Meet Kevin Barrett
An independent management consultant and business adviser with a proven record of creating strategic solutions and engaging teams to implement the changes required.
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Thinking Shop is a recent start up but it is built on a firm foundation: my 25 years in business, where I have had the privilege of playing a part in the success stories of some of the UK’s strongest retail organisations.
First, as a management consultant working for one of the global top five; second, in a number of varied senior management roles; third, as a Board member.
Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with some of the industry’s finest retail minds, from luminous CEOs to formidable store and depot managers.
Incidentally, I’ve been described as an ‘intellectual powerhouse’ – flattering though that is, in my years spent in depots, stores and boardrooms I am actually most proud of my ability to bring emotional intelligence to the table.
A good strategist can come up with a plan, but it takes a whole organisation to deliver one, and that’s where I come in...
About Me
Here is a snapshot of my career so far
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I have spent 25 years in consulting and business, with the last 15 years working directly with Main and Operating Boards across the retail, financial services, healthcare and B2B sectors. My expertise includes strategy, change management, operational management, customer, eCommerce and IT. I have a proven record of delivering profit improvements both directly (leading teams of 100+) and alongside CEOs and Boards.
2015 - 2020
Howden Joinery plc
Group Development Director, creating the 5-year corporate growth plan and helping the successful transition to a new chief executive from the founder. As part of the strategy, delivered a new digital capability, improving awareness and web traffic, ran the product and marketing teams and delivered improvements in gross profit and marketing effectiveness, and set up a new category-based commercial function.
2013 - present
Your Healthcare
Non-Executive Chairman of a +£30m community healthcare provider in Kingston and Surbiton, overseeing year-onyear quality improvements and surplus income to be reinvested back into the community
2008 - 2014
J Sainsbury plc
Multiple roles, including Director of Strategy and Director of Space & Formats, responsible for outlining and delivering profit improvements across a number of initiatives, including increased £ per sq. ft for supermarkets and convenience shops, improved price perception of the brand, reset Group strategy and the purchase of Lloyd’s 50% stake in the Sainsbury’s Bank JV.
2003 - 2008
Sainsbury’s Bank
(JV between Lloyds Bank and J Sainsbury)
Responsible for developing and implementing the new distribution strategy, migrating from a store-based operation to a direct bank and leading all direct channels (ATM network, call centres & internet)
1995 - 2003
Accenture
Worked with multiple clients in the retail, financial services, energy and telecoms sectors, predominantly in the emerging channel strategy space. Ran a Customer & Usability Lab profit centre for Accenture clients.
Education
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BA (Hons) & MA in Classics from Oxford
Masters in Coaching for Performance from Middlesex University.