Laura Folkes-Gibson
Chief Operating Officer
Little London
Summary
M&A and Business Transformation Consultant with deep experience in mergers and acquisitions, skilled at operational analysis, strategic planning, transformations, productivity planning, and due diligence. Known for strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results - including increasing productivity by 200% with a 4 month period. Reliable, with expertise in negotiation, risk assessment, and stakeholder communication. Demonstrates critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, ensuring successful outcomes.
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Dynamic individual with hands-on experience in business transformation and talent for navigating challenges. Brings strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach to new tasks. Known for adaptability, creativity, and results-oriented mindset. Committed to making meaningful contributions and advancing organisational goals.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Chief Operating Officer (FTC)
The Fragrance House
11.2025 - 03.2026
- Oversaw day-to-day operations across multiple departments - 200% more productive
- Fixed term parachute transformation project
- Designed machine learning systems and self-running artificial intelligence (AI) software to automate predictive models.
- Spearheaded the adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in supply chain processes, driving efficiency gains and competitive advantages.
- Directed design and execution of business transformation initiatives to drive performance, profit optimization and growth opportunities.
- Conducted comprehensive gap analysis to identify areas of improvement and presented findings to stakeholders, driving business transformation initiatives.
- Managed relationships with external consultants to ensure seamless integration of their expertise into various aspects of business transformation projects.
- Developed robust strategic plans for successful business transformation, resulting in improved organizational performance.
- Supported successful business transformation initiatives with accurate legacy system decommissioning efforts.
- Designed innovative solutions to complex business problems, resulting in significant cost savings for clients.
- Boosted accountability and growth by enhancing processes based on performance reporting, benchmarks and objectives.
- Strengthened team productivity and communication through effective collaboration tools and processes.
- Streamlined data processing tasks for increased efficiency and productivity.
- Streamlined workflow processes for improved productivity and reduced downtime.
- Evaluated emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and deep learning applications to identify potential areas for integration into existing systems.
Operations & Supply Chain Integration / Separation Manager
KPMG
10.2022
- The Role: Healthcare & Life Science Integrations
- - Lead the planning workstream within the IMO to ensure Day 1 readiness across all functions (Scope definition, Day 1 TOM development, Project Plan build & management etc.)
- - Lead the supply chain workstream to deliver the companies global integration plan. Defined project strategy, managed project workplans, coordinated SMEs and lead workshops to ensure CDC readiness and the delivery of multiple countries integrations. Built cutover plans and managed to completeness. Delivered hypercare onsite support, project management activity (setup, monitoring and tracking of project milestones and tasks), facilitated meetings and workshops, gained SME support and produced communication materials
- The Role: Healthcare & Life Science S&OP Transformation:
- - Lead the EMEA workstream identified & analysed the current state of the business. Interviewed multiple countries and senior stakeholders. Developed process flows, identified pain points across multiple functions and developed opportunity areas for the business.
Operations & Supply Chain Integration / Separation Assistant Manager
KPMG
08.2021 - 10.2022
Strategic Project Manager
LIDL GB
12.2019 - 08.2021
- The Role: Managed (design to implementation) the largest and highest turnover LIDL warehouse globally. This project was a first and therefore high profile for LIDL GB, as it incorporated automation. Responsible for a £400M investment. Managing a team of 2 nationally, coordinated 9 International project streams and 1 external supplier. Responsible for designing, planning and optimising every process and all operational aspects of the site. The three key aspects of the role are listed below.
- Project Management:
- - Responsible for overall project management
- - Coordinating all project streams
- - Coordination of multiple internal and external stakeholders, as well as the International and GB Board
- - Project planning: Determining the team structure, topics for investigation and timeline for investigation
- - Turnover planning: determining the strategy and creating buy in from the GB and International board
- - Financial forecasting and budgeting
- - Reporting
- - Headcount planning and forecasting - Defining the management structure
- - Recruitment planning
- - Training design and timeline
- Logistics Consultancy:
- - Developing optimisation strategies (Process optimisation & Operational optimisation)
- - Warehouse design
- - Identification of new technologies and implementation planning
- Team Management:
- - Developing team members
- - Defining members responsibilities
- - Planning and organising training
Operational Logistics Consultant
LIDL GB
06.2018 - 11.2019
- The Role: A multifaceted role and demanding a high level of organisation. The two key aspects are detailed below.
