CATARINA CARDOSO

• Heading up the main product group jersey (circular knits): ~3500 developed styles, > 28 Mio sourcing volume across ~20 vendors and multiple demand types resulting in + 1 Bn net sales contribution per year.
• Built up the department after re-structuring to enable Claim 5-strategy execution.
• Leading the team through the transition into the new operating model in close collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners by determining the strategic direction of the product supply chain incl. setting the standard at regenerative cotton and ~80% digital developed products for efficiency and speed.
• Optimizing development processes and costing practices for profitability, speed, sustainability and brand desirability.

• Established, initiated and optimized business development strategies based on company targets, product specifications, market data, and budget factors which resulted in strategic refinement of the positioning and global collection architecture for BOSS Men GREEN.
• Ensured profitable and attractive assortment offer across all channels contributing to over-average full price sell throughs as well as specific initiatives with strategic B2B partners fostering additional +20% top line growth.
• Enabling the expansion into additional sports performance categories to further strengthen the brand-line portfolio and expand into new areas of distribution for additional top line growth.

• Led the strategic expansion into active wear contributing +55% of net sales in direct-to-consumer channel at the 1st launch season.
• Generated additional +30% sell-in volume with dedicated sports fashion retailers and key online parnters. Managed the team through its 7th consecutive year of double-digit net sales growth.
• Passionate contributor to corporate mentoring program as well as leader of diversity & inclusion work stream for differently abled employees to positively influence corporate culture and company perception.

• Led and contributed to short- and mid-term corporate strategic projects on brand, value chain and innovation.
• Strongly contributed to the global brand communication transformation project resulting in a new emotional, consumer-centric brand voice across all global touchpoints.
• Implemented sustainability as a core design and marketing directive in close cooperation with Global Sustainability team which led to 4th high ranking in DJSI World and entering DJSI Europe for the 1st time.
• Benchmarked and introduced AI-based tool for creative, product and merchandising teams, resulting in optimization of work flows through data-driven decision-making.

• Strategically led new brand-line positioning and refinement of value proposition including new collection logic and assortment planning approach which resulted in becoming HUGO Boss' most profitable B2B offer and driver of steady high double-digit full-price sell throughs in DTC.

• Contributed to the strategic transition from regional creation center to regional merchandising in realization of the global amplify sports and DTC strategy overlooking categories such as Golf, Running, Tennis, NFL, IHF and Sportswear.
• Close collaboration with global brand, regional sports marketing and category sales teams to maximize horizontal concept initiatives as well as ensuring strategic execution in direct-to-consumer and strategic B2B partners/.com for optimal impact on full-price sell outs.
• Strongly contributed to the globalization of Nike Golf Women’s product portfolio by establishing a consumer-centric and informed development process which resulted in high double-digit order book growth across all regions & channels through increased product and assortment efficiency as well as communication effectiveness.

• Experienced in key account management / SMU Footwear EMEA, Global Training Footwear Operations, and Global Kids Footwear & Apparel.
• Successfully created and implemented horizontal concept for the global girls’ training collection from product creation process to optimized go-to-market activities (E2E) which resulted in becoming the standard in operational excellence across Adidas' performance division.
• Effectively managed very first cross-category co-lab for Girls with Mattel My Scene dolls which lead to first global activation in direct-to-consumer and key department stores for Girls Training.

Strategy and conceptual work evolving around distribution and marketing for emerging, young wine makers in Portugal to enter the North-European market via gastronomy and boutique wine stores.

• Conducted target market research to scope out industry competition and identify advantageous trends.
• Import of Portuguese wines from Ribatejo region to satisfy specifc requirements of North-european food wholesalers and hotel chains.

• Fostered culture of innovation within long-term clients, encouraging adoption of new technologies and methodologies, e.g. set up of e-commerce opportunities and venturing into sustainable product innovation.