Ewan McMahon
Widnes
Summary
Dynamic, experienced Chief Operating Officer and Board member.
Highly skilled, with proven success in developing and leading customer service solutions, building effective motivated teams, creating management development programmes and improving operational and financial performance.
Confident, enthusiastic, hard working, reliable, highly adaptable, and extremely driven. Friendly and works well with others.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operations Director and Executive Committee Member
Azerbaijan Supermarkets Bravo
Baku
11.2022 - Current
- Improved customer experience, measured by mystery shopper, by 3ppt during 2024, and in latest month increased to 6ppt, through new store layouts, and better customer interactions
- Increased productivity, by 25% in small stores, and 10% in large, over the last 12 months, developing and implementing operational policies and procedures
- Reduced staff costs through productivity, and new structure, by 0.5ppt in large stores, and by 1.5ppt in small stores
- Reduced wastage from 2% of sales to 1.1% of sales over the last 12 months, through ordering improvements, in store freshness management, and growing fresh food sales
- Developed 3 new internally selected Area Managers, and 3 new externally selected Area Managers
- With colleagues, led the business from negative EBITDA, to a now strong positive EBITDA, with an operating model to deliver every month this year and next
Chief Operating Officer and Board Member
OBA market
Baku
11.2021 - 10.2022
- Led the training of sales team in improvement of customer service skills increasing net promoter score by 14 points in 6 months
- Kept appropriate inventory levels by optimising availability against warehouse space achieving 5% points improvement in availability and reducing stock cover by 14 days
- Introduced a space, range and display system that enables correct use of space for customer experience, sales and profitability at a macro and micro level
- Led the training of the sales teams for 200 new stores and 150 refits in 12 months making OBA the fastest growing retailer in Azerbaijan
- Built an operations leadership team that improved staff retention by 21% and developed a programme for area and regional management development
- Developed and coached people for all key positions
- One year contract completed
Non-Executive Director
MyPura.com
Chester
02.2021 - Current
- Worked with founder and management team to create the narrative and purpose of eco friendly baby products
- Utilized network and relationships built over 30 years to discuss the products and opportunity with UK and international retailers
- Products now listed in Asda, WHSmith travel, Ocado, Amazon and also available on MyPura.com
- Products will be listed in further UK and international retailers during their range change cycles
Ewan McMahon Consulting Ltd
Self employed
Widnes
09.2018 - Current
- Worked with Iceland Foods owners on developing their international business of fully owned and franchise stores, and increasing wholesale distributors
- Opened additional fully owned Iceland stores in Ireland and Czech Republic
- Opened new Iceland franchise business in Norway
- Set up new distributor channel for Iceland in Thailand
- Acted as a mentor for 3 area and 2 regional managers
- Acted as consultant for multiple private equity firms mainly on UK retail, UK logistics, and UK grocery and refrigerated storage
Group Operations Director and Board member
Iceland Foods
Deeside
11.2016 - 08.2018
- Led customer service training ‘first class service’ and improved customer service scores on queueing by 3% points and on helpful service by 5% points
- Led the rebrand of Iceland‘s core high street stores growing sales between 15% and 85% in each store with average payback within 2.3 years
- With the responsibility for Group HR developed area manager and regional manager development programme, as well as centralized HR support structure for stores
- Worked in partnership with The Range to introduce Iceland stores shop within a shop concept
- Led the Czech team to turnaround a loss making business through effective use of local knowledge including service standards, price policy, range management and store refresh
- Left Iceland Foods to pursue my ambition of leading my own business
Retail Operations Director and Board member
Homebase
Milton Keynes
12.2015 - 04.2016
- Worked with leadership team on the turnaround plan
- Built service and operations plan for peak season trading
- Appointed experienced Supply Chain Director to work on the warehouse and logistics plan
- After 6 weeks business was sold to Wesfarmers and became part of their DIY chain Bunnings
- Completed successful handover to Bunnings team
Chief Operating Officer and Board member
Tesco
Izmir
05.2011 - 04.2015
Hypermarket Operations Director
Tesco Extra
Welwyn Garden City
10.2010 - 05.2011
Stores Director
Tesco
Warrington
03.2008 - 10.2010
Supply Chain Manager
Tesco
Cheshunt
01.2007 - 02.2008
Operations Manager
Tesco
Tokyo
10.2004 - 01.2007
Education
Advanced Leadership Programme - Retailing
Tesco
UK & International12-2012
Leadership and Business Development diploma - Service, People and Finance
Insead
France09.2009
GCSEs - Multiple
Idsall School
06.1990
Skills
- Customer service improvement programmes
- Staff engagement and retention
- Change management
- Leading transformation
- Team building and growth
- Leading large teams
- Developing self and others
- Performance management
- Strategic thinking
- Full profit & loss budget setting, management and delivery
- Highly adaptable to new business and culture
- Lean six sigma
Certification
First aid trained
LTA level 3 licensed professional tennis coach
Affiliations
- Advanced driver trained
- County champion tennis player as a junior, adult, and senior
- International champion as a senior
Timeline
Operations Director and Executive Committee Member
Azerbaijan Supermarkets Bravo
11.2022 - Current
Chief Operating Officer and Board Member
OBA market
11.2021 - 10.2022
Non-Executive Director
MyPura.com
02.2021 - Current
Ewan McMahon Consulting Ltd
Self employed
09.2018 - Current
Group Operations Director and Board member
Iceland Foods
11.2016 - 08.2018
Retail Operations Director and Board member
Homebase
12.2015 - 04.2016
Chief Operating Officer and Board member
Tesco
05.2011 - 04.2015
Hypermarket Operations Director
Tesco Extra
10.2010 - 05.2011
Stores Director
Tesco
03.2008 - 10.2010
Supply Chain Manager
Tesco
01.2007 - 02.2008
Operations Manager
Tesco
10.2004 - 01.2007
Advanced Leadership Programme - Retailing
Tesco
Leadership and Business Development diploma - Service, People and Finance
Insead
GCSEs - Multiple
Idsall School
Similar Profiles
Javid NamazovJavid Namazov
Head of the Commercial Analytics at Bravo Azerbaijan Supermarket LLCHead of the Commercial Analytics at Bravo Azerbaijan Supermarket LLC
Aygul AvazzadeAygul Avazzade
Career Development Specialist at Bravo Supermarkets / PASHA GroupCareer Development Specialist at Bravo Supermarkets / PASHA Group
Zeus MelendezZeus Melendez
Grocery Associate at Bravo SupermarketsGrocery Associate at Bravo Supermarkets