1. GRAHAM BROWNLIE Curriculum Vitae
GRAHAM BROWNLIE
11 Jacks View, West Kilbride, KA 23 9HX.
Home Phone UK: +44-1294- 829-335
Mobile Phone Sri Lanka : +94-777-847357
E-mail: wediditsl@gmail.com
Education Languages
1985 BA (Honours) Business Law Spanish highly proficient
Upper Second Class Honours Degree French proficient
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Interests References
Travel and Fitness Available upon request
Spinning Instructor and Run Coach
Residency
UK citizen
Australian permanent resident
Sri Lankan resident
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2. GRAHAM BROWNLIE Curriculum Vitae
Career Profile Graham Brownlie
I have extensive international General Management and Sales/ Business Development
Management experience gained in business to business, consumer and tourism markets in Europe,
Asia, Australasia, North and South America.
Having worked for multinational organisations globally I have successfully launched businesses in
Sri Lanka in the fields of tourism and health and well being.
Recent assignments included advising Brandix one of Sri Lanka’s largest organisations on
strategic sales and marketing initiatives as well as assisting diverse business units within South
Asia.
After graduating with a Business Law degree I entered business in 1986 and my career highlights
include:
• Launching Amazing Adventures Lanka and Sri Lanka’s leading themed tours and corporate
events business
• Launching Entertrainers Sri Lanka’s 1st
Group Fitness Studio
• Leading a multinational organisation’s Asian business unit to be awarded the most
improved business globally through the introduction of corporate values programs and
management performance initiatives leading to business performance of > 60% ROCE
• Merging successfully major South American competitors whilst maintaining market share
and improving margins by 5%
• Developing and implementing a major Australasian group’s international growth strategy
Key skills include sales and business development along with opening and developing new
markets.
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3. GRAHAM BROWNLIE Curriculum Vitae
Career History
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Director Amazing Adventures Lanka (Private) Limited
October 2014-Present
Established and launched business focussing on themed tours, corporate events and health and well
being tourism.
Gained investment/ partnership of Jetwing Sri Lanka’s leading hotel and travel group.
Key Highlights:
Launched Sri Lanka’s First Segway style themed tours Colombo and Galle.
Launched Amazing Events including Land Rover Amazing Colombo Romp.
Launched Amazing Corporate events with leading clients including Millennium IT, Young
Presidents Organisation, CIMA, MAS Holdings.
Gained Support and Sponsorship of Sri Lanka Tourism
Partnered Celebrate Colombo and HSBC Colombo Fashion Week
GB Consulting
March 2010-October 2014
Joint Founder and Operator Entertrainers Group and Personal Fitness Solutions Lanka Pvt Ltd the
pioneers in Sri Lanka’s group fitness industry and corporate team building events.
Consultancy to Brandix Asia advising directors and senior management of business units on sales
and marketing strategy and key market strategic development.Particular focus has been on
developing sewing thread subsidiaries strategy and sales and marketing initiatives in Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka.
Head of American and Erfird South Asian Retailer Services helping A+E develop regional product
nominations with global retailers.
Consultant with Permanser a boutique recruitment specialist on strategy and business development
including work in Asia.
Advising Albi Imports a leading Australian homeware and kitchen distributor on entry strategy to
Australia’s largest supermarket chain.
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4. GRAHAM BROWNLIE Curriculum Vitae
Managing Director
Coats Thread Exports,Colombo- Sri Lanka
June 2009-March 2010
Following a dramatic fall in business performance I returned to a business I led from 2003 to 2006
on a short term assignment to turnaround business fortunes.With my intimate knowledge of the
business and market I led sales improvement of more than 30% and established business
reorganisation and profit improvement measures within 6 months.
Key Accountabilities
• Responsible for Coats Thread Lanka’s industrial and consumer business in Sri Lanka
• Employees 500
• 2 business units
Key Achievements
• Turnaround sales to year on year growth rate by more than 30%
• Increase trading profit by 100%
• Reorganise manufacturing and distribution processes and 50 head count reduction
• Reduce NWC to sales by 33%
• Increase prior year Funds Generated From Operations by 71%
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Country Spinners, Melbourne - Australia
February 2006 – April 2009
I was assigned to ACS following a change in ownership after the business had lost significant
market share in its core consumer division and a dramatic decline in its industrial market.
