WH Smith, the UK high street retailer, operates around 1300 stores and employees around 14,000 staff.
Iain joined WH Smith Direct a few weeks before me. He quickly grasped the business and key issues and developed business plan initiatives. Iain is an exceptional team player and worked very hard to develop the team ethos within the management team and the wider business. Communications on KPI’s and performance improved considerably and each[…]
“I led WHSmith Direct through the most significant period of business change in its history, delivering step change improvement in sales and profit performance” In April 2003, I was engaged to lead WHSmith Direct through this period of significant business change and opportunity. This would allow the main board director responsible for the business to focus[…]
I provide this reference in the sure knowledge that Iain can make a significant contribution to your own organisation, in a wide variety of ways. Iain’s significant track record in retail, and in particular his wide experience in online businesses, was the driver for us asking him to take on the role of Chief Operating[…]
I was a contractor involved in some substantial business sytem changes in WHSmith Direct before and while Iain was interim CEO. It was very helpful when Iain arrived and grasped the key important issues very quickly. Consultant WHSmith 22 June 2003
Iain is an affliative manager and as such a successful change agent, always bringing others along with him. He has a visionary leadership style and his lateral thinking abilities are to be admired. Operations Manager WHSmith Direct 3 March 2003