Kieron Smith

Current

Managing Director at The Book Depository

Past

Managing Director at Retail8 Limited / BookRabbit.com
Head of eCommerce at Waterstone's Booksellers
Head of Online Operations at GAME Stores Group

Head of Operations at Methven's Booksellers
Head of Online Operations at BCA / Bertelsmann Media Group (BMG)
Internet Site Manager / Store Management Positions at Ottakar's PLC
Multi Site & Store Management at WH Smith Ltd

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4 more...

Education

The Open University
The Open University
The Open University

Southampton Solent University
The University of Kent

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2 more...

Recommended

18 people have recommended Kieron

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Retail

Websites

My Company

Kieron Smith’s Summary

Experienced e-commerce professional.

Kieron Smith’s Specialties:

Multi-channel CRM, e-commerce operational management, application of management theory, strategy development and implementation, coaching.

Kieron Smith’s Experience

Managing Director

The Book Depository

(Privately Held; Retail industry)

August 2008 — Present (1 year 4 months)

The Book Depository is the UK's largest dedicated online bookseller - offering the largest range of titles in the world, available for dispatch within 48 hours.

Founded in 2004 to make 'All Books To All' they focus on selling 'less of more' rather than 'more of less', differentiating itself from other retailers who increasingly focus on bestsellers.

Having forged unique publisher and supplier relationships, they have the ability to dispatch over 2.3 million titles within 48 hours, with free worldwide delivery, enabling customers to find the books they want. As the world's fastest growing bookseller, The Book Depository saw the last 12 months' sales topping £62m, despatching over 100,000 parcels a week worldwide.

The Book Depository won both the British Book Awards - Direct Bookseller of the Year 2009 and The Bookseller Retail Awards - Direct to Consumer Bookseller of the Year 2009. In addition the company is fifth in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.
Managing Director

Retail8 Limited / BookRabbit.com

(Retail industry)

September 2007 — August 2008 (1 year )

ArgentVive PLC was established in July 2007 after an entrepreneur took a majority stake in the small AIM listed bookseller Methven’s/Samedaybooks. It was renamed and the business refocused on acquiring and developing technology oriented businesses. Kieron was approached to join from Waterstone’s in order to start a new online consumer brand; that became BookRabbit.com, and to look after the remaining bookshops in the chain.
Head of eCommerce

Waterstone's Booksellers

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Retail industry)

July 2006 — September 2007 (1 year 3 months)

Kieron approached Waterstone’s in 2006 and offered to come on board to help co-ordinate the launch of Waterstones.com, previously handled by Amazon.co.uk. Responsible for the marketing, operations and production of the site, he was instrumental in the successful launch online and in establishing the business unit.
Head of Online Operations

GAME Stores Group

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Retail industry)

January 2003 — July 2006 (3 years 7 months)

When Kieron joined GAME in 2003 the online business was not commercially focused and had little online presence. Through the development of an online strategy, a complete reorganisation of the team and clear integrated marketing communication, GAME.co.uk was grown to be one of the most significant online retail properties in the UK.
Head of Operations

Methven's Booksellers

(Retail industry)

October 2001 — January 2003 (1 year 4 months)

Development of Corporate Strategy and Balanced Scorecard for the business.
Management of further integration of web site with stores and site re-launch.
Responsible for delivery of exceptional customer service across all stores and the website.
HR Management for 11 bookshops (105 staff) – including store closure and redundancy.
Introduction of company-wide performance management system.
Co-ordination and analysis of customer research, to inform future strategy decisions.
Head of Online Operations

BCA / Bertelsmann Media Group (BMG)

(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Retail industry)

January 2000 — November 2001 (1 year 11 months)

Established online sites for all bookclubs in the UK, and grew many to be a significant share of overall business. Worked with offline direct mail on integration, measurement and optimisation.
Internet Site Manager / Store Management Positions

Ottakar's PLC

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; OTK; Retail industry)

April 1998 — April 2000 (2 years 1 month)

Management trouble shooter, opened Chelmsford store, set up ottakars.co.uk as transactional e-commerce site.
Multi Site & Store Management

WH Smith Ltd

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Retail industry)

August 1993 — April 1998 (4 years 9 months)

RMDP Trainee, EPoS Trainer, Customer Service Manager Newport Isle of Wight, Operations Manager Winchester and Romsey Stores, Store Manager Streatham, Multi Site Manager New Malden and Worcester Park (largest combined news business in South London).

Kieron Smith’s Education

The Open University

Web Applications Development 2006 — 2006
The Open University

MBA , 2002 — 2005
The Open University

Pgd Diploma in Management , 2001 — 2002
Southampton Solent University

Pgd CMgt , Postgrad Certificate in Management , 1996 — 1997
The University of Kent

BA (Hons) , Politics & Government , 1989 — 1992

Activities and Societies:

President of Eliot College
Vice President (External) of Student Union

Additional Information

Kieron Smith’s Websites:

My Company

Kieron Smith’s Interests:

Russian history, management theory, astronomy, book collecting. Written for The Bookseller magazine on online retailing and on the bookshop as community space. Written on Critical Management Theory for 'Philosophy of Management' refereed academic journal.