Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Websites
Languages
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic
Jacques Rheeder

Jacques Rheeder

Dubai

Summary

Dynamic professional with expertise in corporate restructure and turnaround, start-up establishment, and retail operational leadership. Demonstrates proficiency in opportunity identification and capitalisation, brand repositioning, and product sourcing and buying. Skilled in logistics and supply chain management, trend forecasting, manufacturer identification, and new market access. Adept at financial planning, merchandising, e-commerce strategies, customer service orientation, time-management, customer engagement, integrative negotiation, and programme oversight. Committed to driving business growth through strategic initiatives and innovative solutions.

Visionary leader with strategic mindset and drive for excellence. Demonstrates exceptional skills in organisational management and financial planning, coupled with strong communication abilities. Poised to deliver transformative growth and sustainable success.

Driven professional with strategic mindset, showcasing leadership acumen and business development expertise. Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive organisational growth through innovative strategies and operational excellence. Committed to delivering impactful results and fostering culture of success in any Executive role.

Motivational leader with record of success in Fashion / Consumer goods environments. Seeks out change opportunities, capitalising on technologies, improved methods and gaps to surpass targets. History maintaining efficiency and high employee satisfaction with responsive management style.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience

Work history

Managing Director

Threads
Dubai
06.2017 - 04.2025
  • Company Overview: Official School and Corporate Uniform supplier to the +-$5 Billion GEMS Schools and Varkey Group businesses, across the US, Switzerland, UK, Africa and Qatar. Supplying 45 GEMS Schools (145,000 children), 35 Non GEMS Schools (125,000 children) and various Corporate Businesses with complete uniform solutions.
  • Revive, drive growth and direct new market access for stagnant and out-of-date business, to become global leader in school and private sector uniform supply.
  • Steer operations and P&L management for 7 Large Format retail outlets and 35 in-school shops, as well as supply to 35 Non-Gems UAE schools.
  • Successfully repositioned business, introducing best practice retail disciplines and procedures, upgrading procurement, sourcing and supplier base to further enhance product quality.
  • Introduced refreshing contemporary retail format with two new stores opening end of June 2017; revamping, re-launching or closing down remainder within next year.
  • Expanded product offering (dance wear/ Yoga kit / Swimwear / active ranges) and introduced Adidas brand in stores.
  • Quadrupled Corporate business in less than a year, designing stylish and modern Corporate range for private sector.
  • Improved turnover by 52% and EBITDA by 82% in one year.
  • Won Store of the month –Retail ME …Nominated in three Retail ME award categories (2018 and 2019). First Uniform Retailer / manufacturer to win the RETAILME award (2021) for best Childrenswear Retailer in a category dominated by International Fashion Retail Brands.
  • In 2022 won RETAILME award for Excellence In School wear / Uniforms.
  • In 2023 won the award for Most Responsible Retailer of the year, in 2024 won Store design of the year.
  • Leading M&A drive globally, with two large acquisitions to be completed 2019 / 2020 (in UK and Dubai).
  • Implemented and managed fully maximised and functional E Commerce platform for School wear, housing some 28,000 SKU’s. Fully utilizing Social media to enhance this highly interactive platform to become the most successful Uniform E Tailer in the region. Won Retail ME E tailer award in 2023.
  • Official School and Corporate Uniform supplier to the +-$5 Billion GEMS Schools and Varkey Group businesses, across the US, Switzerland, UK, Africa and Qatar. Supplying 45 GEMS Schools (145,000 children), 35 Non GEMS Schools (125,000 children) and various Corporate Businesses with complete uniform solutions.

Chief Executive Officer - INC! / 2GO Businesses & Group Vice President – Value Brands – COO – SUITE BLANCO

Fawaz Alhokair Group
Dubai
01.2013 - 01.2017
  • Company Overview: $5bn Saudi Arabian retail conglomerate with 2000 stores across the MENA region, CIS, Pakistan, Europe and USA.
  • Established brand new start-up INC!, managing entire process from brand conceptualisation to launch, achieving $180m T/O across 30 stores 6 months ahead of schedule.
  • Identified key new market opportunities and negotiated store sites across MENA region, CIS countries and Pakistan.
  • Worked closely with the INDITEX Group on developing INC as a 'store in store' concept for some of their Brands.
  • Devised and directed store roll out strategy across country sites, leading to 120 stores being opened by end of 2017.
  • Set up and managed highly efficient and cost-effective logistics and distribution networks.
  • Designed and implemented best practice store operational network and infrastructure, resulting in best possible customer experience.
  • Successfully managed design, development and procurement, as well as product and assortment planning, across Ladies Wear, Menswear, Children’s Wear, Footwear, Cosmetics and Accessories.
  • Pioneered, implemented and managed fully maximised and functional E Commerce platform for INC! business.
  • $5bn Saudi Arabian retail conglomerate with 2000 stores across the MENA region, CIS, Pakistan, Europe and USA.

