INSIGHT STRATEGY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Merchandising Professional
Caroline Curtis has over twenty years experience in the retail industry. Her early career was as a trainee at Harrods, then a fashion department manager at Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser.
A move into fashion merchandising with the Arcadia Group and Richards gave her experience at all levels from Allocator through to Senior Merchandiser and Planning Controller. At Warner Bros Studio Stores she gained experience of a UK start up operation and there, as Trading Director, she was responsible for buying, merchandising and store operations.
As a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, Caroline has primarily been responsible for the USA internship programme and works on the university commercial short courses. In addition to the work with Westminster she works as a consultant to the retail industry.
Job Titles:
- Arcadia 's First Ecommerce Director
Elizabeth became Arcadia's first Ecommerce Director in 2000, working with both Arcadia and Littlewoods in a joint venture.
Elizabeth has also delivered ecommerce training for the University of Westminster.
Job Titles:
- Merchandising Professional
Judi has over twenty years Merchandising experience. She started in a Hatton Garden wholesaler, moved on to Senior Merchandsing positions in Topman and River Island, then moved back to the Arcadia Group to be Head of Merchandising for Hawkshead and Miss Selfridge. She has planned and traded Men's and Ladieswear, Footwear and Accessories. She has management experience within a complex multi-channel business and two fast-moving young fashion businesses.
With expertise in Planning and Trading, Catalogue and Website, Logistics, Distribution, Store Planning, Branch Merchandising and the Planning and Trading of an International Brand Business, Judi has a wealth of commercial experience to draw upon and share. She has also spent four years as a Teacher.
Now working as a Consultant, Judi has delivered commercial solutions for B and Q, Elvi, Timberland and ASOS. She works cross-functionally to identify key issues and make effective business decisions. At the University, she is a specialist in the development and delivery of technical merchandising courses
Sharon worked her way up the retail ladder from assistant merchandiser, through merchandising and into buying as buyer, Head of B&M, and Brand Director.
Sharon has worked for M&S, Clarks, The Arcadia Group, Sears, House of Fraser, The Pentland Group, Figleaves, Alexon and New Look.
Now Sharon runs her own consultancy company offering retail solutions to high street retailers and wholesale brands and she has launched many UK brands into the USA.
She has helped develop several brands using her range planning expertise, eye for an opportunity and trend forecasting ability.
Job Titles:
- People and Change Management Professional
Sue has extensive senior management experience in blue-chip companies, broad business consultancy, organisation development, change management, teaching and coaching skills and an exceptionally impactful approach. She works as a teacher and coach of managers, a University Lecturer, an organisational change consultant and industry adviser.
Sue spent her career in Tesco and Kingfisher at a time of profound change and rapid growth in each company.She performed senior commercial roles as a Trading Director and she also undertook major strategic change programmes as Organisation Development Manager, Leader of the IT strategy and Head of Business Strategy.
Sue now focuses on designing and delivering cutting edge management development programmes which are powerful and original, highly experiential in content and aimed at both challenging existing mindsets and providing new skills tools and techniques for participants to apply in their work. She also works with individuals as a mentor and performance coach.
Sue has a MA from Cambridge University, a Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapy and Counselling and is a member of the Institute of Transactional Analysis and is MBTI certified.