Simon Knapp, Principal - Queensland

Career Profile

Simon is a seasoned financial and management executive with a proven track record of building high-performance executive teams in a variety of highly competitive industries, cutting edge markets, and face paced environments.

Having worked with leading blue-chip companies (Flight Centre, Tesco Ltd, PRDnationwide, Azadea Group) and world leading consumer brands (Zara, Mango, Sunglass Hut, Paul Café, Virgin Megastore), Simon is able to combine his strategic/tactical financial expertise with strong qualifications in business development, strategic operations and financial management. 

With international experience in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and the Middle East, Simon is skilled at establishing operational excellence within culturally diverse environments, translating conceptual models into specific gross revenue and EBITDA initiatives, and capturing significant cost reductions through process redesign and performance enhancement.

Simon has a passion for working with entrepreneurial businesses looking to expand or those requiring a change of direction and is in his element either developing strategic financial/management plans or in a hands on operational role.

Recent Career Highlights

·       Formulated a financial/operational recovery package to arrest the un-expected sales cannibalization effect coinciding the company's planned expansion. Effort eliminated $560 k monthly cash burn rate, reduced operating headcounts by 252 through a regional employee re-deployment and redundancies program, and generated $7.6m with the sale of key portfolio assets.

·       Pioneered a financial model to monitor the merchandise inventory and operating margin levels during seasonal sale periods across 191 regional stores, that when implemented, resulted in reduction of a $1.8m group balance sheet seasonal write off impact;

·       Launched a reengineering program of existing commission structures across 26 stores that delivered unprecedented results by accelerating sales in excess of $1500 per square metre while reducing salary productivity ratios from 8 to 5 percent.

·       Designed and implemented a supply chain & logistics management system, including appointment of local clearing agents and securing of warehouse facilities, that resulted in the import and on time delivery of all construction material and inaugural store merchandise

·       Designed and executed the recruitment plans for 19 support function (including direct appointment of all management positions) and 124 store employee positions;

Areas of Expertise

·       Strategic & Operational Business Planning.

·       Cost Reduction/Containment & Profit Optimisation

·       Re-engineering Operations & Process Improvement

·       Capital Expenditure Analysis, Planning & Funding

·       Re-organisation & Turnaround Management

·       Management Reporting Design and Implementation

Industry Experience

·       Retail (Fashion, Food & Beverage, Home Furnishings, Multi Media)

·       Wholesale & Distribution

·       Professional Services

·       Hospitality and Entertainment

Contact Simon Knapp