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Head of Sourcing and Product Development

Engineering & Production

Senior sourcing manager with 14+ years experience leading global apparel teams in raw material innovation, product development, and production.  Champion of strategic collaborations upstream in the fashion supply chain to leverage agility, speed and market value downstream.  Focus on sustainability,  flexibility and reduction of economic uncertainty,  substantiated by a background in environmental engineering and fiscal analysis.  

Influential communicator and program manager within technical, complex, and multicultural environments.  Recognized for global team leadership and developing collaborative relationships among diverse stakeholder groups.  Able to negotiate and problem-solve quickly, and adept at building trust in all partners.  

-  Sustainable Product and Process Certifications
-  Product Development Expertise  
-  Negotiation to Cost and Margin Targets
-  Strategic Planning and Fiscal Reporting
-  Raw Material Sourcing and Innovation
-  Bridge Building within Diverse Stakeholder Groups 
-  High Productivity, Time Management and Self-Motivation
-  Team Milestone Management


Managing development and production of women’s apparel collection for retail and wholesale with 400M EUR annual sales. Responsible for leading and managing the internal Product Development, Sourcing and Technical Design Teams responsible for all product development, sourcing, and production functions,  Strategic planning and team management, balancing development calendars to ensure that delivery deadlines, costing KPIs and quality standards are met. https://www.sandwichfashion.nl/	
Achievements include:
- Led the full re-allocation of production after initial Covid-19 collapse of the Far East supply chain, including sourcing and vetting new suppliers in EMEA, negotiating contract terms and managing development for rapid turnaround of 100,000pc production in Winter 2020.
- Spearheading the Sustainability Strategy, including the implementation of a circular re-commerce program
- Built strategic vendor partnerships with vendors for agile, responsive productions that reduce excess inventory, free up capital, and increase market value gains. 

Sustainability Program Manager	Sept 2019 - Jan 2019
Research and Development of a Circular Packaging Strategy.  Coordination with and buy-in from diverse stakeholders: e-commerce alliances (Wehkamp, Zalando, Amazon), production partners and internal business units.  Key technology research, consensus-building among diverse stakeholder groups, and impact data analysis.

Product Development Manager	June 2018 - Jan 2019								       
Responsible for product lifecycle management and final production approval for a full range of product groups; Leading technical team: task allocation and workflow management for internal team members.
Achievements include: 
Designed and implemented a product lifecycle management system; giving transparency into production and development status and providing information access to sales and logistics.
Analysed returns from online sales and revised entire base pattern fit and grading, resulting in 10% reduction in return percentage.


Product Development Manager and Sustainability Program Manager

Managed the product team for a haute couture streetwear design studio, the private label of Aitor Throup (Creative Director of G-Star). http://aitorthroup.com.   Production and material planning and for two innovative haute couture collections per year and several market-ready product drops, including sourcing and evaluating vendors for external productions.  Managed relationships with suppliers, negotiating terms, delivery conditions and POs, tracking performance KPIs, and ensuring contracts and service levels are upheld.
- Led the product team of 15 direct reports, including apparel and accessory developers, designers, pattern cutters and sample machinists, providing discipline, balance and inspiration within the team and ensuring a focus on results;.
- Project management: building critical paths, calendar, budget and garments costings to ensure the development runs according to business strategy and aligns with long term growth targets of studio.


Head of Product

Oversaw the production, sourcing, and costing process for sustainable underwear start-up. Researched, analyzed and evaluated prospective factories, identifying core competencies and capabilities, meeting target cost, quality, minimums, lead times and certifications.

Head of Sourcing and Production

Solely responsible for the full technical design package for both Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger Swim, Underwear and Loungewear, for mens, womens and kids, including the SS16 global re-launch of CK Swim.  Accountable for final approval for fit and quality of production for over 400 styles per season, establishing and maintaining brand identities through consistency in styling, fit, features and performance. https://www.pvh.com/
Launch of CK Swim with 150 new distinct shapes with first-time supplier base.  The swim launch gained €15m sales in first season and 61% growth second, with >80% sell through.  SS17 added the launch of Kids Swim in both CK and Tommy Hilfiger, with 88 new shapes with distinct size and grading rules between brands.


Senior Product Developer and Fit Technician

Responsible for full product development cycle for 250 women's ready-to-wear garments per year, collaborating in pricing and factory allocation with Buying; negotiating costing variables with suppliers.  Accountable for final production go ahead, including periodic in-line inspection in factories. https://www.nicethingspalomas.com/  
Achievements include:
Established first complete quality manual for production;
Built full material library to advance material quality and efficiency.


Production Manager

Drove the material development and research for Reebok Creation Center Barcelona ensuring product excellence by identifying future trends and technologies; supporting strategic supplier relationships and preparing as bi-annual Vendor fair / Summit; Led material development team of 2 direct reports, providing individual goals and development plans; Responsible for defining and developing a cost effective and innovative material palette, for both apparel and A&G (accessories and gear). https://www.adidas-group.com/en/brands/reebok/  
Achievements include:
Leading the full roll-out of adidas material sourcing strategy in a Creation Center which had previously used exclusively vendor-sourced materials; constructing material library - physically and in PLM, including the counter-sourcing of all vendor materials, and building cooperation and buy-in in cross-functional teams. 


Materials Development and Innovation Team Leader

Responsible for the timely and accurate completion of garment development calendar, from 1st prototype to delivery; writing technical specifications and leading development process and accountable for final call in fit and quality.  https://myspringfield.com/

Technical Designer

Emma Russell is a Head of Sourcing and Product Development at Sandwich Fashion in Berkeley, CA.

Emma Russell

Emma Russell

Skills

Interests

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Education history

Duke University

IED

Wageningen University