Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Referees
Timeline
Generic

John Austin

Waiau Pa,AUK

Summary

Accomplished Leader in supply chain, FMCG and business development with a proven 20+ yr track record of scaling & improving businesses ground up.

Experienced in leading & creating large multifunctional teams across complex networks & supply chains.

Skilled in negotiation and financial acumen, consistently surpassed sales and budget targets. Calm & measured team player with strong organizational skills.

Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience

Work History

General Manager - ECommerce

Woolworths NZ
11.2022 - Current
  • NZs largest ecommerce platform & business, turnover of + $1B
  • Lead large cross functional teams
  • Responsible for growth & commercial outcomes
  • Proud of being part of a small team initially that grew and scaled a business from $300 m to over $1B inside of 4 years
  • Involvement in all facets & aspect of scaling this business from platforms, teams, last mile, automation, network
  • Developed network from inception to 5 dedicated sites 3 of which are automated + in-store network in 190 stores
  • In sourced fleet logistic business of 300 contractors
  • Built out a profitable multi faceted Sub60 Pick up & delivery offer, instigated & led Milkrun inception into NZ

Head of ECommerce & New Ventures

Woolworths NZ
10.2021 - 11.2022
  • Consolidated role to include operations & Last mile, trading & new businesses into one role for WWNZ eCommerce platform
  • New Business opportunities , Pharmacy, Online liquor - Vineonline Logistics, SUB60 grocery
  • Network Development - went live with 2 new dedicated estores ( 1 GTP automation)
  • Scaled network response to COVID, grew order volume by ~35k orders per week in a short period, including closing 6 bricks & mortar supermarkets to fulfill online orders.

Head of ECommerce Logistics, Ops& New Ventures

Woolworths NZ
08.2020 - 10.2021
  • Extended responsibilities including leadership of Woolworth's NZ dedicated eStores
  • New Business ventures

Head of ECommerce Operations and Logistics

Woolworths NZ
05.2018 - 06.2020
  • Instigated and lead NZ Ultra convenience program which was aimed improving the convenience of our offer and at shifting mix to pick up.
  • Scoped & Instigated our Sub60 stratgy incl Uber Eats, Milkrun WWNZ Express Pick Up & Delivery
  • Set up world leading pick up & estore network, Pick up network future proofed for growth of gig economy drivers,
  • Defined network strartegy & set up teams & processes to deliver - 60 Direct to Boot sites & 60 elockers + 5 Estores + 90 in store hubs

ECommerce Logistics Business Manager

Woolworths NZ
06.2017 - 05.2018
  • Brought into role as part of a business focus to scale a network advantage WWNZ eCommerce business
  • Initial Focus was to work cross functionally across business & double capacity & sales
  • Streamlined business processes by implementing new team structures & processes
  • Increased overall team productivity by fostering a positive work environment and providing effective leadership.
  • Procurement exercis of delivery model realising $4M savings PA
  • Developed strategic partnerships with key internal & external stakeholders leading to significant growth opportunities for the company.

National Transport & Optimisation ManagerNational

Woolworths NZ
02.2016 - 10.2016
  • Extended secondment as NZ Transport & Optimisation manager, responsibilities included all NZ warehousing and freight contacts, service levels and optimisation.
  • Review of NZ transport Network & procurment exercise & resulting in significant service improvement & cost reductions ($6M PA)
  • Improvements in all safety measures & customer & business metrics

Third Party Logistics & Primary Freight Manager

Progressive Enterprises Ltd
06.2015 - 02.2016
  • Internal Promotion merging Primary Freight Portfolio with 3PL Role
  • Initial focus was replatform of TMS & Invoicing systems, then return to profitability & growth
  • New Business developmen & growing existing vendor business
  • Consolidating non core volumes ie IWTS, Indent, Prepack through central point to leverage scale & volumes.
  • Improved on-time delivery rates through effective route planning and carrier coordination.

