Frances Fletcher
Rowlands Gill,Tyne and Wear
Summary
Strategic and commercially driven retail leader with 20+ years’ experience scaling global fashion and lifestyle brands across retail and wholesale channels.
Proven track record in building and leading customer-led, omnichannel strategies that drive profitable growth, enhance brand experience and support long-term business value. Experienced in evolving retail from operational execution to a strategic, multi-channel growth engine, underpinned by strong organisational design, team development and cross-functional alignment.
Trusted partner to executive teams and boards, with experience contributing to business transformation and successful exit readiness, combining long-term vision with delivery of immediate commercial results.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work history
Director of Retail and Wholesale
Abbott Lyon
Manchester, Greater Manchester
2025.11 - Current
- Leading the development of Abbott Lyon’s end-to-end retail and wholesale strategy, spanning owned stores, pop-ups and strategic partnerships
- Defining the roadmap for physical retail expansion, including concept development, location strategy, customer experience and financial modelling
- Building and scaling the wholesale channel, onboarding key partners and establishing frameworks for UK and international growth
- Partnering cross-functionally across Product, Marketing, Finance and Operations to align trading, range architecture and channel strategy
- Establishing KPI frameworks across retail and wholesale to drive commercial performance, customer engagement and profitability
- Restructured the retail and wholesale operating model, aligning roles, processes and priorities to support scalable growth and improved accountability
- Building and evolving the retail and wholesale team structure, defining roles, capability and ways of working to support future scale
- Leading strategic planning for multi-year growth, including store rollout, customer experience evolution and brand positioning
Director of Retail
END.
2023.10 - 2025.09
- Led global retail strategy across a multi-store, omnichannel business
- Drove improvements in store performance, customer experience and operational execution
- Restructured the retail operating model, aligning teams and processes to support scalable growth and stronger commercial performance
- Led and developed the senior retail leadership team, strengthening capability, accountability and performance across the organisation
- Played a key role in preparing the business for successful sale, contributing to operational readiness, performance optimisation and investor confidence
- Partnered with leadership team to align retail with broader commercial and brand strategy
- Represented retail at board level, contributing to strategic direction and investment decisions
Head of Retail
END.
2018.11 - 2023.10
Operations Manager
END.
2011.02 - 2023.10
Area Support Manager
OFFICE Shoes
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2008.08 - 2011.02
- Progressed through leadership roles supporting multi-site retail operations
- Developed strong foundations in team leadership, store performance and operational excellence
Store Manager
OFFICE Shoes
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2003.12 - 2008.08
Store Manager
Levi Strauss & Co.
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
1999.08 - 2003.12
- Rapid progression into leadership role
- Delivered strong results across team performance, service and compliance
Education
Level 7 - Leadership
Chartered Management Institute
1 2023 - 1 2024
BA (Hons) - English Studies
Northumbria University
1 1996 - 1 1999
Skills
- Retail & Wholesale Strategy
- Omnichannel Growth
- Commercial Planning & P&L Ownership
- Customer Experience & Brand Development
- Store Concept & Expansion
- Fulfilment, Inventory & Omnichannel Operations
- Organisational Design, Leadership & Team Development
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Board & Stakeholder Engagement
INTERESTS
Music, Gardening, Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Reading
Timeline
Director of Retail and Wholesale
Abbott Lyon
2025.11 - Current
Director of Retail
END.
2023.10 - 2025.09
Head of Retail
END.
2018.11 - 2023.10
Operations Manager
END.
2011.02 - 2023.10
Area Support Manager
OFFICE Shoes
2008.08 - 2011.02
Store Manager
OFFICE Shoes
2003.12 - 2008.08
Store Manager
Levi Strauss & Co.
1999.08 - 2003.12
Level 7 - Leadership
Chartered Management Institute
1 2023 - 1 2024
BA (Hons) - English Studies
Northumbria University
1 1996 - 1 1999