Midge Mistry LtdHemant (Midge) Mistry | Professional Background

Seasoned Senior-Level Commercial Leader | FMCG & Retail Growth Strategist

Email: [email protected] | Phone: +44(0) 7980 645801 | LinkedIn Profile

Professional Summary

Results-driven commercial leader with 15+ years experience driving growth in FMCG and retail through decisive leadership, team empowerment, channel & category management and innovative omnichannel market strategies.

Proven track record in business performance optimisation, market share expansion and leading high performing teams across multi-national functions to deliver with exceptional speed & agility. Adept at streamlining operations, channel development, high-stakes negotiations and forging profitable & sustainable relationships at all levels.

Expertise

Leadership Financial Management Relationship Management
Strategic Planning & Implementation P&L and ROI Improvements Channel Development
Operation Analysis & Process Redesign Market Share Sustainability Team Performance Maximisation
Internal Systems and Controls Turnaround / Crisis Management Skilled Conflict Management

Professional Experience

Newell Brands | Head of Sales, UK

July 2023
  • Leading a £59.5m portfolio (+21% revenue increase vs 2023) and a newly structured team.
  • Managing 4 SNAM on multiple high-profile brands (Yankee Candle, Sistema, Sharpie) across Home Fragrance, Cleaning, Appliances, Food, Beverage, Baby & Writing.
  • Integrated legacy business units and streamlined operations, enhancing efficiency and cross-functional alignment.
  • Optimised processes through simplification, enabling a more focused customer group management approach.
  • Developed customer-centric strategies using data-driven decision-making to drive profitable & sustainable growth.

Newell Brands | Senior Sales Manager – UK Mass Market Channel (Writing)

March 2019 – June 2023
  • Managed 4 SNAM serving all UK Major Multiples, Discounters and 2 European Distributors.
  • Owned the largest UK Channel representing 42.1% of total UK revenue in 2022.
  • Achieved 14 consecutive months of market share growth, increasing channel revenue by 28% and key events by 72%.
  • Spearheaded sustained P&L management, achieving +15% GM improvements and 6% investment savings.
  • Partnered with UK MD on strategy, C-level reporting, and engagement score increases.
  • Optimised cross-functional processes and led high-stakes negotiations driving omnichannel, brand-focused growth.

BIC | Senior Key Account Manager – Tesco, Iceland, The Range

Nov 2016 – Dec 2018
  • Relisted Tesco’s complete Female Shavers portfolio (+200bps market share).
  • Optimised profitability (+4.2%) and boosted ‘Back to School’ sales by +14%.
  • Won new accounts exceeding £700k, driving sustainable growth.
  • Improved cross-functional effectiveness with the UK’s largest grocer.

BIC | Key Account Manager – Sainsbury’s

Feb 2016 – Oct 2016
  • Achieved market share gains of +1.3% and +18% portfolio growth.
  • Secured new NPD listings in Sainsbury’s.
  • Redesigned and streamlined analytical tools and operating processes.

Unilever | Senior Account Manager – Personal Care, Home Care, Ambient, Chilled

2015 – 2016
  • P&L for a £112m portfolio across multiple categories and customers.
  • Reversed declining sales by developing a new Personal Care strategy.
  • Managed 2 direct reports and a Junior NAM to drive growth.

Unilever | Account Manager – Discounters

2012 – 2015
  • Grew top-line sales by +392% with 180bps trade investment savings.
  • Aligned strategy with growth ambitions and led product development.
  • Directed cross-functional teams to develop tailored solutions.

Unilever | Junior Account Manager – Discounters

2011 – 2012
  • Transformed a £54m flat portfolio into high-growth business.
  • Delivered 125% top-line growth with 610bps trade investment reduction.
  • Generated incremental +£2.3m in NPD and £2.6m from new customers.

Unilever | Category Executive – Savoury

2010 – 2011
  • Led category insight for MULTs across shopper and market data.
  • Coordinated reformulation of a key sauce range.

Unilever | Business Development Representative – Field Sales

2009 – 2010
  • Built end-user & distributor relationships, growing NPD sales by +13%.
  • Presented category strategies to catering sector customers.
RK Print Ltd | Project Manager – Manufacturing Engineering
2007 – 2009 | Managed £200k blue-chip projects, implemented 23% process efficiency gains

University of Bath | PDP IT Project Manager
2004 | Delivered an online PDP pilot for 12,000 users

Visono GmbH (Berlin) | European IT Sales (Placement Year)
2002 | Developed international customer relationships to grow share
Education & Qualifications
  • Omni-Channel, eCommerce & Digital Marketing | Circus Street | 2021
  • The Complete Skilled Negotiator | GAP Partnership | 2016
  • Precision Selling | Expressions for Growth | 2012
  • Project Management | (Prince2) | 2009
  • BA (Hons.) German and Politics, University of Bath, (1999 – 2003)
  • Modern Languages & European Political Modules, Freie Universität Berlin (2002)
  • A-Levels Maths A, Further Maths B, German C, Geography C ; GCSEs 10 (A*-C), The Meridian School (1994-99)
Additional Experiences
  • Independent World Travel | 38 Countries | 2004–2007
  • Vice President, Democracy & Communications | University of Bath | 2003–2004
  • Licensed Trade / Ethical & Environmental Committee Member | NUS Services Ltd | 2003–2004