Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
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David Gourlay

Milford,Surrey

Summary

Proven leader with extensive experience in multi-site management and colleague development, Excelled in driving teams towards exceeding sales targets through effective resource management and commercial awareness. Demonstrated ability in change management and operational optimisation, achieving significant performance improvements. Skilled in both strategic planning and enhancing team motivation.

Results-driven Retail Area Manager with knack for improving store performance and enhancing customer satisfaction. Delivered significant sales growth across multiple locations through team leadership and strategic planning. Known for transforming underperforming stores into top-performing ones by fostering culture of excellence and accountability.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Area Manager

Southern Co-Op
08.2018 - 11.2024
  • Applied expertise in team leadership to address productivity and performance issues, motivating teams to achieve KPI's
  • Developed strong teams by skilfully recruiting, orienting and training loyal, hardworking colleagues
  • Managed a team of 15 Store Managers, driving performance with motivational strategies to exceed sales targets
  • Annual turnover of Area £36M
  • Approached new tasks and projects with enthusiasm and passion, increasing colleague motivation and morale
  • Upskilled teams through targeted training opportunities, enhancing the levels of capabilities across stores
  • Analysed sales reports to identify trends and update strategies
  • Established budgets for programmed activities and controlled expenditure to meet targets
  • Oversaw planning and execution of targeted sales and marketing strategies
  • Planned and managed resources and budget to support and deliver objectives

Charity Chairman

Brightwell's Gostrey
05.2020 - 11.2024
  • Develop and implement a business plan to deliver a continued service and to make the Charity thrive in the current challenging climate
  • Ensure that all under takings by the charity are completed in an ethical and morally correct way, ensuring we abide by the rules set out by the Charities Commission
  • Engage with the key stakeholders involved with the charity to gain their continued support
  • Establish new connections with local and national funders and funding streams to future proof the charity
  • To assist the Charity Manager in delivering a engaged high performing team through targeted training and coaching with a view of cost control and budgeting
  • Ensuring all communication, meetings and reports are recorded to enable us to produce and ratifying the end of year accounts and statements

Store Manager Training Mentor

Southern Co-Op
Wrecclesham
06.2017 - 08.2018
  • Analysed daily, weekly and monthly sales results and maintained ongoing productive dialogue with Area Manager and peers on sales performance
  • Optimised store performance through continued evaluation of existing processes and identifying improvement opportunities
  • Coached and mentored three successful Store Managers into the business
  • Led regular colleague performance reviews to provide guidance and support for individual development
  • Created seasonal sales plans with varying stock and promotional strategies
  • Developed team to become high performing and independent

Store Manager

Salisbury's
Norbiton Station
04.2014 - 06.2017
  • Challenged and inspired team to deliver business targets
  • Oversaw business staffing and training building a customer focused high performing team
  • Oversaw daily tasks and processes to deliver a clean, tidy and fully compliant store with excellent availability and standards
  • Fully accountable to all colleague welfare and health and safety

Senior Service Manager

B&Q
Acton
02.2008 - 04.2014
  • Motivated and inspired team to deliver excellent customer service, delivering excellent Brand Audit results
  • Fully responsible for all service departments across the store
  • Optimised store performance through delivery of all business plans
  • Analysed sales data to contribute to the plan and deliver store KPI's
  • Created succession plans to ensure the continued performance and development of the team

Senior Stock Manager

Safeway's
01.1997 - 06.2000
  • Delivery of all stock related processes day and night
  • Challenged and inspired team to deliver all KPI's
  • Oversaw availability processes across the store
  • Delivered training, coaching and guidance to build a high performing team
  • Deputised in the Store Managers absence

Education

Higher National Diploma - Electronics

Farnborough College of Technology
Farnborough
09.1988 - 05.1990

GCSEs - Maths, English, Physics, Art, Electronics

Oakfarm Community School
Farnborough, Hampshire
09.1985 - 05.1987

Skills

  • Multi-site operations
  • Team Leadership
  • Budget management
  • Performance monitoring
  • Performance evaluation
  • Complaint handling
  • Trend analysis
  • Store Management
  • Brand building
  • Brand development
  • Loss prevention strategies
  • Cost control
  • Board development
  • Ethical governance
  • Mentorship and training
  • Qualified CIS Practitioner

Affiliations

  • I am a keen (but not skilled) Golfer, I also swim 3 times a week. Any spare time that I haven't devoted to Brightwells Charity I use for DIY having taken on some big projects for friends and family.

Timeline

Charity Chairman

Brightwell's Gostrey
05.2020 - 11.2024

Area Manager

Southern Co-Op
08.2018 - 11.2024

Store Manager Training Mentor

Southern Co-Op
06.2017 - 08.2018

Store Manager

Salisbury's
04.2014 - 06.2017

Senior Service Manager

B&Q
02.2008 - 04.2014

Senior Stock Manager

Safeway's
01.1997 - 06.2000

Higher National Diploma - Electronics

Farnborough College of Technology
09.1988 - 05.1990

GCSEs - Maths, English, Physics, Art, Electronics

Oakfarm Community School
09.1985 - 05.1987

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