Gareth Jones
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-jones-9708ab40/
Summary
Senior Program Manager with 14 years of global leadership experience, now transitioning into the Event Industry with a focus on delivering high-impact corporate experiences. Known for leading diverse teams to translate complex briefs into seamless, high-quality outcomes, I bring a track record of exceeding expectations in quality, safety and operational efficiency. At Amazon, I built and scaled last-mile capabilities worldwide, operating across both strategic and operational environments. Developing people is a core motivator for me, reflected in one of my proudest milestones — being selected in 2017 for Amazon’s Interview Bar Raiser Leadership Mentor program, supporting leaders in raising hiring and leadership standards across the organization. Over the 14 years I mentored and promoted 8 direct reports with detailed development plans and set performance expectations. I’m now applying this blend of operational excellence, stakeholder management and human-centered leadership to the event space, where the ability to read people, anticipate needs and create memorable experiences is essential. I bring structure, creativity and calm under pressure — with a passion for turning ideas into experiences that resonate.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Global Driver retention principal manager
Amazon
03.2025 - 03.2026
- Used initiative and acted independently for product design and development of a $250 MM global roadmap for driver retention strategy (EU, NA, JP)
- Transitioned Driver retention from an EU to global scope road map – defining strategy and scaling new business relationships
- Managed reporting cadence to global leadership, facilitating communication and tracking of YoY +3% driver retention improvements.
- Collaborated with finance, capacity, and data teams to refine metric calculations for global driver retention, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
- Presented new ideas to support operations and tech design teams, enhancing collaboration and innovation.
EU Driver Experience Snr portfolio manager
Amazon
02.2022 - 02.2025
- Developed end-to-end tech features for 3rd party customer users (Delivery Service Providers) on tech-based portal, achieving 92% adoption rate and 5% year-on-year improvement in data collection
- $50 MM p/a cost out savings by delivering VP level retention targets through change management in operational tools and/ or processes
- Researched and documented EU industry benchmark study for driver retention at VP level, implementing 6 best practices to mitigate costs and risks
- Presented weekly and monthly operational performance updates to senior leadership across EU (9 countries) and regions of JP/ MENA and North America
UK country Snr Manager Trans Ops Manager
Amazon
10.2019 - 02.2022
- Forecast Operational Planning goals for 2 years running across key business metrics, including safety and customer YoY improvements (i.e. safety incident DPMO, On Time Dispatch)
- Managed team of 10 regional managers across UK, fostering operational and safety excellence through monthly virtual and quarterly in-person meetings (with CV19 restrictions when relevant)
- Standardised (42) yard operations across all UK Fulfilment Centre and Sort Centers with implementation of central TOM
- Established first EU training academy for TOM in Midlands, UK, collaborating with operations teams to enhance training capabilities and support staff development
- Planned and facilitated hybrid annual EU TOM conference, collaborating with operational and programme management teams to enhance engagement and knowledge sharing
Snr EU Tech and process program manager
Amazon
05.2012 - 10.2019
- Program managed a high-profile range of initiatives and inter-dependencies, delivering across customer and productivity business goals (EU multi-cycle ops, EU zone-based Routing, Deployment of SSP EU, EU launch)
- Established and managed Program Management Office to oversee risk and prioritisation, facilitating last-mile growth in Amazon across delivery experience, sort infrastructure, customer excellence and launch
- Developed a team of 10 subject matter experts focused on technology and process improvements for EU AMZL delivery stations
- Created playbook for launching new sites in Amazon last-mile industry, integrating HR, engineering, staffing, operational processes and tools
- Finalised new Logistics container and sort cage design with engineering, and led the Request for proposal (RFP) procurement process for EU project worth +£15MM
Client Relationship Manager
Argos Business Solutions
07.2012 - 05.2012
- Successfully built and maintained long-lasting client relationships through proactive communication and dealing with all matters efficiently.
- Engaged with clients managing profiles worth over £10MM (top 100 FTSE) across multiple industry sectors, achieving 10% YoY growth in Argos sales
- Converted client briefs into online rewards programme for banking, retail, and public sectors, driving £45MM in sales
- Maintained exceptional product and market knowledge, providing clients with up-to-date information to maximise new business possibilities.
- Kept client records accurate and up-to-date within CRM systems, enabling clear, accessible communication pathways.
B2B Customer Service Manager
Argos Business Solutions
03.2004 - 07.2006
- Led team of 6 in responding to B2B customer inquiries and developed streamlined processes for efficient support.
B2B Customer Service Advisor
Argos Business Solutions
04.2002 - 03.2004
- Achieved individual SLA in call center by efficiently addressing B2B customer inquiries.
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Event Management for Marketing & Comms
Event Academy
11-2026
Bachelor of Honors - Social science and Economics
Open University
01-2009
Approaching Literature -
Open University
01-2006
Skills
- Project Management and strategic planning
- Project design in Asana
- Data Analysis and Tableau
- Customer relationship
- Stakeholder management (internal/ external)
- Remote communications via Slack/ Amazon Chime
- Virtual comms via Zoom
- Team leadership and People Career Growth
Certification
- Prince 2 Practitioner, 2011-01-01
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, 2019-01-01
Custom Section
- Meningitis (London Marathon), 2014-01-01, £4k
- CARE London to Paris/ Brighton cycle ride & 3 peaks challenge, 2009-01-01, £3k
- Amazon Charities London to Brighton, 2024-01-01, £2.7k
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-jones-9708ab40/
Volunteer Experience
Buckingham Half Marathon crowd marshal, 2026-05-01
References
Available on request
Hobbies and Interests
- Secured a Plot at Buckingham Allotment, learning how to grow vegetables with my two young boys, 2025-01-01
- Played Football for last 30 yrs
- Traveling to one new country per year since 2010 (i.e. NZ, AUS, Fiji backpacking, EU, JP & NA through work)
Timeline
Global Driver retention principal manager
Amazon
03.2025 - 03.2026
EU Driver Experience Snr portfolio manager
Amazon
02.2022 - 02.2025
UK country Snr Manager Trans Ops Manager
Amazon
10.2019 - 02.2022
Client Relationship Manager
Argos Business Solutions
07.2012 - 05.2012
Snr EU Tech and process program manager
Amazon
05.2012 - 10.2019
B2B Customer Service Manager
Argos Business Solutions
03.2004 - 07.2006
B2B Customer Service Advisor
Argos Business Solutions
04.2002 - 03.2004
Postgraduate Diploma - Event Management for Marketing & Comms
Event Academy
Bachelor of Honors - Social science and Economics
Open University
Approaching Literature -
Open University