Mark Oliver has over 30 years of experience in fashion retail, furniture, and food and beverage businesses. He is currently the General Manager of Brands International in Dubai, where he oversees 22 men's clothing brands, a women's shoe brand, and an outdoor lifestyle brand across retail stores in multiple countries. Previously, he held senior management roles such as General Manager and Divisional Operations Manager. He has a strong track record of achieving business goals through strategic planning, team leadership, and optimizing operations. Oliver is skilled in areas like retail management, people management, financial planning, and product strategy. He holds a marketing diploma and various other qualifications.

1. CV
Mark Llewellyn Paul Oliver
Mobile: +971 50 326 5136
Email: markoliver50@gmail.com
Nationality: South African
PROFILE
A professional Retail Specialist with extensive knowledge of fashion retail, trader mentality
and financial acumen. A proven track record of over 30 years in fashion apparel, mid to high
end furniture and food and beverage businesses.
Success achieved as a result of leading teams by example, treating people with mutual
respect, trust and transparency with open 2-way communication. Displays self-confidence,
believes strongly in integrity and demands high expectations by continuously challenging
team. Assertive although fair and consistent, performing to reach deadlines.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
RDP Graduate School of Business - UCT Cape Town, SA
Marketing Management Diploma - Damelin Management College
Performance Management System - Certified Trainer
Certified Assessor and Moderator - SA Labour Act
Participation in external and internal Personal Development specialist courses and seminars
CORE SKILLS
General Management
Retail Operations:
• Project management, opening of new stores within strict timelines and within
budget.
• Maximization of profits, return on investment and commercially astute.
• Devising and implementation of medium to long term business strategic plans.
• Lead business planning including strategic market entry (countries and segments),
brand franchise acquisitions and development.
• Product and pricing strategies, managing brand location strategy and developing
brand marketing communication strategies.
• Strong retail experience in sales, operations and products with particular attention
to detailed visual merchandising.
• Successful track record of multi-site retail management experience.
• Manage supplier relationships to ensure high service levels and optimal terms and
conditions.
• Maintain awareness of market trends.
• Leveraging technology with different sales channels and marketing.
People Management:
• Staff recruitment, development, motivation and training with focus on succession
planning and retention of superb performers.
• Influencing and collaborative in style.
• Influence, create and lead teams with a proven track record of delivering success
through teamwork and interpersonal leadership skills.
• Able to comfortably manage complex issues whist being culturally sensitive.
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2. • Confident and articulate communicator with effective influencing and negotiation
skills.
• Create an environment where all employees develop and excel.
• Constructively and fairly address negative contributions.
Business Strategic Planning:
• Prepare annual business financial planning and budgeting of company sales, brand
margins, costs and profit.
• Be fully accountable for the P&L delivery and growth of the company and brands.
• Devised and presented comprehensive short/medium and long term Strategic
Business Plans
Purchasing:
• Prepare detailed analysis and budget planning, product selection, pricing, product
flow, distribution.
• Identify underperforming brands and develop strategic business plans to support,
address and manage issues effectively.to o
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
General Manager, Brands International, Dubai, UAE March 2015 - present
Reporting directly to Chairman of Brands International which is a wholesale/uniform and
retail company with 22 own men’s brands, 1 ladies shoe brand and 1 outdoor lifestyle brand.
Retail stores in UAE, Oman, KSA, and Qatar. Wholesale in Africa and formal/semi-formal
uniform supplier to business.
Responsibilities:
• Proactively manage the efficiency and productivity of the retail and wholesale
businesses at all levels.
• Achieve the maximization of profits and return on investment over the medium to
long term by prudent and efficient use of resources.
• Provide leadership and vision to achieve and exceed business strategic plans whilst
evaluating and reporting progress.
• To grow the business by providing vision, inspiration and professionalism of the
highest standard.
