Lauren Lepley
Hougham
Summary
A highly driven and energetic leader with over 15 years experience leading complex, large scale operations across UK and international food retail markets. Proven track record for delivering sustainable business improvements at pace through engaging and collaborative leadership style. Recognised for building high performing, diverse teams and delivering end to end change programmes that improve both business performance and colleague engagement.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
VP Central Operations
Asda
Leeds
2025.01 - Current
- Operating at large scale across Food, Clothing and Home for over 600 stores and 100,000+ colleagues
- Accountable for store and online central operational functions including productivity, customer service, loss prevention, colleague safety, business continuity, communication, activity planning, labour planning and retail execution.
- Leading major transformation programmes including end to end redesign of store operating model with the cut over of full retail estate from Walmart systems
- Delivering cross functional initiatives focused on simplification, enhanced operational efficiency and improved customer outcomes with year 1 benefits of +£80m
- Focused on improved and sustained customer service metrics for stores and online operations by addressing both functional and behavioural service delivery. YoY improvements of +2% and +4% respectively seen in lead customer satisfaction metrics
- Accountable for multi-billion-pound Retail P&L
Group Supply Chain Director
Wm Morrisons
Bradford
2021.09 - 2025.12
- Accountable for end to end supply chain comprising Supply Chain Operations, Supply Chain Development and Space, Range, Merchandising and Replenishment teams
- Track record for consistently delivering improvements in availability in excess of 5% YoY across supermarkets, convenience, wholesale and online channels
- Increased customer satisfaction versus competitors from 6th place to 3rd - Closing the gap to market leader from 11% to 3%
- Set strategic technology road map for end to end Supply Chain systems, including Retail, Logistics, Wholesale and Commercial functions, carrying significant cap ex accountability.
- Delivered full migration to new ordering system with multi year saving requirements of no less than 20%
- P&L accountability leading company stock reduction programme to achieve stock, waste and working capital targets with 1.2% improvement in waste YoY
- Introduced and delivered new in store technology, simplified store routines and stock management processes to improve stock record accuracy
- Transformed ways of working and increased collaboration with internal teams to improve outputs of forecasting, demand and supply requirements and execution at the shelf edge for customers
- Increased sales through improved format planning, macro and micro space, range and merchandising with convenience format delivering 20% LFL
- Created talented and diverse team enhancing and elevating Supply Chains role within the business in addition to significant increases in female representation across the function
- Significantly improved relationships with external suppliers to deliver efficiencies for both businesses with Supply Chain out performing business improvement in the latest Advantage Survey
- Championed growing talent and improved diversity across the business as Business sponsor for 'Women in Morrisons' programme. Influenced and led policy review resulting in increased maternity pay and benefits and 350 females completing a new mentoring programme
- Lead on wider business confidential projects for Executive Committee
Trade Planning and Events Director
Wm Morrisons
Bradford
2020.04 - 2021.09
- Built corporate trade plan to deliver positive LFL and market share growth consistently outperforming the IGD through the pandemic
- Engaged cross functional teams across the business to deliver in store execution of national and local events
- Challenged commercial teams to achieve best value for customers and achieve profitable sales growth
- Advised Executive team on required activity to achieve sales and out perform the market
- Minimised competitor impacts by building compelling local trade plans and marketing solutions with 50% reduction in forecasted impact achieved
- Translated customer insight and listening along with analysis of qualitative and quantitative data into a meaningful trade driving plan for the company, aligned to commercial and business strategy
- Led and executed the company's first price strategy for every day low prices in 'Customer Favourites' programme
Central Operations Director
Wm Morrisons
Bradford
2018.01 - 2019.07
- Accountable for planning and execution of all retail operations across retail estate, including managing in store capacity and all store communications
- Multi-million pound CapEx and OpEx budget holder accountable for working with relevant teams to build and deliver annual budgets across full retail P&L
- Owner of end to end stores operating model, supporting Retail Executive Director and Operations Directors by simplifying operating model for stores to deliver excellent store standards and improved customer satisfaction
- Gatekeeper for retail ready standard on all company initiatives working with business leads to execute in store activity whilst in turn championing store colleagues and customers feedback to improve operational understanding of retail across the business
- Managed challenging operational impacts such as business continuity and incident management processes
- Delivered significant operational change programmes nationwide including organisational restructures, new ways of working and 'Customer First' programme
- Accountable for execution of higher levels of productivity, in excess of 6% of addressable cost base, resulting in removal of wasted effort for store colleagues
- Led company shrink reduction programme from conception to delivery
Regional Manager
Wm Morrisons
, North West
2016.04 - 2018.01
- Recruited as part of Morrisons transformation programme designed to overhaul store operating standards, build Store Manager capability and lead cultural change for colleagues and customers
- Responsible for 42 large format stores and multiple online channels across North West and Yorkshire with annual sales of over £1.5bn and 9000 colleagues
- Accountable for all customer performance metrics and key cost lines such as waste, shrink, expenses and customer satisfaction, consistently delivering YoY improvements
- Successfully launched new stores and 12 refit stores
- Increased EBITDA performance through full estate review building profitability improvement plans including landing first low profit model store back to profit
- Developed cohesive team and championed change in culture through listening to customers and colleagues, reducing hierarchy and increasing colleague engagement
- Led colleague engagement and talent agenda for North stores creating an inclusive environment and improved store culture demonstrated through significant increase in colleague voice surveys and internal progression
Store Manager - Tesco Extra
Tesco PLC
2012.05 - 2016.04
Operations Development Manager - Asia
Tesco PLC
Shanghai
2011.09 - 2012.03
Area Manager - Convenience
Tesco PLC
, Manchester
2010.06 - 2011.08
Education
Supply Chain Management - Supply Chain
Insead Business School
Fontainebleau 04/2023 - 04/2023
BA Honors Degree - Business Management
The University of Sheffield
Sheffield 09/2005 - 09/2008
Timeline
VP Central Operations
Asda
2025.01 - Current
Group Supply Chain Director
Wm Morrisons
2021.09 - 2025.12
Trade Planning and Events Director
Wm Morrisons
2020.04 - 2021.09
Central Operations Director
Wm Morrisons
2018.01 - 2019.07
Regional Manager
Wm Morrisons
2016.04 - 2018.01
Store Manager - Tesco Extra
Tesco PLC
2012.05 - 2016.04
Operations Development Manager - Asia
Tesco PLC
2011.09 - 2012.03
Area Manager - Convenience
Tesco PLC
2010.06 - 2011.08
Supply Chain Management - Supply Chain
Insead Business School
04/2023 - 04/2023
BA Honors Degree - Business Management
The University of Sheffield
09/2005 - 09/2008