A senior operational leader with more than 30 years leading complex, multi-million-pound retail operations and large teams through growth, underperformance, restructuring and major change. Dee's career spans Safeway, Asda and Dixons / PC World / Currys, including a £65m turnover Asda store with nearly 600 colleagues, regional cover across 16 stores and numerous turnarounds, openings and conversions.
In under two minutes, see how Dee steps into difficult operating environments, establishes what is really happening and works with managers and frontline teams to deliver measurable, sustained improvement.
Book a discovery call Watch on YouTubeDee Black is a senior retail and operational leader with more than 30 years' experience leading large, complex businesses through growth, underperformance, restructuring and major organisational change. Dee's strength is entering difficult operating environments, establishing what is really happening and identifying the issues that matter most, then working with managers and frontline teams to deliver measurable improvement.
Dee's deepest experience is in retail and consumer operations: leading substantial teams, improving sales and operational standards, reducing stock loss, strengthening management capability and supporting major change programmes. The approach is practical and hands on, focused on diagnosis, prioritisation, engagement and disciplined execution.
Dee is particularly effective where organisations need clarity, stronger accountability and consistent operational performance. Retail is the strongest sector, but the underlying skills in turnaround, leadership, change and operational improvement transfer across sectors. They are complemented by a governance track record as a former Chair of Governors and by work as an MBA Mentor at Queen's Business School, Queen's University Belfast.
A problem store brought back under control, a new opening rescued from a slow start and a large operation returned to growth. Each one delivered with the teams already in place.
From grocery to consumer electronics, Dee has led large stores, regional operations, openings and conversions, and brings the same discipline to governance and to developing future leaders.
Dee's offering covers turnaround, operational performance, openings and conversions, and leadership capability. Built for organisations that need an operation stabilised, a turnaround led or a change programme delivered on the ground.
Enters underperforming operations to establish what is really happening, restore control and sustain the result. From stock loss cut from approximately 2.8% to 0.3%, to a £65m operation returned to positive like for like sales.
Practical diagnostics and delivery across inventory, availability, stock loss, absence and daily management, resetting the operating plan around the controllable drivers of performance. Lean Six Sigma trained.
Leads store openings and conversions from the front, including Market Drayton, grown from approximately £167k to £255k weekly sales with absence below 3%, plus rapid deployment conversion assignments.
Led Store Manager succession planning across a region of approximately 150 stores, developing managers into Store Manager roles and protecting engagement through acquisition and restructuring. Former Chair of Governors.
If your organisation needs an operation stabilised, a turnaround led or a change programme delivered on the ground, Dee works with leadership teams to diagnose what is really happening, set clear priorities and deliver measurable, sustained results.
Dee starts by establishing what is really happening, then focuses on the few issues that matter most. At Market Drayton that meant resetting the operating plan, not simply cutting cost.
Change is led with managers and frontline teams, through clear communication, stronger accountability and daily management disciplines. Engagement is protected while performance improves.
Dee's improvements are built to hold. Stock loss at Shrewsbury fell from around 2.8% to 0.3% and stayed there, because the underlying controls and capability were rebuilt.
A senior operational leader with deep specialisation in retail turnaround, operational excellence and change, able to step into COO, Programme or Transformation Director and Country or Regional Manager roles. Available for UK and international assignments.
More than three decades of operational leadership at Safeway, Asda and Dixons / PC World / Currys, alongside governance and mentoring appointments.
Dee Black is a senior operational leader with more than 30 years leading complex retail operations and large teams through growth, underperformance, restructuring and major change.
Dee's experience spans turnaround and stabilisation, operational performance, store openings and conversions, and leadership development, making Dee a strong choice for organisations that need results delivered on the ground.
Download CV → LinkedIn profileIf you have an underperforming operation, a store opening or conversion to land, stock loss or absence that will not come down, or a change programme that needs leading on the ground, tell us in 25 minutes what you need. Dee or one of our 50+ senior consultants will tell you honestly whether we can help.