Michael pushes the barriers to challenge not only what can be achieved from an LP perspective, but also how LP can aid the Retail world by supporting their innovations and introducing technology which they didn’t even know existed, (Smart tags/fitting rooms for instance).
He is a leader and “Go to” person in the company, regularly contributing at the highest level to other Directors in HR, Supply chain & Logistics and Finance. Added to this, his relationships with Store and Area manager teams are second to none and he is able to garner support for LP initiatives, build trust and engage in true two-way communication at every level. For over 15 years he has gathered valuable experience and now heads up Key responsibility for UK, Europe, the US and further territories across the globe.
His attention to detail, grasp of tight financial budgets and ability to manage multiple, complex projects at the same time mark Michael as one of the finest in his field. His dealings with suppliers are always professional and fair, working with big companies such as Agon, Sensormatic & HIK Vision on introducing the latest tech to the retail environment. He also supports the smaller suppliers, helping them develop and grow. He is a keen supporter of Oris & NBCS and can see the great value they add to the LP world.
As a manager of people, Michael is very supportive, particularly to his direct team. He’s approachable and down to earth and this helps his staff grow and achieve their full potential. He understands that family and home life is as important as work life – His support and thoughtfulness for colleagues who sometimes go through difficult personal circumstances means that they reach out for help without fear or being judged for it. This helps get teams members back to feeling better and performing well. This has been clearly demonstrated by the high approval ratings he always gets in feedback for his departments.
He has coached and promoted many, many people over the years and they have gone on to develop and take on senior roles across the LP and wider workplace landscape in retail, logistics and beyond.
At home, Michael and his wife, Paula, have 3 grown up children of their own and have also fostered 17 kids over the last 10 years – Many of whom have come from very difficult backgrounds where drug and alcohol abuse were commonplace.
Finally, in the world of LP, when the unexpected can occur, he has shown time and again how he has a cool head in a crisis. In cases of emergency the order of, “Get’ kettle on!” rings out and calms down those dealing with a situation… For the avoidance of doubt, If there’s any incident on the night of the awards, he likes his tea white, with 1 sugar.