Achievements:
• Developed and implemented comprehensive policies, procedures and processes
across the whole business including Operations, HR, Merchandise, Marketing,
Logistics and Planning/Purchasing.
• Developed short and medium comprehensive strategic business plans.
• Consolidated brands into a focused buying matrix which was represented by brand
representation in retail stores.
• Developed Role Descriptions for all personnel in the company
• Conducted internal advanced Leadership development training
• Implemented KPI reports throughout the entire business for sales, merchandise
planning, purchasing and logistics.
• Instituted a culture of transparency, responsibility and accountability across all
business units.
• Developed Visual Presentation Manual to achieve consistency of standards.
• Successfully opened 12 new stores.
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3. General Manager, Mazrui Retail, Dubai, UAE June 2007 – February 2015
Style House Fashion Trading Company, Eldiar Furniture and Steers (F/B).
Reporting to CEO. Company has 14 stores with 4 fashion brands, 1 store furniture brand
plus food and beverage outlet.
Responsibilities:
• Proactively manage the efficiency and productivity of the retail, furniture and food
and beverage businesses at all levels.
• Achieve the maximization of profits and return on investment over the medium to
long term by prudent and efficient use of resources.
• Provide leadership and vision to achieve and exceed business strategic plans whilst
evaluating and reporting progress.
• To grow the business by providing vision, inspiration and professionalism of the
highest standard.
Achievements:
• Initiated establishing the company from its inception with strategic support
departments and organizational structure (Finance, HR, IT, Marketing, Merchandise
and Operations) to achieve the aggressive store development and strategic business
plans.
• Successfully initiated, negotiated and acquired the International brands of Noa Noa,
Part Two and the food and beverage brand of Steers.
• Developed short and medium comprehensive strategic business plans
• Successfully re -positioned and re-established the furniture brand into profitability.
• Introduced and implemented best practice international standards to the retail
sector.
• Developed all policies and procedures for the company, including vision and values
of our business to which all personnel live and behave by.
• Devised a comprehensive Retail Operations and Industrial Relations Manuals.
• Initiated to be one of the first on-line retailers/multi-channel marketing strategy and
purchasing supplier model.
• Reduced operating costs of the fashion business by 9.6% and the furniture business
by over 13%.
• Increased comparable store revenue by 14.2%.
Divisional Operations Manager, November 1986 –
May 2007
Truworths International, South Africa
Company represented 64 multi-brand stores (ladies, men’s, children, fashion apparel, fine
jewelry, cosmetics, shoes and accessories). Annual turnover over US$140 million through
240 sqm to over 3000 sqm sized stores. Responsible for International Franchise Operations
in Africa.
Responsibilities:
• To contribute to the Corporate Company and Divisional objectives by providing
overall leadership for the designated Division to ensure that the agreed financial
goals and standards are achieved by the utilization of available resources and
systems.
• Assigned additional responsibility of International Franchise Operations.
• Lead and represented Truworths in landmark Labour Arbitration Case.
• Awarded CEO’s citation at Truworths for Outstanding Commitment.
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4. Executive Director, J & J Holdings, South Africa April 1986 –
June 1986
Marketing and Promotional Director for the in-house agency established to provide below
and above the line support to the holding company’s subsidiaries. Due to international
sanctions (General Motors) on South Africa, a number of the holding company’s subsidiaries
were closed and the need for marketing and promotional agency ceased.
Area Manager, Scotts Retail, South Africa April 1982 – March 1986
Over 20 stores retailing mass market footwear, ladies, men’s and children’s apparel.
Management Trainee/Flagship Merchandise Manager –Edgars/Sales House South Africa
January 1980 – April 1982
Personal Achievements:
• Selected to represent South Africa in the International Wilderness Leadership
School.
• Initiated the Wynand Claassen Rugby Day ‘7-a- Side’ Tournament in Natal,
South Africa with 30 teams participating.
• Initiated and organized the Twilight Street Children Fun Run in which over 10,000
children took part.
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