Neil Smith
Hoylake,Wirral
Summary
Exceptional leader experienced at leading large teams, in fast paced and complex supply chains. Self motivated with a wide experience of project managing various operations through significant change, taking personal responsibility and ownership, whilst maintaining cost control, staff engagement and working in line with budgets.
Excellent commercial and customer service focus, who finds "win-win opportunities" and builds genuine partnerships, develops further business opportunities to exceed customers expectations.
Builds strong teams and empowers them to develop themselves inline with the business needs, and coaching others to work together with the appropriate support from their manager/leader.
A driven business/general manager, with strong broad logistics business experience, capable of handling multiple functions/projects/operations throughout the UK and Europe.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations manager
Culina group
Manchester
04.2023 - Current
- Monitored and reviewed operational performance, improving efficiency to remove waste. YoY cost saving of over £2m in 2024.
- Reduced costs and improved operations by analysing processes, performance management and improving customer service. Service improved by 57% in 2024, with a significant reduction in failed deliveries from Manchester depot.
- Improved H&S score from 37% to 82% by engaging staff in implementing new processes, and assigning owners to specific areas of the operation to reduce risks.
Area Manager - West
Evri
Warrington, Cheshire
06.2022 - 03.2023
- Full P&L and operational responsibility, for 2 of the largest sites in the depot network (Bolton and Winwick), sorting and delivering over 250k parcels per day to final mile service providers.
- Implemented challenging network re-alignment project, where 2 existing sites were closed in Crewe and Liverpool, and were consolidated into a new site in Winwick, Warrington. This involved recruiting over 150 new staff, transferring all operations to the new site, during a 6 month project plan.
- Managed growth of parcelshop/out of home business, by over 20% in 6 months, in the west area, making it one of the largest in the country.
Regional General Manager
Gist Ltd
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
10.2018 - 12.2021
- Delivered business strategy to develop new purpose built site and increase the regions revenue from £10m pa to £25m pa, through developing true partnerships with major retailers and manufacturers, which enabled many major business wins.
- Supported wider Gist Primary network to improve profitability by over 50% in 2 years.
- Developed wider management team to take more responsibility, and developed a culture of all employees feeling involved in the growth, profitability and success of the business
Head of Transport Operations - Europe
Gist BV
Bleiswijk, The Netherlands
03.2014 - 10.2018
- Achieved financial turn around of a loss making business (-€8m in 2014) to break even point in 2016, and profitability onwards.
- Won contract backed business with major blue chip companies worth over €20m
- Grew UK import business by 47+% YoY in 2015 and 2016
- Integrated Gist's European business into it's UK business, by making common IT systems, business processes, fleet, purchasing and performance management
Head of Planning
Gist Ltd
Basingstoke
02.2011 - 03.2014
- Centralized Gist's transport planning from 11 separate UK locations into 1 central "control tower" using a common transport planning system
- Significantly reduced empty running and driver downtime, implementing Isotrak, Microlise, Magenta, and Paragon systems
- Implemented development projects which continue to save over £10m pa with better KPI's, fleet utilisation, and fleet procurement strategies
- Created apprentice scheme for school leavers to be trained (and gain a qualification) in transport planning - this has now been rolled out business wide with 40+ trainees
Site General Manager
Gist Ltd
Bristol & Thatcham
01.2009 - 03.2011
- Responsible for running dedicated foods sites for Marks and Spencer's business in both Bristol and Thatcham
- Operating over 200 vehicles, employing 400 staff
- Developed the businesses first automated tray sorting system in their Bristol site
Education
Bachelor of Science - Transport and Logistics
University of Huddersfield
Huddersfield06.1996
Skills
- Performance focused
- Project management lead/experience
- Team builder/developer
- Safety management/Risk reduction
- Manager CPC qualification
- Transport legal compliance
Additional Information
Hobbies/Interests - keen cyclist (lived in Holland for 5 years), football and cricket.
Additional languages - GCSE French and Dutch
CPC - holder
Timeline
Operations manager
Culina group
04.2023 - Current
Area Manager - West
Evri
06.2022 - 03.2023
Regional General Manager
Gist Ltd
10.2018 - 12.2021
Head of Transport Operations - Europe
Gist BV
03.2014 - 10.2018
Head of Planning
Gist Ltd
02.2011 - 03.2014
Site General Manager
Gist Ltd
01.2009 - 03.2011
Bachelor of Science - Transport and Logistics
University of Huddersfield
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