JAMES SAUNDERS
1301 E. Debbie Lane ♦ Mansfield, TX 76063 ♦ (817) 466-0015 ♦ [email protected]
SENIOR MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE – RETAIL
PRESIDENT / CEO / CMO / COO
Senior executive with verifiable year-after-year success achieving revenue, profit and market growth objectives. Extensive
experience in centralizing national procurement activities and reengineering global organization templates, which requires deep
understanding of critical business drivers in multiple markets. Highly successful in building vendor relationships that drive cost
reduction and margin increases. Led and motivated teams comprised of 1,000 employees, and managed P&L for major retailers
exceeding $1.5 billion in annual revenue. Conversant in Spanish. Available for travel and relocation.
P&L Management / Budgeting ♦ Staff Development & Leadership ♦ Sales & Merchandising ♦ Procurement Operations
Category Management ♦ Strategic Supplier Development ♦ Supply Chain Optimization ♦ Marketing & Advertising
Product Management ♦ Operations Reengineering ♦ Performance Improvement ♦ International Business
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EVP / CHIEF MERCHANDISING OFFICER, The Homeworld Hypermarkets, Tianjin, China 2005 - 2007
Leading retailer with 50 hypermarkets across Northern China, generating $1.2 billionUSD in annual revenue.
Recruited by CEO to westernize merchandising operations within an autonomously run Chinese-owned hypermarket. Rapidly
acquired comprehensive knowledge of Chinese marketplace, and developed detailed business plans to compensate for cultural
differences. Held full P&L accountability. Functional areas of responsibility involved fresh, grocery, hardlines, private label,
softlines, direct sourcing, procurement, information services, merchandising, advertising, and research. Managed 500 direct
reports and 1,000 indirect reports. Reported to President.
♦ Led the complete reorganization and centralization of merchandising operations in three-month
Operations timeframe. Reduced headcount from 586 to 323.
Reengineering
♦ Conceived and implemented a model store that standardized all merchandising flow and fixture
Bottom-Line requirements, saving company $200,000USD per store remodel.
Improvement ♦ Created and employed first formal Category Management program, monitoring expenditures and
supplier performance, improving shelf space productivity, and driving ongoing price improvements.
Category ♦ Developed and introduced “Category Captain” program that optimized supply chain operations
Management through strategic relationships with key vendors in China.
Market ♦ Carved strong brand position “Spend Less/Live Better” around improved economic, social, and
Positioning living conditions in China.
♦ Devised a pricing strategy that improved competitive position and increased margin by .22%.
♦♦♦♦♦
SR. VICE PRESIDENT, MERCHANDISING (2003 – 2005)
Hired by CEO to improve sales and merchandising operations for this multi-format (Marsh, LoBill, O’Malia’s) supermarket
chain with 100 locations. Held full P&L responsibility. Functional areas of responsibility involved grocery, general
merchandise, healthcare and beauty (GM/HBC), produce, deli, bakery, meat, fuel, Rx, floral, advertising, marketing, pricing,
and plan-o-grams. Managed 500 direct reports and 1,000 indirect reports. Reported to President.
♦ Pioneered the development and implementation of industry’s first ever “Lifestyle” format rooted
New Process in consumer shopping behaviors and “solution” departments.
Implementation
♦ Designed a new approach to pricing in conjunction with Willard Bishop Consulting, increasing
Revenue & overall margin by 62 basis points.
Profit Growth ♦ Spearheaded brand centric marketing strategy “Experts in Fresh” focused on meat, produce and
deli/bakery. Initiated campaign across TV, radio, billboards, and circulars, improving market share
Brand by 100 basis points despite stiff competition from Wal-Mart and Kroger.
Repositioning
Continued …
ATX Communications, Inc, continued
SR. VICE PRESIDENT, NON-PERISHABLES (1999 – 2000)
Led a $19 billion procurement activity comprised of grocery and GM/HBC products supporting 3,000 retail outlets. Directed
several crucial areas of operations including sales, merchandising, procurement, category management, pricing, and vendor
relations. Managed 200 direct reports and 600 indirect reports. Reported to the EVP, Wholesale.
♦ Consolidated procurement functions and activities for 21 divisions in less than 1 year. Improved
Bottom-Line cost of goods by $380 million per year.
Improvement ♦ Assembled an Advisory Board of brokers and suppliers to achieve aggressive business goals and
drive the evolution of concepts into achievable business strategies.
Change ♦ Developed a national Buying Consortium of major retailers to leverage Fleming’s buying power.
Management ♦ Standardized advertising and promotional vehicles for use in various retail formats.
♦♦♦♦♦
SR. VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE BRANDS MARKETING (1998 – 1999)
Promoted four times over seven-year tenure. In addition to sales, merchandising, marketing, and procurement, provided
expertise in category management, product development, pricing strategies, and vendor relations, formalizing standards for
centralized procurement and private label operations. Managed up to 150 direct reports and 1,000 indirect reports.
♦ Grew American’s private label sales by $25 million. Developed proprietary brands for pet,
Product household, paper, snack, and frozen food categories. Launched premier tier product line, “American
Management Premier” in high-profile role as Sr. Vice President of Corporate Brands Marketing.
♦ Built operating infrastructure that supported a $10 billion centralized procurement activity for 5
Operations divisions, as Vice President of National Grocery/Beverage Procurement. Gained employee buy-in
Reengineering for newly-implemented changes.
Revenue & ♦ As Vice President of Grocery/General Merchandise Marketing, reversed negative sales trend in
Profit Growth GM/HBC by motivating frontline associates to achieve all sales and margin budgets.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
Senior leadership positions in Sales and Operations for Alpha Beta.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACTIVITIES
Executive Leadership, CORNELL UNIVERSITY ~ Inspired Leadership, SCOTT USA ~ Food Executive Course, USS
Manage for Productivity, DR. MOUNT ~ Board Member, NON FOOD MERCHANDISERS ASSOCIATION
EDUCATION
AA, Business Management - CHAFFEY COLLEGE, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