Third Party Logistics Manager

Progressive Enterprises Ltd
11.2014 - 06.2015
  • Internal Promotion to Third Party Logistics Manager and relocation to Auckland.
  • Responsible Nationally for six DC's Performance, along with associated transport contracts cost & performance for Temperature Controlled Distribution Centres.
  • Freshmax - Pick to zero DC serviced approx 180 Countdown stores, 7 day delivery of all CD produce nation wide serviced by 3PLs
  • Americold - Pick, Pack & Storage contracts servicing approx 240 Countdown & Franchised Stores on a 7 day service.
  • Directly negotiated new contracts with Americold
  • Initiated & delivered in excess of $1,600,000 in cost savings to business within 7 months in role examples being: re-ranging stores to LNI, Changing meat distribution model from SI to NI, system changes within Americold, reviewing DC transfer rates
  • Further approx savings $400 k in progress via roster review, ranging & consolidation reviews.
  • Service improvements by working collaboratively with carriers & Freshmax/Americold DC's.

South Island Transport Manager

Progressive Enterprises Ltd
01.2011 - 11.2014
  • Led contracted Ambient & Temperature Controlled transport South Island Distribution Centres.
  • Reviewed Transport model, renegotiated all South Island Transport contracts. Savings achieved of 10% on Ambient, along with operational cost reductions.
  • Successfully implemented new contracts on all with improvement in service level, in a challenging environment with Christchurch EQ's.
  • Between 6 - 11 % under budget consecutive year on year improvements
  • Collaborated with third-party providers on off site storage, and indent de-vanning operations returning significant cost savings & service enhancements
  • Achieved over $3M in new business sales ifor Primary Freight in first 8 months in role.
  • Proactively focused and worked collaboratively with DC's, Carriers, NZTA etc on H&S initiatives ie weighbridge on site, load restraint systems, ORS, NZTA briefs on site etc.
  • Worked with & engaged new carriers for Primary freight program.
  • Extended covers for DC Logistics manager, DC Operations Manager as part of development. Approx 160 team on site moving 22 M Cartons per year.

Business/Commercial Manager - ITM Kaikoura

Seaview Timbers
01.2008 - 01.2011
  • Trade & Retail Hardware/Timber Sales, & Frame & truss Plant.
  • Relocated back from Brisbane as Commercial Manager for the ITM then months took over from Managing Director as Business/Manager.
  • Conducted review of newly implemented financial & operating system Eaccounts Global.
  • Reset entire system, stock on hand, margin grids & customer pricing structure.
  • Reduced and controlled company stock on hand by adding controls on purchasing & correcting system settings.
  • Improved viability by streamlining all operational & financial processes, leading to greatly reduced staffing levels.
  • Remained cash positive and managed through GFC building/property decline..
  • Drove the short-term and advanced promotional planning processes within ITM franchise agreements.
  • Developed metrics and measured success in order to further increase profitability & control costs.
  • Collaborated with ITM Group to maximise profits with Supplier & group builder agreements & rebates.
  • Expanded cross-functional group capacity by collaborating with the Sawmills within group & helped expand sales within ITM franchise.

Business/Commercial Manager - Permalog QLD

Seaview Timbers
01.2007 - 01.2008
  • Round-wood sawmilling & timber treatment Business employing 70 team with Annual turnover in excess of $11 M
  • Reduced and controlled company expenses by implementing controlled ordering system. Along with daily/weekly monitoring of costs to sales & budgets.
  • Prepared sales operating budgets, budget reports and other financial performance reports.
  • Analyzed all aspects of the business to evaluate the factors driving results and summarized results into presentations.
  • Analyzed contract & financial performance for freight & logging contracts & suppliers.
  • Conducted reviews of all financial & operating systems and implemented all in one system TIMPAC
  • Designed & implemented daily & weekly for operation & financial tracking.
  • Collaborated with Prime Pine Kaikoura & Motueka to share learning\'s and processes, systems between sites.

