Chief Operating Officer
Ref: 256921
London, United Kingdom
£650 per day
- Contract
- Operations Transformation
- Supply Chain Leadership
- Immediately Available
About the candidate
A board-level operations leader with a strong track record across transformation, supply chain, logistics, distribution and operational scale-up. They have led complex, multi-site operations across manufacturing, retail, healthcare and pharmaceutical environments, with experience spanning international freight, 3PL management, warehousing, transport, procurement, inventory, customer operations and regulated supply chains.
They are particularly strong in fast-moving growth, turnaround and integration environments, bringing a practical, data-led style that balances customer service, cost control, working capital and operational risk. Available immediately for contract leadership roles, they are well suited to businesses looking for an experienced operator to stabilise performance, scale capability or deliver transformation at pace.
What makes them great?
- Proven value creation: Helped scale a multi-site manufacturing and distribution business from around £70m to £100m revenue by strengthening operational infrastructure, processes and capability.
- Strong cost and working capital focus: Delivered a 15% reduction in international freight costs and reduced inventory by 27% across an Asia-Europe sourcing and distribution network.
- Service improvement at scale: Improved national complete-prescription fulfilment from around 84% to 98% in a regulated pharmaceutical operation, while leading an 850-FTE national team and managing a c.£32m operating budget.
Areas of expertise
- Operational Transformation: Experienced in redesigning operating models, improving processes and leading enterprise-wide change across supply chain, logistics, manufacturing and customer operations.
- Supply Chain & Logistics Leadership: Strong background across international inbound freight, UK and European distribution, 3PL partnerships, transport networks, inventory planning and temperature-controlled supply chains.
- Growth, Turnaround & Integration: Has supported business scaling, post-acquisition integration, investor-readiness and divestment activity across complex, multi-site organisations.