Chief Merchandise Officer

B.M.A International
Dubai
01.2008 - 01.2013
  • Company Overview: Large regional retailer with over 250 stores (incl. Geant & RedTag) and 11,000 employees across MENA and Africa. Aed 3.8 Billion T/ O ( $ 1 Billion ).
  • Grew operations from 32 poorly performing stores to 225 commercially competitive outlets (with 25 additional stores slated to open in the near future) across the GCC within 3 years.
  • Quadrupled overall sales, and consistently outperformed budgets by 25 % or more, achieving $800m TO in record time.
  • Redesigned store concept, and drove improvement across operational management disciplines.
  • Completely overhauled and upgraded fashion and homeware offerings to meet consumer expectations, repositioning RedTag brand as market leader in value brand sector.
  • Enhanced supplier base, resulting in higher quality merchandise, and introduced disciplined buying/ planning procedures, improving supply chain and logistics process alignment with China, India, Vietnam and Pacific Rim.
  • Successfully launched a 'Young Fashion' department aiming at trendy young sector of the Ladies / Menswear market, performing 40% over budget and in 105 Stores.
  • Improved profits by 150%, tripled stock turn figures and reduced markdown percentage by 50%.
  • Established REDTAG as a leading Fast Fashion Retailer in the GCC, Mena and KSA markets.
  • Large regional retailer with over 250 stores (incl. Geant & RedTag) and 11,000 employees across MENA and Africa. Aed 3.8 Billion T/ O ( $ 1 Billion ).

Senior VP & Merchandise / Buying and Logistics Director

DUNNS PTY LTD
Johannesburg
01.2002 - 01.2008
  • Company Overview: Part of $5.8bn PEPKOR Group, DUNNS is a $650m Fast Fashion Brand with over 220 stores across South Africa and Africa.
  • Repositioned DUNNS from liquidated venture facing bankruptcy to middle / upper end of fashion market, growing to profitability in one season.
  • Re-modelled store concepts and implemented best practice store operational processes, ensuring successful competition at 'high street' level.
  • Re designed all fashion ranges to be market leaders in the respective market sectors, successfully introducing 'fast fashion' concept ranges.
  • Introduced high-quality manufacturers and brands, and improved sourcing and procurement processes, allowing company to showcase its high-quality merchandise and build reputation as a trendy shopping experience.
  • Directed all buying, planning, and new store set-ups, developing highly effective teams of store managers, buyers, and merchandising experts capable of maintaining chains’ commitment to excellence.
  • Part of $5.8bn PEPKOR Group, DUNNS is a $650m Fast Fashion Brand with over 220 stores across South Africa and Africa.

Education

MBA - International Marketing and Business Management

Trinity International University

Executive Retail Management Principals - undefined

Babson University, Franklin W Olin Graduate School of Business

BBA - Retail Management

Prague University Graduate School of Business

Skills

  • Corporate Restructure & Turnaround
  • Start-up Establishment
  • Retail Operational Leadership
  • Opportunity Identification & Capitalisation
  • Brand Repositioning
  • Product Sourcing & Buying
  • Logistics & Supply Chain Management
  • Trend Forecasting
  • Manufacturer Identification
  • New Market Access
  • Financial Planning
  • Merchandising
  • E Commerce
  • Customer service orientation
  • Time-management
  • Customer engagement
  • Integrative negotiation
  • Programme oversight

Languages

English
Native
German
Intermediate
Afrikaans
Native
Dutch
Intermediate

Accomplishments

    Won Retail ME awards in 2021/22/23/24

    Featured in The CEO magazine

    Featured in various Business publications

Affiliations

  • Qualified Strength and Conditioning Coach ..coach and train various sporting disciplines.

Timeline

Managing Director

Threads
06.2017 - 04.2025

Chief Executive Officer - INC! / 2GO Businesses & Group Vice President – Value Brands – COO – SUITE BLANCO

Fawaz Alhokair Group
01.2013 - 01.2017

Chief Merchandise Officer

B.M.A International
01.2008 - 01.2013

Senior VP & Merchandise / Buying and Logistics Director

DUNNS PTY LTD
01.2002 - 01.2008

Executive Retail Management Principals - undefined

Babson University, Franklin W Olin Graduate School of Business

BBA - Retail Management

Prague University Graduate School of Business

MBA - International Marketing and Business Management

Trinity International University

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Jacques Rheeder