- Consulting:
- - Responsible for 7 regions; ensuring the roll out of HO projects, dealing with adhoc queries and conducting Consultancy Visits to analyse and improve their warehouse operations
- - Leading consultancy visits (team of 2-3), analysing the RDC performance, developing improvement measures and presenting all findings to the RDC team (including Head of Department and Regional Director)
- - Lead re-design of the regional assessment template and the strategy for investigation when on site
- - Developed strategy and built tools to measure performance driven KPIs, operative practices, merchandising and replenishment schedules
- - Identified new ways to analyse warehouse performance
- - Secondment to Wednesbury RDC for 2 months to crisis manage the Goods In desk and assist the Head of Logistics. Observed and analysed the issues, designed a strategy to drive best practice, executed the rollout and implementation. Tracked the progress and handed over to the Goods In Team Manager with a clear plan to continue moving forward.
- Project Management:
- - Conceptualised projects to drive productivity and efficiency within LIDL warehouses
- - Create the strategy for projects, design the trials, adapt to feedback, design a national rollout strategy and drive the implementation at an RDC level
- - Developed a new way to track time/financial investment in projects and through this self-awareness optimise my output - Represent Operational Logistics at Interdepartmental meetings - Represent Logistics at supplier meetings
Graduate Manager – Logistics
LIDL GB
03.2017 - 05.2018
- - Based in a North London Regional Distribution Centre, supporting the Operational Team Manager
- - Shift management
- - Personnel and productivity planning
- - Managed daily inventory compliance and ensured risks were mitigated
- - Managed regional inventory
- - Managed stock levels in the satellite warehouse and coordinated with the satellite team
- - Fully desk trained with a Reach Truck license, able to operate effectively within the department at all levels.
- - Planned multiple remreches to drive efficiency and productivity. Planned an Ambient re-merch which increased the Pick Rate by 9.91%
- - Responsible for forecasting, planning and organising the recruitment for 4 months.
Graduate Manager – Sales
LIDL GB
09.2016 - 03.2017
Operations Manager
Benchmark Staffing
05.2015 - 09.2015
Account Executive
The Cocktail Service
05.2014 - 08.2014
Marketing and Events Coordinator
BAFTA
12.2012 - 08.2013
Education
BSc (hons) - International Business & Hospitality Management
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford, U.K.A-Levels And GCSEs -
Godolphin School
Salisbury06-2010
Skills
Team leadership
Operations management
Strategic planning
Decision-making
Artificial intelligence strategy
Production Planning
Certification
PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner
Timeline
Oxford Artificial Intelligence (In Progress)
05-2026
Chief Operating Officer (FTC)
The Fragrance House
11.2025 - 03.2026
Operations & Supply Chain Integration / Separation Manager
KPMG
10.2022
Operations & Supply Chain Integration / Separation Assistant Manager
KPMG
08.2021 - 10.2022
PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner
08-2020
Strategic Project Manager
LIDL GB
12.2019 - 08.2021
Operational Logistics Consultant
LIDL GB
06.2018 - 11.2019
Graduate Manager – Logistics
LIDL GB
03.2017 - 05.2018
Graduate Manager – Sales
LIDL GB
09.2016 - 03.2017
Operations Manager
Benchmark Staffing
05.2015 - 09.2015
Account Executive
The Cocktail Service
05.2014 - 08.2014
Marketing and Events Coordinator
BAFTA
12.2012 - 08.2013
BSc (hons) - International Business & Hospitality Management
Oxford Brookes University
A-Levels And GCSEs -
Godolphin School