Victoria Hart
London
Summary
People-focused Chief of Staff with a passion for connecting strategy, culture and execution.
Trusted partner to executives, driving transformation and organisational effectiveness.
Known for building strong relationships, creating alignment and finding solutions to any obstacle.
Dedicated to helping organisations and their people thrive through purposeful, sustainable change.
Over the years in the retail, corporate and events industry, I have established a reputation for providing excellent service and support as an approachable team leader and meticulous problem solver. My talent for building exceptional cross-functional relationships to support program objectives is unparalleled. In my current role, I serve as a trusted sounding board to the CFO and provide comprehensive support to the executive leadership team, ensuring seamless operations and strategic alignment.
Overview
1
1
Certification
15
15
years of professional experience
Work history
Chief of staff
The Retail Trust
London
02.2025 - Current
- Partnering directly with 6 Executive Team to shape priorities, drive strategic initiatives, governance activity and people agenda, ensuring organisational objectives progress into measurable outcomes.
- Driving high performance, helping leaders make informed decisions and maintain focus on long-term objectives.
- Identifying opportunities to improve organisational effectiveness through clearer processes, stronger communication, enhanced ways of working and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Facilitate executive decision making through comprehensive data presentation and reporting.
- Foster culture of transparency for increased staff morale by initiating employee engagement activities and awareness
- Establishing clear budgets and cost controls strategies to meet objectives.
- Orchestrate cross function team projects for successful delivery within set timelines.
- Streamline and own internal communication by implementing highly effective team management process
- Liaise effectively with internal and external c-suite stakeholders, fostering strong professional relationships.
Head of Operations
The Retail Trust
London, Greater London
02.2022 - 02.2025
- Partnered with senior leaders to drive organisational effectiveness, operational excellence and employee engagement through strategic communication, process improvement and change initiatives. Built trusted relationships across the organisation, translating executive priorities into action while leading recruitment, team development and culture-building programmes. Known for solving complex challenges, improving ways of working and creating high-performing, people-focused environments that enable sustainable business success
Director, Global Corporate Events & Incentives
Gartner
Egham, Surrey
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Led strategic planning and execution of 5 global corporate and incentive events for up to 2,500 attendees, managing budgets of up to £8 million and overseeing teams of 5 direct reports and 60+ onsite staff. Successfully delivered high-profile programmes through strong stakeholder management, supplier negotiations, operational leadership and continuous improvement initiatives driven by client and guest feedback.
Director of Commercial Operations & Customer Experience
Retail Week & Drapers (Ascential / EMAP)
London, Greater London
01.2018 - 11.2018
- Managed end-to-end planning and delivery of 50+ client events, collaborating with stakeholders to understand requirements and design tailored experiences that exceeded expectations. Led cross-functional teams to successfully deliver projects on time and within budget, while enhancing attendee engagement through interactive activities and carefully managing event finances to ensure commercial success.
Head of Client Solutions & Event Operations
Retail Week & Drapers (Ascential / EMAP)
London, Greater London
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Executed for concept, planning and delivery of 50+ corporate events, awards and conferences for 8-1500+ attendees securing revenue of 1.5 million and budgets of 1 million for industry leading publications Draper’s and Retail Week.
Education
Diploma of Higher Education - Event Management
Kings College
London 01.2006 - 03.2006
Skills
- Executive decision-making & CFO soundboard
- People & engagement leader
- Culture champion
- Operational excellence
- Systems & change implementation
- Continuous Process Improvement
- Communication
- Event & relationship specialist
- Budget management
Accomplishments
- Sunday Times Best Place to work, 4 years running (2023 - 2026), with 88% colleague engagement
- People Champion Award 2016, Ascential Company conference
- Events Professional of the Year Award 2014 & Events Leader of the Year Award 2016, PPA Awards
Certification
CPD qualification 2025, Declutter Dollies Professional Organiser
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief of staff
The Retail Trust
02.2025 - Current
Head of Operations
The Retail Trust
02.2022 - 02.2025
Director of Commercial Operations & Customer Experience
Retail Week & Drapers (Ascential / EMAP)
01.2018 - 11.2018
Director, Global Corporate Events & Incentives
Gartner
01.2018 - 01.2022
Head of Client Solutions & Event Operations
Retail Week & Drapers (Ascential / EMAP)
01.2012 - 01.2018
Diploma of Higher Education - Event Management
Kings College
01.2006 - 03.2006