W I L L I a M K N I G
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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 • strong reputation and wealth of high-level expertise. Created H&S Policy and Manual compliant with Vietnamese/European Law. • 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 • Raising Brand awareness for all brands of PizzaExpress Livingston. - Ran a marathon around the North Pole on behalf of PizzaExpress raising over £50k for ‘Kids’ Chanh Services – Saigon, Vietnam - 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 Account Manager - May 2011 – Aug 2014 program driving down complaints to 1/3 third of the company average and improving customer return • Developed structured audit programs, covering Financial Standards, Food 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 minimize risk. - Identified, recruited and developed restaurant trainers for each of the 110 sites in the northern region. • Providing direct feedback at both site and senior level. - As a restaurant manager I trained a number of new • Clients included Ask Italian, Zizzi, Prezzo, Itsu, Barburrito, 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 httpsww.linkedin.com/in/william-knight-b51b12b2/ brands and concepts into the business, including a brand-new Cafe Nero 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 • Negotiating with key brands to ensure maximum promotional space and well as being one of the key individuals who initially set 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. • Livingston (£900k turnover) – record sales, highest Financial and QS audit May 2005 - Level 2 Award H&S in the Workplace May 2005 - Wines and Spirits Education Trust - scores, Awarded best marketing initiative in the company at annual awards. 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 .