W I L L I A M K N I G H T

F&B PROFESSIONAL

PROFILE EXPERIENCE A motivated and energetic leader, with a genuine passion for the food and beverage industry, who loves F&B Consultant – Saigon, Vietnam to network, connect and motivate people to do better • Working with a number of small and medium sized F&B businesses, things. addressing profitability and driving business growth

Having spent the last few years in Financial services, I Hype Asia – Saigon, Vietnam am now back on my preferred natural career path. A Food & Beverage/Quality Assurance Manager – Dec 2019 – July 2020 place, where I have excelled and developed both, a • Created H&S Policy and Manual compliant with Vietnamese/European Law. strong reputation and wealth of high-level expertise. • Implemented New Food Safety Controls • MARKETING AND BUSINESS Supporting opening for Roka Fella incl. writing/distributing project timeline. • Improved processes for Purchasing & Ops teams to support business. - Strong social media engagement skills. • - Won Best Marketing Initiative as Restaurant Manager Supporting Food and Drink Menu development • of PizzaExpress Livingston. Raising Brand awareness for all brands - Ran a marathon around the North Pole on behalf of Chanh Services – Saigon, Vietnam PizzaExpress raising over £50k for ‘Kids’ - Raised tens of thousands for other charities, through Consultant acting GM – Aug 2019 – Oct 2019 events in restaurants raising the company’s profile in • Concept creation of Mezze Saigon both local and national press. • Concept, Brand creation, Menu design and copy, Restaurant design, - Achieved record sales in 4 PizzaExpress restaurants. - Uniform Design, Social Media strategy and implementation. - Increased sales at House of Fraser restaurant over a 6- • Acting General Operations Manager for both Chanh Bistro restaurants. month period reaching 30% growth in like for like sales during a prolonged period of falling sales though out deVere Group – Saigon, Vietnam the rest of the store. Associate Wealth Consultant - Aug 2014 – July 2019 • Independent financial consulting. CUSTOMER RELATIONS • Financial planning and offshore investing - Responsible for the development and implementation • Pension and estate planning of front of house standards in 110 restaurants as • Savings and children’s education planning measured by key performance indicators of mystery • Tax management customer results (95% average compared to 91% • throughout the rest of the company), customer Offshore Banking complaints/ compliment letters and sales growth - Developed and implemented customer experience MoreMargin Ltd – UK and Ireland program driving down complaints to 1/3 third of the Account Manager - May 2011 – Aug 2014 • Developed structured audit programs, covering Financial Standards, Food company average and improving customer return rates. safety, Health and Safety, and Brand Protection. • Building trusting relationships with clients in order to ensure active TEAM DEVELOPMENT participation in improving business standards. - Responsible for recruiting, training and managing a • Coached and developed management to engage with both company national network of trainers. processes and best practice, to maximize business development and - Identified, recruited and developed restaurant minimize risk. • Providing direct feedback at both site and senior level. trainers for each of the 110 sites in the northern region. - As a restaurant manager I trained a number of new • Clients included Ask Italian, , , Itsu, , Bills, Baa Bar and trainee managers. Nando’s in both the UK and Ireland. - Also developed a number of my own team into restaurant manager roles, one of whom went on to Dobbies Garden Centers – Edinburgh, Scotland manage a flagship PizzaExpress in St Andrews after Assistant Store Manager - May 2010 – Feb 2011 starting with me as a Kitchen Porter. • Deputy to store manager, overseeing Plant area(£9.8m), Restaurant(£3.2m) & Deli (£980k) • Store turnover is approx. £22m

CONTACT FURTHER EXPERIENCE

House of Fraser - Edinburgh, Scotland +84 932164058 Senior Sales Manager - Jun 2008 – May 2010 • Deputy to the Store manager [email protected] • Active role in store development. • I was instrumental in the remodeling of the ground floor, bringing in new brands and concepts into the business, including a brand-new Cafe Nero httpsww.linkedin.com/in/william-knight-b51b12b2/ overlooking Haymarket. • Store turnover is approx. £20m. • Designated premises supervisor for alcohol license. INTERESTS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY House of Fraser - Edinburgh, Scotland Further to the corporate charity work described above, I Sales Manager Cosmetics and accessories - Jun 2008 – Dec 2008 have actively engaged in charity work in Saigon supporting the homeless, orphanages and pagodas as • Management of concession and HoF sales teams well as being one of the key individuals who initially set • Negotiating with key brands to ensure maximum promotional space and staffing was utilized at all times. up support networks for quarantine workers in and around Saigon. I have supported a number of other • Turnover of the ground floor was approx. £5m initiatives and inspired the set-up of others through my online promotion of activities. Digby Trout Restaurants ltd. - Edinburgh, Scotland Catering Manager - Oct 2007 – Jun 2008 I often support businesses around Saigon, not just in F&B • Oversaw refurbishment of the Restaurant but in a number of sectors through connecting people in • Increased sales by 30% on 5th floor (rest of the store was in decline of 11%) my extensive network. • Approached to join the team at House of Fraser directly. • Turnover - £330k. I enjoy Music, Reading and Cooking. • Delivered customer service training to catering managers within the I love food, wine and eating out and am particularly business. active in promoting the food scene in Saigon. PizzaExpress – UK wide – Field and Head office based. I enjoy diving in the summer and skiing in the winter Training Manager - Feb 2004 – Feb 2007 (when I can travel at least!) as well as playing golf. I am • also a dancer and run regular Salsa and Bachata parties Reporting directly to Head of Training and Regional Director. in Saigon. • Front line of training within the Region. • Assessing training needs and designing targeted courses • Roll out of central initiatives, including menu launches, legal courses and I enjoy keeping fit, going to the gym and cycling and have recently lost nearly 15kgs after being inactive for 3 motivational workshops at all levels from Area managers down. months due to a motorbike accident. PizzaExpress – North of England and Scotland Travel and culture are also great loves. Restaurant Manager - Jun 2000 – Feb 2004 • Manchester (£1.8m turnover) – record sales. F&B Training • Knutsford (£400k turnover) – record sales. October 2006 - Scottish Personal License Holder • Derby (£800k turnover) – record sales, highest company QS audit score. • May 2005 - Level 2 Award H&S in the Workplace Livingston (£900k turnover) – record sales, highest Financial and QS audit scores, Awarded best marketing initiative in the company at annual awards. May 2005 - Wines and Spirits Education Trust - Intermediate • Edinburgh, Stockbridge (1.3m turnover). May 2003 - Train the Trainer Double digit growth in all restaurants, low staff turnover, excellent customer January 1999 - Stonebow Craft Trainer Award feedback as well as achieving all KPI’s.

PizzaExpress Waiter Trainer - Aug 1998 – Jun 2000 – Midlands, UK EDUCATION • Waiter and Waiter Trainer (full time whilst also studying at University).

May 2000 - University of Derby HND European Business with French(distinction). Involved living in France for 3 months.

REFERENCES June 1993 - West Park Community School, Derby Excellent references can be provided on request. 9 GCSE’s 1A, 3B's and 5C's