Father to one amazing boy who lights up every day
Ben Odgers
Luxury Industry Innovator
Worldwide
Summary
A multi-award-winning leader who changed the game within the wines and spirits sphere. Recognised as a world-class operator who seeks to push the boundaries within the luxury domain.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Certificates
Work History
General Manager
MMI - Maritime and Mercantile International, Le Clos Finest Wines and Luxury Spirits
Dubai
05.2008 - 07.2022
- New business start-up and luxury brand development – Business case construction, led concept from initial blueprint to reality (Built multi-site operation within Dubai Airport - 11 outlets 2022)
- Full P&L responsibility – Budget construction and delivery. Double-digit CAGR since 2008 (Annual Turnover +20M USD)
- International recruitment and selection – Crafted and mentored team (71 heads). 27 languages spoken to provide industry standard-setting service levels 24/7/365 (Net Promoter Score +80%)
- Business development – Cross promotions throughout Emirates Group, Skywards, The Times Newspaper, Christie's Auctioneers, etc
- Principal management and product launches – Launched first The Macallan Boutique - Secured globally leading allocations and record sales
- Procurement – Drove market trends having bought and sold globally leading volumes of Japanese Whisky, Caroni Rum, Samaroli bottlings / Head of auction strategy
- Company spokesperson – Media trained and face of Le Clos across variety of platforms – Forbes, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, etc
- Corralled the business through Covid-19, ensuring stability and profitability while putting health and safety of team and customers as priority - Delivered record net profit fiscal 2021/22
Group Stock Controller
Majestic Wines
09.2001 - 04.2008
- HQ – Inventory reconciliation throughout 160 stores across United Kingdom
- Discrepancy recognition and resolution of total company stockholding +75M USD
Senior Store Manager
Majestic Wines
- Aylesbury UK – $4m turnover, refit project manager, attained fine wine store designation based on growth of category
- Store Manager Banbury UK - $3m turnover, designed & implemented event planner concept across whole company, staff training and development programs
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Human Resources Management/Business Administration
04.1997 - 04.2001
Dual Honours: 2:1
A-Levels - Psychology / Geography / Economics
05.1994 - 05.1996
A/B/E
GCSE's -
04.1989 - 04.1994
9 x A-C Grades
Skills
Business Development
Certification
Good Conduct Certificate - Dubai Police
Additional Information
- Winner - Partnership Initiative of the Year – The Macallan Boutique by Le Clos (Issued by Drinks International Travel Retail Awards · Oct 2019)
- Winner - Airport Drinks Retailer of the Year - 2018 (Issued by Drinks International Travel Retail Awards · Oct 2018 )
- World record sale - Negotiated sale of worlds most expensive bottles of whisky - Macallan 1926 @ 1.2M USD
- Winner - Travel Retail Drinks Operator of the Year Winner (Issued by Drinks International Travel Retail Awards · Jan 2017)
- Winner - Best Partnership Initiative of the Year: Dubai Airports & Le Clos (issued by Frontier Awards 2015)
Interests
A keen cyclist and explorer who is happy being lost in the desert or any major city
Self-confessed whisky, rum and wine anorak
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