Updated 20 February 2014
Appliance Retailer has received an image of Mark Bilton accepting the award he won in late January 2014 (see story below).
“As the winner of the award, Mark has a place on the exclusive 2014 Westfield World Retail Study Tour and will be heading off to five world-class retail destinations in May,” said the awards organiser.
Ex Hagemeyer boss wins major management award and world trip prize
(22 January 2014)
Mark Bilton, the man who masterminded the sale of Hagemeyer to Shriro, has won the 2014 Michael Page Retail Executive Award and the five-city retail study tour prize that comes with it.
When Bilton took over Hagemeyer in 2009, the company was owned by Rexel and was distributing Smeg, Blanco, Omega, De Dietrich, Omega Altise and JVC. Bilton exited Hagemeyer following the sale to Shriro, which took over Blanco, Omega and Omega Altise, but let go JVC (to Kenwood) and De Dietrich (the wilderness, followed by Eurolinx). Smeg established its own subsidiary.
Bilton, a New Zealand native and motorsports enthusiast, who describes himself as a ‘change catalyst’, ended up as the managing director of Gloria Jean’s Coffees. Late last week, it was revealed that the Gloria Jean’s Coffee franchisor business and associated brands had been sold to Global Yellow Pages, a publicly listed Singaporean company.
To win the Michael Page Retail Executive Award, Bilton eclipsed four runners up:
Tony Sutton (Myer executive GM )
Tim Schaafsma (Freedom MD)
Mark Daynes (Jeanswest CEO)
Stephen Heath (Fantastic Holdings CEO)
The prize for winning this award, which recognises excellence in implementing change and transformation initiatives into a business, is a free place on the 2014 Westfield World Retail Study Tour, which includes stops in San Francisco, Seattle, Stockholm, London and Barcelona.
“We were very impressed with the calibre of applicants we received, and we are thrilled to announce Mark Bilton as the winner of the Michael Page Retail Executive Award for 2014,” said Michael Page regional director Richard Wynne.
“Mr Bilton’s entry stood out most for his ability to design and implement a business strategy that added significant value for all stakeholders, through a leadership style that is genuine, inclusive and engaging.”
Understandably, Bilton said he was looking forward to such an amazing study tour:
“I look forward to meeting with sector experts and industry leaders, while travelling to great cities and experiencing cutting edge retail,” he said. “This trip will also be a fantastic opportunity for me to be exposed to the latest trends and influence my thinking; inspiration is borne from experience.”