Bruno Gentil
Head of Channel Development, APAC, Continental Tire, Passenger & Light Truck, Re
19+ years working in Greater China (Taiwan, China), the last 15 in retail. Retail operations specialist. Over 10 years with Carrefour (2nd biggest retailer worldwide) as Store Director and 3 years with Safilo Retail China as General Manager, responsible to set up from scratch and develop the wholly-owned retail company and stores network (14 sites signed, 11 built, 7 opened over 3 years) of the Italian company Safilo, worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of high end eyewear, with brands such as Gucci, Dior, Armani, YSL...Managed in 2010 the whole process of closing China operations after head office decision to withdraw from retail activities worldwide.
Specialties:
Deep knowledge of Chinese working & cultural environment; Fluent Chinese. Direct responsibility at opening and closing company; Negotiation in Chinese environment; 13 years of P&L direct responsibilities in retail operation; Stores openings; Hiring, training and coaching managers; Management of teams of up to 1,000 employees; Process streamlining; Cost cutting; Regional projects leadership in fields of communication, training, logistics, assortment management, profit optimization; Cross cultural management; Government liaison; PR
25 contacts2010 - 2011Sherpa Consulting is a boutique retail consulting practice based in China, proposing tailor-made support to foreign and Chinese retail companies to help them improve the results of their operations in China.
Sherpa Consulting is a bridge between western and Chinese cultures and business knowledge. It provides in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience of China retail to help foreign companies succeed in this fast growing yet difficult market. It also shares with local mass retailers its know-how of international retail practices as successfully implemented in Taiwan and China for over 10 years, to help them get better and better. Sherpa Consulting strives to “Keep it simple and close to the ground”, to work on approaches that can be executed in the field. Like sherpas, its goal is to help you climb new heights while reducing your risks !
2007 - 2010Set up the optical retail company of Safilo SpA in China & Hong Kong (Safilo is a world leader in manufacturing and distribution of upscale eyewear), including registering the WOFE, hiring the back-office team, creating the administrative structure, managing the expansion and openings of eyewear boutiques, adjusting design and layout of stores, building the assortment, controlling operations and overseeing the P&L. Then managed the whole process of closing the company in 2010, following head office decision to withdraw from retail sector worldwide.
1997 - 2007Managed 6 stores in both Taiwan (3 cities) and China (Chengdu and Shanghai), including two stores openings in Shanghai - team managed from 400 to 1,000 employees - Full P&L responsibility. Consistently exceeded top line and bottom line targets. Coached 8 store managers. Systematically took on regional responsibilities, coordinating among stores on specific projects (Pricing, HR, Logistics, Communication, Assortment)
1992 - 1997• Organized business trips of French companies or delegations to Taiwan and of Taiwan companies to France;
• Did matchmaking between French and Taiwanese companies;
• Conducted market surveys in Taiwan to evaluate potential of French agro-food products;
• Wrote commercial reports for the French government;
• Participated in trade-related meetings and negotiations with Taiwan government officials, opening the market to import of French apples;
• Organized professional food & wine exhibitions, as well as French Food Festivals for general public.