Executive Profile
Richard Brentnall is a senior enterprise operating leader with over 25 years of experience across FMCG, retail, consumer and logistics environments.
He leads operations as an integrated enterprise system, with accountability spanning margin, capital allocation, enterprise risk and performance across complex multi-market organisations operating in up to 28 international markets.
His experience includes £1.4bn of P&L margin and cash accountability at acting COO level, working directly with boards, executive committees, investors and banking partners.
His focus is long-term system durability, disciplined capital allocation and operating model design aligned to sustainable value creation.
Enterprise Accountability
Richard has led structural value programmes exceeding £80m through enterprise operating model redesign and logistics transformation.
He delivered a £16m structural cost reset through national performance stabilisation and governance reform.
He removed £12m in annual Brexit duty exposure through European network restructuring, protecting margin and balance sheet resilience.
He served as executive sponsor for SAP ECC to S/4HANA transformation across 28 international markets, overseeing governance, risk alignment and execution cadence at enterprise scale.
Operating Philosophy
Enterprise performance is not achieved through functional optimisation. It is achieved through clarity of decision rights, disciplined capital allocation, aligned operating cadence and leadership maturity.
Richard approaches operations as an integrated enterprise system, balancing cost, service, resilience and working capital to support long-term shareholder value.
He prioritises governance over momentum, structure over noise and sustainable system design over short-term intervention.
Selected Career Trajectory
Group Logistics Director – Nomad Foods
Head of Network Strategy – Marks & Spencer
Head of European Supply Chain – Clarks
Head of Supply Chain – The Entertainer
Acting COO-Level Turnaround – Palmer & Harvey
Technology & Governance
Enterprise ERP Governance
Executive sponsorship of SAP ECC to S/4HANA transformation across 28 international markets.
Enterprise Data Architecture
Cross-market performance visibility, control tower oversight and governance alignment.
Planning & Performance Systems
Integrated forecasting, inventory optimisation and enterprise planning cadence.
Automation & Network Modernisation
Governance of warehouse, transport and network automation at scale.