I know what you’re thinking. Surely we have enough great retail leaders on our home turf, right? Well, not according to the facts and figures. The people behind the large supermarkets and major retail stores in Australia seem to prefer the idea of been led by the British. In fact, more and more UK retail executives are being called upon for their services.
Now, I don’t know about you, but it bugs me a little bit. More than a little actually! That said, we wouldn’t have to look further afield for worthy talent if we had it on our own doorstep. Even Woolworths is believed to be getting in on the poaching action. So, why is this happening?
The reason is that some of the leading UK trained executives have the ability to take an average, or even good, retail store and turn it into a bloody great one. That isn’t to say that Australian leaders can’t do the same, but let’s take a look at why international retail talent is so desirable.
According to some of the big retail players, they experience less positive changes when hiring Aussies. However, management and leaders from abroad know how to make the right changes to stay competitive. It’s like a breath of fresh air for retailers that have struggled with strategic foresight and innovation. Many believe that foreign talent also have the edge because they have new unencumbered views.
So – what does that say about us? We’re afraid of change. I don’t understand why, though. Consistency and less change are not going to make you stay ahead of the game. In fact, it will do your organisation more harm than good. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen businesses stay in the shade while others are moving forward in the right direction.
The longer you avoid change, the more expensive change will become. That means you’ll spend more investing in things your competitors have already done. If you ask me, there’s no point in investing in change at all when you’re already too far behind everyone else. You should constantly be investing in change as your business grows.
Think back to 2008 when UK retail executive, Ian McLeod took up the reigns at Coles. His no-nonsense, low-cost strategy was a winner from the get-go. In 2015, David Jones headhunted John Dixon for the CEO role. John Dixon played a huge part in turning around the Marks & Spencer food business, which is an area David Jones were desperate to get into at the time. These are only two out of a countless number of UK leaders who have made their way to Australia.
Take a leaf out of some of the British-trained executive’s books and start delivering global standards and experience. If you don’t, an overseas leader might end up being your replacement.
This entry was posted in Business Strategy and tagged CEO, change, Coles, David Jones, Ian McLeod, John Dixon, Leader, UK on March 23, 2017 by Mike Holtzer.	
In the world of rapidly changing retail/wholesale landscape, critical projects can make or break a retail business. After working 25+ years internationally in the retail industry, I understand the pain that a botched project can cause. It can disrupt and restrain a business that is otherwise sound, as well as mask further issues within the business.
I have made a career of fixing issues within retail/wholesale businesses and have practical methods to ensure that projects get resolved, one way or another, allowing you to get back to focusing on your core business. I typically work with retailers that have 20 to 300 stores and I possess the unique ability to cut through the turmoil of a project that has fallen off the rails and get it resolved quickly. I SIMPLIFY CHAOS. Whether it is a bungled software upgrade, a difficult transition to a new warehouse / office, a merchandise planning plan that has not achieved the desired result or an under-performing division that needs to be “dealt with”. After a proper assessment, I will sort it out by getting it back on track, starting over or putting it out of its misery.
This entry was posted in Operational Excellence and tagged Australasia, Australia, Board, collaborate, dashboard, David Jones, Debenhams, Europe, executive, Harrods, Holtzer, House of Fraser, Insights, Macy’s, Melbourne, Myer, Nordstrom, reduce stock, Retail, Selfridges, stock levels, supply chain, Sydney, wholesale on March 14, 2014 by Michael Holtzer.	
Mike’s strategic mind, coupled with real life on-the-ground experience, allow him to advise C-Suite executives like nobody else I’ve worked with. He is a straight shooter who can get to the real issues in lightening speed.
Mike is a gregarious & pragmatic retail operator who clearly knows his stuff when it comes to making the back end across inventory, property & operations tick. He’s also a pleasure to work with across a range of challenging environments
Micheal knowledge of the retail market in Australian is without equal – the best networked person I know. Mike identifies the problems within an organisation and finds the best way to manage that change process and achieve the best results for the client.
Mike has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of retail in the broadest sense and also has a great empathy and respect for the challenges faced by our clients.
Mike is one of the most Entrepreneurial people I have ever met. Mike is a quality business operator with a fantastic drive and ambition. I have worked with Mike over a number of years on a variety of projects and he is always fantastic to work with.
John Caldwell Media Presenter | Social Commentator | RWR Chairman | 2014 Victorian Australian of the Year
I worked with Mike during the ownership transition of the Cat Media business. Mike had previously managed Cat Media, turning it into a professionally run organisation that was ready for sale. During this time Mike’s retail experience and expertise was instrumental in building a successful and profitable international business. Although Mike was transitioning out of Cat Media at the time his pass…
Mike Holtzer is a dynamic COO and superior at achieving top line results. He is respected by his staff and is a true visionary.
Mike and I worked together on a variety of projects. He had a solid understanding of our business situation and was good at identifying and analyzing relevant information that led to optimum decisions. His perspective was quite often different that other members of management which ultimately made us a stronger team. He has a strong work ethic and takes pride in delivering solid results. I would w…
Mike and I worked together during our time at Sheridan Europe Ltd, based in the UK. Mike made an immediate and positive impact with his eye for the financial detail, as well as the broader operational and strategic factors that were the key drivers of the Global Sheridan branded business. His personable style was very effective, and his colleagues quickly gained confidence in his ability to …
I have worked with Mike Holtzer for almost 20 years and am very happy to recommend him. Mike has cultivated the ability to use his financial background to great effect by linking a businesses operating performance to key financial parameters thereby improving its efficiency and profitability. I have worked with Mike across a number of sectors such as manufacturing, wholesale and retail operations …
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