Iain McFadyen
Torworth
Summary
Multi-site retail professional with over 16 years of executive experience, including 11 years in director roles. Proven track record in setting strategic direction and achieving ambitious KPIs. Expertise in people, product, and project management, leading and motivating both individuals and large teams to success.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Director of Store Operations
Aldi Stores Ltd
Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire
2010.07 - 2026.06
- Various management and executive roles held within the fastest growing grocery retailer in the UK. Experience of managing growth and expansion as the company accelerated from a 3% market share in 2010 to over 10% in the following 14 years.
National Project Management Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
2024.09 - Current
- Key Responsibilities:
- National lead on International Business Operations transformation project
- Responsible for controlling and managing International projects throughout UK and Ireland
- Responsible for design, operation and implementation of Self Checkout project in UK&I, including AI capabilities
- National responsibility for various technical and operational projects including full P&L control
- Chair of the National Customer Working Group
- Responsible for overseeing design and delivery of National training required for various rollouts
- Responsible for National communication strategy, engaging multiple stakeholders at both National and Regional levels
Director of Store Operations
2020.03 - 2024.09
- Key Responsibilities:
- Determine the strategic direction of the region in line with the National goals and objectives
- Determine and implement the strategic direction of various projects within the National Store Operations Committee
- Manage a portfolio of 35 stores with an annual turnover in excess of £600m
- Delivery of commercial KPIs: EBIT, payroll, availability, wastage, customer service, inventory, employee turnover and H&S compliance targets
- Full Regional P&L responsibility, managing a budget in excess of £100m
- Development of a team of 15 Area Managers and 3 assistants
- Personnel responsibility for c.1000 members of staff
- Recruitment and co-ordination of the salaried management teams
- Management of PR, comms and Crisis Management experience
- National lead for key events operations planning and co-ordination
- Management of the National mystery shop programme for Store Operations
- Regional lead on National IT transformation project
- National lead for Corporate Responsibility within operations
- National lead for Industrial Relations
- Link liaison with Logistics and Property departments
- Key Achievements:
- Identified for the Aldi Talent Management programme, Accelerate
- Implemented a cost reduction strategy which saved over £6m annually in labour costs by improving the forecast accuracy and reliability for S&OP efficacy during a period of unpredictable growth
- Implemented a cost reduction strategy which saved over £4m annually in wastage costs
- Achieved our National 2020 waste tonnage target in 2023 by sourcing and developing a multiyear partnership with a leading waste diversion company
- Part of a team which created more accurate, Nationally adopted wastage metrics
- Implemented new customer service metrics which improved NPS by over 2ppts
Buying Director - Wine
2019.03 - 2020.03
- Key Responsibilities:
- Delivery of commercial KPIs: value, volume, cash profit and true margin net of operational costs
- Category P&L of c.£400m turnover
- Developed the category trading strategy, turning customer insight into tangible plans and delivering these through both internal team members and supply base
- Developed a team of 5 Buying Managers
- Management and design of branding and packaging, working cross-functionally with marketing and PR to ensure the category gained appropriate share of voice, particularly at seasonal trading periods
- Developing relationships and influencing senior stakeholders within the supply base of c.20 suppliers
- Winner of the ‘Drinks Retailer of the Year’ at the Retail Industry Awards 2019 and 2020
- Key Achievements:
- A full-range strategic review which resulted in significant developments across every product in the category
- Significant cost savings achieved; including €3.6m on Prosecco alone
- Successful launch of a new overarching brand strategy which saw every product in the range redesigned and/or reformulated
- Successfully developed a 6 year business plan and contract with our Champagne supplier to jointly mitigate commodity inflation and deliver value growth for both businesses
- Identified £450k of cost savings through secondary packaging design homogenisation as well as a thorough market review of bottle weight vs. tiering
- Co-ordinated and chaired a key supplier conference for both existing and potential suppliers which led to greater alignment and clarity of vision
Director of Store Operations
2015.06 - 2019.03
- Key Responsibilities:
- Manage a portfolio of 30 stores with an annual turnover in excess of £450m
- Delivery of commercial KPIs: EBIT, payroll, availability, wastage, customer service, inventory, employee turnover and H&S compliance targets
- Full Regional P&L responsibility, managing a budget in excess of £90m
- Development of a team of 13 Area Managers and 2 assistants
- Personnel responsibility for c.850 members of staff
- Nationally responsible for customer service mystery shop programme
- Personal link liaison with the Logistics and Property departments
- Member of the National Store Operations Committee
- Key Achievements:
- Number 1 Region from 2015-2019 for; EBIT, availability, customer service, and wastage
- £100k cost saving achieved on negotiation with the customer service mystery shop programme
- Co-ordinated and chaired training for c.300 Area Managers on industrial relations
- Developed and introduced new National management contracts to allow greater flexibility for recruitment which also achieved a cost saving of over £300k
Area Manager
2010.07 - 2015.06
- Key Responsibilities:
- Manage a portfolio of up to 6 stores, across 4 separate areas in 3 different regions
- Personnel responsibility for c.150 members of staff
- Developing sales through strong availability, accuracy of merchandising and excellent customer service
- Controlling costs through minimizing wastage, controlling payroll and having a tight control of inventory and stock management
- Regional lead for key events operations and planning
- Recruited employees for stores through years of 60%+ YoY sales growth
- Key Achievements:
- Lowest payroll 2014
- Number 1 area for overall KPIs 2013
Marketing and Events Department (Masters Internship)
Nike EMEA
2009.06 - 2010.07
Aftersales Marketing Specialist (Industrial Placement Year)
General Motors
2007.06 - 2008.06
Education
Masters Degree - MSc Business Management (Scholarship)
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester06.2010
Undergraduate Degree - BA (Hons) Marketing Management
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester06.2009
Skills
- Omnichannel management
- Leadership of large teams
- KPI focussed
- Managing growth
- Calm under pressure
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
- Public speaking
- Team building
- Strategic planning
- Change management
- Relationship management
- Conflict resolution
References
References available upon request
Training
- On the Job Training – Including negotiation, driving high performance teams, strategic decision making, recruitment training, managing conflict, inspiring and motivating experienced teams, change management
- External Training – Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Award in Wines, GAP Complete Skilled Negotiator, GAP Strategic Negotiator, Employment Law, Data Driven Insights
Timeline
National Project Management Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
2024.09 - Current
Director of Store Operations
2020.03 - 2024.09
Buying Director - Wine
2019.03 - 2020.03
Director of Store Operations
2015.06 - 2019.03
Director of Store Operations
Aldi Stores Ltd
2010.07 - 2026.06
Area Manager
2010.07 - 2015.06
Marketing and Events Department (Masters Internship)
Nike EMEA
2009.06 - 2010.07
Aftersales Marketing Specialist (Industrial Placement Year)
General Motors
2007.06 - 2008.06
Masters Degree - MSc Business Management (Scholarship)
Manchester Metropolitan University
Undergraduate Degree - BA (Hons) Marketing Management
Manchester Metropolitan University