1600 staff, 7m shoes produced pa, £100m+ in sales revenues, £18m of operating assets, six sites and global sourcing in India, China and Europe. From September 1981 to March 1996 (14 years 7 months) HND, Business Studies @ Strode College From 1979 to 1981 O levels, English, English Literature, Maths, Geography, Rural Science, Techical Drawing, Engineering @ Whitstone School From 1974 to 1979 Robert Perkins is skilled in: Strategy Development, Team Leadership, Change Management, Company Direction, Growth Management, Footwear, Sporting Goods, Education Management, Public Speaking, Global Operations, Educational Leadership, Strategy, Management, Strategic Planning, Product Development