Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Riaan Van Der Merwe

Riaan Van Der Merwe

Head Of Operations & Customer Experience
Stellenryk

Summary

I am a natural strong leader and problem-solver, dedicated to leading my team through my People... whilst continually streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. My business philosophy is to use independent decision-making skills and sound judgment calls to positively impact company success.


With more than 25 years experience in The Foschini Group, across all Operational levels, as well as Marketing, I believe that i have a sound track record as a retail professional with a history of meeting company goals utilizing consistent and organized practices.


Working under pressure, as well as adapting to new situations and challenges, has led to enhancing various organizational efficiencies through my team.


I am a knowledgeable customer service professional with extensive experience in managing operations teams of more than 1000 team members. I would like to believe that I am a solid team player with an outgoing, positive demeanor and proven skills in establishing rapport with key strategic partners, whilst remaining motivated to maintain customer satisfaction and contribute to organizational success.


As a leader in operations you are always required to articulate clearly, drive team dynamics by being energetic and results-oriented with exemplary passion for developing relationships, cultivating partnerships and growing your businesses.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Head of Operations & Customer Experience

The Foschini Group - The FIX
07.2018 - Current
  • Ensured compliance with industry regulations and company policies, mitigating potential risks.
  • Built a high-performance culture by recruiting top talent and promoting professional development opportunities for staff members.
  • Developed comprehensive training programs for staff, enhancing team performance and skill sets.
  • Identified and qualified customer needs and negotiated and closed profitable projects with high success rate.
  • Reduced operational costs through effective budget management and cost-saving strategies.
  • Implemented data-driven decision-making processes, leveraging analytics to optimize operations.

Head of Operations & Customer Experience

The Foschini Group - Markham
04.2015 - 07.2018
  • Ensured compliance with industry regulations and company policies, mitigating potential risks.
  • Built a high-performance culture by recruiting top talent and promoting professional development opportunities for staff members.
  • Led cross-functional teams to achieve company goals, fostering collaboration and communication.
  • Reduced operational costs through effective budget management and cost-saving strategies.
  • Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
  • Implemented data-driven decision-making processes, leveraging analytics to optimize operations.
  • Spearheaded continuous improvement projects, resulting in enhanced business performance.

Head of Marketing

The Foschini Group - Markham
02.2012 - 03.2015
  • Analyzed and reported on KPIs to validate and demonstrate success of marketing campaigns.
  • Managed budget allocation and resource utilization to maximize marketing ROI.
  • Analyzed consumer usage patterns to identify trends and target key demographics.
  • Managed workflow between staff, coordinating documents and creative material distribution.
  • Planned and executed events and marketing programs to increase qualified leads.
  • Established strong relationships with key industry influencers to elevate brand reputation.
  • Devised content strategy to effectively engage target audiences.
  • Worked with communications team to drive internal promotion of company programs, initiatives, guiding principles and mission.

Education

Certificate in Retail Management - Retail Management

University of South Africa - Unisa
Johannesburg
04.2001 -

Skills

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Timeline

Head of Operations & Customer Experience

The Foschini Group - The FIX
07.2018 - Current

Head of Operations & Customer Experience

The Foschini Group - Markham
04.2015 - 07.2018

Head of Marketing

The Foschini Group - Markham
02.2012 - 03.2015

Certificate in Retail Management - Retail Management

University of South Africa - Unisa
04.2001 -
Riaan Van Der MerweHead Of Operations & Customer Experience