Mike PreFontaine

mprefontaine@sdretail.com

Mike has over 21 years of experience as an advisor, consultant and change agent working with leading retail and consumer organizations in the US, UK, Europe and Africa. Mike’s client work has focused on developing and delivering sustainable performance improvements in terms of revenue growth, cost reduction and operational effectiveness in areas including strategy development, store operations, workforce management, revenue enhancement, supply chain, business IT strategy, multi-channel retailing, headquarters effectivness, operational excellence and organization design.

Mike’s previous roles have included European Retail practice leader for Deloitte Consulting, Managing Director with Scient, Managing Partner for Retail & Consumer industry practice for Europe, Middle East, India and Africa at Andersen, Director with Senn Delaney and founding member of Senn Delaney International in the UK. Mike has a BS Industrial & Operations Engineering from University of Michigan and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA.

Industry Experience

Mike has consulted with many of the leading retail and consumer companies across most sectors including clothing, consumer electronics, department stores, food, FMCG, hard goods, hospitality and specialty stores. Samples of Mike’s work include:

• International Clothing, General Merchandise and Food Retailer - Design and implementation of organization re-alignment program to support growth strategy, including central executive management and functional organization structure, product development, buying, merchandising and support processes, food waste reduction and inventory control improvements, and organization design.
• Leading Grocery Chain - Store Operations project to improve productivity and customer service and to develop a culture of continuous improvement, including re-design of processes for stock ordering, in-store replenishment, customer service and back office functions. Achieved efficiency improvements of $25 to $30 million.
• UK Health & Beauty Retailer - Design, build and launch of new eCommerce lifestyle business providing products, services, information and advice on health and wellbeing. Developed business strategy, business architecture, organization design, technology architecture design/build, and customer experience design
• UK Fashion Retailer - Development and implementation of a store operations, workforce management and sales improvement program, including process improvements, workforce management tools, customer service program and implementation of a change leadership process resulting in 8.6% efficiency gain.
• International Clothing Wholesaler and Retailer – Delivery of IT strategy, software selection and implementation of new supply chain management and financial systems for European business with operations in 14 countries.
• Women’s Fashion Retailer - IT strategy and software selection for supply chain and merchandise management systems for a leading UK retailer.
• Clothing Design, Sourcing & Manufacturing Business - Retail market analysis & strategy for expanding customer base including initial customer targeting and initial business development meetings.
• Global Supplier of Private Label Clothing – development of a supply chain application for managing contracts and supply allocation for private label supplier to UK & US grocery, department & specialty stores sectors.
• International 5 Star Hotel Company – Development and implementation of employee engagement program for new brand positioning, including program and content design, leadership alignment processes and training on new brand values, service skills and behaviours.
• Organisational Strategy for UK Manufacturer of Health/Consumer Packaged Goods - Review of head office organisation structure and development of conceptual design of new structure, including operating model, vision and principles based on best practices and benchmarks of leading CPG companies.
• UK Electrical and Electronics Retailer – several engagements over 5 years with leader in computers and peripherals, home electronics, and white and brown goods, including: design of new central distribution centre and supply chain management processes; implementation of new store workforce management solution; customer service /store operations improvement projects for computer superstores and electrical superstores division; change leadership program for computer superstores division; analysis of the international retail pricing strategies of the electrical sector; and review of central finance function.
• Leading UK Grocery Chain – Review of brand protection strategy, product quality assurance and new product development processes in order to develop most efficient and effective processes for supporting private label brand development.