Business/Commercial Manager - Prime Pine Kaikoura

Seaview Timbers
01.2006 - 01.2007
  • Sawmill employing approximately 40 team with annual turnover of $7M
  • Analyzed key aspects of the business from production/system flow to evaluate the factors driving results and summarized results. Which we used to set operating processes & performance targets.
  • Drafted the budget forand monitored expenditures.
  • Conducted review of all program financial & operating systems
  • Implemented new operating & financial systems Eaccounts global & Timbersmart
  • Prepared program operating budgets, budget reports and other financial performance reports.
  • Reduced and controlled company expenses by introducing controlled ordering system, along with daily/weekly monitoring of expenses to sales & budget.
  • Established long-term customer relationships through prompt and efficient service with high level of communication.

South Island Operations Manager

Mainfreight
01.2001 - 01.2006
  • Began with Mainfreight Graduate program and worked through different areas to become South Island Operations Manager within a short period.
  • Weekly Profit & Loss & performance to General Manager.
  • Gained valuable skills in business development, sales growth & operational excellence & a service fist approach
  • Network development for supply chain, storage and cross dock.
  • Set up new corridors to all South Island regions which were initially sub contracted to improve profitability & enable growth. Utilised all modes to achieve optimal outcomes
  • Established long-term customer relationships through prompt and professional service.
  • Identified and implemented supply chain improvement opportunities with re-brand from onsite 3PL to Independent network branch. Farmers Trading Company (FTC) contract to Mainfreight Precision (Now Mainfreight To Home).
  • Brought on new business compatible with Network & offering.
  • Gained valuable experience in establishing new network from inception of 3PL to standalone profitable branch built from of a single key account.

Education

Waitaki Boys Highschool
Otago

Bachelor of Commerce - Valuation & Property Management

Lincoln University
Christchurch

Skills

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Project Management
  • Contract Negotiations & Sourcing
  • Program Governance
  • Business Development
  • P&L Management
  • Change Implementation
  • Operations Management
  • Analytical
  • Leadership
  • Strategic Planning

Referees

Sally Copland - Managing Director Woolworths eCommerce Australia.

Sally was my line manager and mentor throughout my initial years in ecom, Sally is now responsible for Woolworths ecom in Australia which is a $8B pa business 

Graeme Doull - General Manager Logistics WWNZ

Graeme was my line manager who initially encouraged me upto Auckland

Brendon Gredig : COO Geilson Estate

I worked for Brendon initially at Mainfreight where we started Mainfreight2Home, he then brought me into the Woolworth NZ Business 


Timeline

General Manager - ECommerce

Woolworths NZ
11.2022 - Current

Head of ECommerce & New Ventures

Woolworths NZ
10.2021 - 11.2022

Head of ECommerce Logistics, Ops& New Ventures

Woolworths NZ
08.2020 - 10.2021

Head of ECommerce Operations and Logistics

Woolworths NZ
05.2018 - 06.2020

ECommerce Logistics Business Manager

Woolworths NZ
06.2017 - 05.2018

National Transport & Optimisation ManagerNational

Woolworths NZ
02.2016 - 10.2016

Third Party Logistics & Primary Freight Manager

Progressive Enterprises Ltd
06.2015 - 02.2016

Third Party Logistics Manager

Progressive Enterprises Ltd
11.2014 - 06.2015

South Island Transport Manager

Progressive Enterprises Ltd
01.2011 - 11.2014

Business/Commercial Manager - ITM Kaikoura

Seaview Timbers
01.2008 - 01.2011

Business/Commercial Manager - Permalog QLD

Seaview Timbers
01.2007 - 01.2008

Business/Commercial Manager - Prime Pine Kaikoura

Seaview Timbers
01.2006 - 01.2007

South Island Operations Manager

Mainfreight
01.2001 - 01.2006

Waitaki Boys Highschool

Bachelor of Commerce - Valuation & Property Management

Lincoln University

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John Austin