Panos K

Recognized for elevating regional performance, I positioned the portfolio among UNIQLO Canada’s highest-performing regions while directing operations across 10 high-volume stores representing a C$60M+ portfolio. I led and developed 120+ team members, including district managers and store leaders, and drove flagship profitability at Toronto Eaton Centre and Metrotown, Vancouver, through localized, analytics-driven strategies. I maintained operational excellence through rigorous compliance audits, visual merchandising oversight, workforce optimization, and close collaboration with Merchandising and Logistics to execute F/W and S/S launches with optimal product presentation and allocation timing. I also led recurring daily, weekly, and monthly market calls to align teams on KPIs, performance insights, and service quality initiatives, while advancing omnichannel integration to unify digital and in-store customer experiences. Additionally, I oversaw capital allocation and budget governance, providing strategic direction for up to C$13M in project budgets covering leasehold improvements, store build-outs, technology infrastructure, and pre-launch operations. I partnered closely with C-level and Head Office leadership on P&L planning, scalability, and long-term capital strategy, and collaborated with retail operations, finance, and expansion teams to develop Store Development Proposals (SDPs) grounded in market research, sales projections, CAPEX and OPEX modeling, lease terms, and ROI forecasts. To support data-driven decision-making, I leveraged ERP, POS, and BI platforms, including SAP, Power BI, and Oracle, to deliver real-time visibility into performance and operational health across the portfolio.

Oversaw an 8,000 sq. ft. retail operation with a C$2.5M P&L, managing 2,500+ SKUs and C$500K in inventory while ranking in the top 40% nationally for profitability and service. Delivered consistent NPS scores of 85-100, maintained shrinkage below 1%, and achieved double-digit year-over-year growth through data-driven planning and targeted execution. Ensured full compliance with Ontario occupational health and safety regulations, maintained rigorous financial controls (cash flow, deposits, variances, audits), and leveraged Power BI, Excel, POS, and ERP systems to monitor sales, shrink, conversion, and availability KPIs in real time. Sustained 95–97% on-shelf availability through disciplined FIFO rotation, vendor coordination, accurate cycle counts, PO management, delivery reconciliation, and shrink controls across Microsoft NAV/365, LS Retail, and Excel. Built, coached, and led a high-performing team of 10-13 associates (Keyholders and Team Lead), achieving 100% training completion, operational consistency, and customer-experience excellence. Partnered closely with HQ on visual merchandising, omnichannel initiatives (Click & Collect, DoorDash, Autoship), and new product launches. Conducted account audits and ledger checks, managed invoicing and B2B/B2C order workflows, and executed service-recovery outreach with clear SLAs and documentation. Provided remote L1/L2 operational and technical support, resolving routine and complex issues efficiently, while driving community engagement and shelter partnerships to strengthen brand reputation and regional visibility.

Delivered high-quality remote customer and technical support within Apple’s service ecosystem, operating in a metrics-driven environment with strict quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction standards. Developed strong diagnostic, communication, and documentation discipline while managing complex customer interactions in a fully remote setting.

Led program and project delivery for 38 automated retail expansion initiatives across 12–16 EMEA markets, coordinating engineering, logistics, commercial, and partner stakeholders from planning through go-live. Translated growth strategy into sequenced rollout plans, standardized delivery playbooks, and repeatable operating models across robotics, SaaS, and physical deployment. Owned multi-market partner engagements, contributing to €2M+ in closed deals through data-driven proposals, negotiations, and ROI modeling. Built executive dashboards in Salesforce and Tableau to provide visibility into pipeline health, deployment status, and post-launch performance while supporting C-level customer engagements for global brands.

Managed multi-site fleet operations programs across the UK and EU, improving delivery reliability through structured scheduling, turnaround planning, and stakeholder coordination. Project-managed new site launches end-to-end, covering business cases, budgets, resourcing, readiness assessments, and go-live governance. Established operational standards through SOPs, safety protocols, and quality benchmarks, driving consistent adoption across locations. Oversaw third-party vendors and contracts, setting SLAs, tracking performance, and mitigating operational risk through proactive planning and audit readiness.

Supported SME financing operations through pipeline coordination, client engagement, and field execution, working closely with sales agents to qualify opportunities and support deal progression. Contributed to operational oversight of field activity while ensuring alignment between commercial objectives and on-the-ground execution.

Managed day-to-day store operations, team leadership, sales performance, and merchandising execution within a high-volume retail environment. Supported operational standards, customer experience, and commercial targets through hands-on leadership and disciplined execution.

Oversaw store operations, people management, and sales execution in a specialty retail context, balancing customer experience with inventory control, merchandising standards, and team performance. Built early leadership experience through direct accountability for daily operations and service quality.

As a Regional Operations Manager, I oversaw multiple high-volume retail locations across the western region, leading a distributed workforce and ensuring operational consistency across all sites. I focused on identifying key performance gaps and implemented targeted improvements in team training, resource allocation, and product strategies to elevate overall business performance and operational efficiency. My role encompassed full-spectrum oversight, including: business operations, financial planning and analysis, team coaching, visual merchandising, and loss prevention. I developed store-specific performance strategies to address underperformance and optimised merchandising across all locations to align with seasonal trends and market demands. In addition to operational responsibilities, I provided hands-on support for IT infrastructure, ensuring functionality of security systems, point-of-sale devices, and in-store technology. I actively rotated across stores weekly, addressing concerns, leading on-the-ground improvements, and liaising directly with head office to report performance, risks, and strategic insights.

Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Skills, Professional Development for Strategic Managers, Strategic Change Management, Developing Corporate Culture, Creative and Innovative Management, Corporate Communication Strategies, Managing Corporate Responsibility in the Wider Business Environment, Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Quality and Systems Management, Strategic Planning, Managing Financial Principles and Techniques, Strategic Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Developing Successful Business Teams, Research Methods for Strategic Managers, Project Development and Implementation for Strategic Managers.