Key Accountabilities
• Manage ACS following acquisition of Coats owners Guinness Peat Group of 50% of ACS
• Run consumer and industrial sales divisions
• Employees 200
• 2 business units
Key Achievements
• Major business reorganisation transforming a manufacturing led business to a sales and
marketing consumer branded business resulting in 15% sales increase
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5. GRAHAM BROWNLIE Curriculum Vitae
• Personally led consumer sales and key account strategies in major retailers leading to improved
customer relations resulting in recovery of lost market share at Big W, Spotlight and Lincraft,
whilst regaining supply to Woolworths
• Restructure of sales team leading to specialist independent channel sales team and national key
account management
• Personally develop and lead export sales strategy to underpin industrial volume reductions by
increasing sales to UK , Germany , USA , Canada and Italy to account for > 10% of volume
• Reorganisation projects implemented to achieve multi million dollar turnaround
• Reorganisation of Australian manufacturing operations including exit of loss making activities
resulting in manning reduction of 60
• Relocation of Melbourne based distribution centre to Victorian manufacturing unit
• Established India as strategic source of supply improving margins by more than 10%
Managing Director
Coats Thread Lanka, Colombo - Sri Lanka
April 2003 – February 2007
I was assigned to Coats Sri Lanka to manage a major business unit in a period of market
uncertainty due to changes in global tariff regimes. Having developed a clear strategy and view for
the business I led significant business improvement measures leading to Coats Sri Lanka being
awarded Coats most improved business in 2004 as well as growing sales by 30% in first year as a
result of personal leadership of key account sales management.
Key Accountabilities
• Responsible for Coats Thread Lanka’s industrial and consumer business in Sri Lanka
• Develop and implement Sri Lankan strategy post global textile quota systems
• Report to CEO of South East Asia
Key Achievements
• Increased Coats Thread Lanka’s profitability to exceed all group financial ratios of excellence
including ROS >25% and ROCE > 60%
• Sri Lanka awarded Coats most improved business in 2004
• Transformed business culture by implementing Coats values through innovative Personal Best
campaign
• Increased sales ahead of market with > 10% annual growth
• Reduced Net Working Capital to Sales by 40%
• Introduced Coats Sewing Solutions offer to key industrial customers resulting in increased
market share and margins
• Implemented Occupational Health and Safety Policy leading to >350 days accident free in 2005
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6. GRAHAM BROWNLIE Curriculum Vitae
Sales and Marketing Director
Coats Andean, Medellin - Colombia
September 2001 – April 2003
I was asked to rejoin Coats and help merge Coats and DMC industrial thread and consumer
businesses in Andean markets whilst maintaining dominant market share despite major global
competitors entering the Colombian market.
Key Accountabilities
• Responsible for integration of Coats and DMC sales and marketing divisions in Colombia,
Venezuela and Ecuador.
• Officially Sales and Marketing Director I was posted as Coats Director responsible to Regional
CEO for establishing Coats Andean strategy to integrate the dominant market leading
operations in Andean region of Coats and DMC businesses
Key Achievements
• Successfully implemented merger strategy whilst maintaining market share
• Developed one specialist consumer division in Colombia and all Andean markets
• Created two complimentary industrial sales offerings between Coats and DMC whilst
standardizing source of supply resulting in margin improvement of 5% and market share
protection inspite of new global competitors entering Colombian market
• Introduced performance management system to sales and marketing teams
• Introduced corporate values and communication process resulting in improved employee
morale and business focus
Pacifc Brands,Melbourne- Australia
Head of International Sales
International Business Development Manager
Berlei , Sydney - Australia
April 1999 – August 2001
After initially leading Berlei’s export business I was appointed to head Pacific Brands international
sales creating a new division within Australasia’s largest branded apparel,shoe and sporting goods
marketer.
Key Achievements
• Appointed Head of Pacific Brands international sales in October 2000
• Increased Berlei exports by 150%
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7. GRAHAM BROWNLIE Curriculum Vitae
• Increase Berlei export EBIT to 13%
• Established entry into UK via Marks and Spencer PLC and Evans
• Developed USA customer base to include Limited Brands Lane Bryant, Liz Claiborne and
Jockey
• Established entry into Canada and India
• Established entry into Singapore and Malaysia
General Manager (August 1995- April 1999)
Sales and Marketing Manager (August 1993 – August 1995)
Sartel Marcoc, Casablanca - Morocco
Key Achievements
• Transformed loss making business to Return on Capital Employed 20% in 2007.
• Trebled turnover whilst rationalizing customer base.
• Established successful industrial strategy focusing on European specified business.
• Restructured sales force to include Key Account Management for international cross border
accounts.
• Managed European retail specifiers e.g. Marks & Spencer.
• Resolved US$2 million customs liability.
• Reduced debtors days from >300 in 1993 to 60 in 1997.
Business Development Manager
Coat Limited UK, Leicester - UK
September 1992 - August 1993
Southern States Sales Manager
CMA, Melbourne - Australia
February 1990- August 1992
Product Manager
CMA, Melbourne - Australia
February 1988 - February 1990
Management Trainee/Consumer Sales Manager
Coats Patons New Zealand Ltd, Auckland - New Zealand
January 1987 - February 1988
Graduate Management Trainee
J&P Coats Ltd, Glasgow – UK
September 1986 - December 1986
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