Business leader with commercial, marketing and customer focus
Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
- Current
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- Group Commercial Director at Stone Group
- Owner at TrueTalk
- Past
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- Sales & Marketing Director at Sharedband
- Commercial Director at Dixons (DSGi plc)
- UK Marketing Director at Dell
- Education
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- London University (Bedford College)
- Recommended
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26 people have recommended Keith - Connections
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500+
connections
- Industry
- Computer Hardware
- Websites
Keith Collins’s Summary
A business leader and experienced marketing director, who has held key positions with P&L responsibility in several major IT companies - Dell, Xerox, Tektronix and AST Computer. Keith is a team leader, who has built, motivated and aligned relationships in complex matrix based organizations across Europe and US corporate headquarters.
Keith has a track record of substantially improving forecasting and strategic planning processes with the use of business intelligence, data analysis and creative thinking. He also has a wide range of business experience from start-ups, acquisitions to corporate restructuring and various routes to market from direct to multiple channel based models.
Starting in product management he has managed the full portfolio of marketing functions across a wide range of B2B and B2C markets. He has also held senior commercial positions in retail at Dixons, Staples and had national sales responsibility for Amstrad – giving him all round business acumen.
Last year he joined a start-up internet software business where securing investment and working in a cash constrained environment has greatly added to his perspective on sales and marketing. Keith understands the importance of networking and the value of customer communication and has provided consultancy services on marketing and communication strategy.
Keith Collins’s Specialties:
Leader, Recruitment, Team building, Visionary, Sales, Business driver, P&L budget owner, Commissions, Business Development, Alliances, Patrnerships, Channels, Routes to market, Retail, Merchandising, Purchasing, Research, Value Propositions, Marketing, Product planning, Forecasting, Communications, Branding, Advertsing, DM, On-Line, Events, speaking, presentations, PR and analyst relations, EMEA & UK matrixed corporations, restructuring, aquisitions, start up, hyper growth, B2B and B2C
Keith Collins’s Experience
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Group Commercial Director
Stone Group
(Computer Hardware industry)
June 2008 — Present (7 months)
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Owner
TrueTalk
(Privately Held; Myself Only; Marketing and Advertising industry)
June 2006 — Present (2 years 7 months)
TrueTalk is a marketing consultancy business which focuses on business communication strategy and the impact and influence of social media including blogging and podcasting. After establishing a well read professional blog http://www.keithmcollins.com which helped generate two consulting projects the initiative led to the opportunity with Sharedband.
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Sales & Marketing Director
Sharedband
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Networking industry)
October 2006 — June 2008 (1 year 9 months)
Sharedband is an early stage technology business which sells a patented software solution to ISPs and Telco's in the UK and US. The software bonds internet connections to improve broadband performance and resilience specifically targeting small and medium sized businesses. Initial seed funds were raised from angel investors in 2006 enabling the market trials to commence in Q1 2007.
The sales and marketing director responsibilities include business development, sales revenue, customer pipeline, channels and customer propositions, market and brand strategy, business planning, product roadmap, contract development, publicity, website / collateral development, fund raising, and strategic alliances. Key achievements in the first year were a successful trial phase leading to initial customer revenues and subsequently a contract with BT wholesale to supply the UK market. -
Commercial Director
Dixons (DSGi plc)
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Retail industry)
September 2005 — April 2006 (8 months)
This position was a fixed term contract to manage the final peak season prior to integration with the Currys chain. The responsibilities included business direction and communication with store operations, advertising, promotions, brand management, point of sale materials and collateral, events and PR, KPI measurement and strategic direction for the trading teams. There was a central management team of 9 and a program budget of £12m covering TV, national press, collaterals and PR.
* The main success was a dramatically improved trading season for Christmas 2005. It was best peak season for 5 years recording year on year growth of over 8%. This was attributable to good availability of key lines, focused promotions and clear communications. The results of the successful trading period led to a series of recommendations for the development of the chain once transitioned to Currys management. -
UK Marketing Director
Dell
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Computer Hardware industry)
August 2003 — May 2005 (1 year 10 months)
The UK marketing director position was responsible for supporting the B2B relationship sales teams a matrix of seven sales functions. There was functional responsibility for product management, web marketing/store, market intelligence, strategic alliances and sales training. With a team of 24 and a program budget of $16m covering TV, press, direct marketing, events, publications and PR. Key achievements included:
•On joining the UK marketing team had the lowest employee morale in the company. After 6 months leadership, with good recruitment and team building the results had improved 40%. The improved morale led to increased productivity and better support which helped fuel growth in sales.
•Trebled marketing activity without incurring additional expenses by leveraging strategic alliance marketing budgets. These joint marketing programs with alliance partners also helped drive the corporate objective to enhance enterprise credibility. -
European Communications and Channel Marketing Director
Xerox
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Computer Hardware industry)
March 2002 — July 2003 (1 year 5 months)
After a significant restructuring in 2002 - the printing business integrated with the traditional office copier business, Keith assumed the overall responsibility for channel marketing and marketing communications. Key achievements included:
•A pan-European integrated marketing program in one theme included advertising, direct mail, web marketing and over 90 events. This program met all its objectives and successfully launched the reformed Xerox Office Group to customers, trade partners, press and employees.
•Created a channel branding program and infrastructure which dramatically simplified and made coop marketing far more efficient. It also ensured that partner activities were branded and targeted to meet corporate objectives. -
European Marketing Director
Xerox
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Computer Hardware industry)
January 2000 — January 2002 (2 years 1 month)
In January 2000 and Keith assumed the role of marketing director for the merged Xerox office printing business. This position covered responsibility for all marketing functions and budgets across Europe. The central team grew from 18 to 30 – and program budgets from $18m to $30m.
•Implemented an innovative and effective forecasting process built around channel reports, market trends and sales feedback. The process was responsible for significantly reducing stock levels, providing clear business direction and accurate financial forecasting. -
European Product Marketing Director
Tektronix
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Computer Hardware industry)
March 1999 — January 2000 (11 months)
Soon after joining Tektronix’s colour printing business it was acquired by Xerox in January 2000
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European Product Marketing Director
AST Computer
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Computer Hardware industry)
June 1996 — October 1998 (2 years 5 months)
AST was the 6th largest PC manufacturer in the world in 1996 and the business was acquired by Samsung during 1997. Initially responsible for the consumer product range Keith established a streamlined product range across Europe and radically overhauled the supply and demand process to reduce excess and obsolete stock which had been damaging the business profitability. Following his success with that strategy he assumed responsibility for the entire product range including notebooks and servers. Finally Keith helped transition the successful and profitable notebook business into Samsung’s product portfolio.
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Merchandise Manager
Staples
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Retail industry)
January 1993 — February 1996 (3 years 2 months)
Selected as part of the start-up management team for this retail joint venture in the UK the role was responsible for the computing, peripheral, software and accessory range. This included vendor selection, management, purchasing, promotion, marketing and store merchandising. The launch phase of Staples business was fast and extremely successful – opening 30 superstores in just 3 years. The key achievement during the roll out was driving over a third of revenues from this range and consistently being considerably over plan.
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National Sales Manager
Amstrad
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Computer Hardware industry)
February 1984 — December 1992 (8 years 11 months)
Responsible for PC and office equipment sales, successfully established new distribution channels to support a market leading position in the UK with annual revenues in excess of £150m and up to 14 sales staff.
Keith Collins’s Education
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London University (Bedford College)
B.Sc. (Hons), Physics & Computer Science, 1977 — 1981
