Kim Winser
Encyclopedia
Kim Winser, OBE is a businesswoman born in Helensburgh
, Scotland
and educated at Purbrook Grammar School, Hampshire
, England
. In her childhood, she was a highly talented tennis player, and considered moving to America to pursue the sport before switching over to business where she joined Marks & Spencer
(M&S) in 1977 and became retailer’s youngest appointed divisional director and first female in the commercial field. Winser's turnarounds of Pringle of Scotland
and Aquascutum
were featured by the BBC in two separate programmes. In early 2009, she was brought on by 3i
to advise them on its retail and consumer investments and to chair one of their portfolio’s brands – Agent Provocateur
. During her time with 3i
she has repositioned the chain as a luxury brand, led its global expansion into new markets and most recently announced almost tripling the company's underlying profits. Currently, Winser serves as a special advisor at French Sole.
and Gisele Bündchen
appearing in campaigns. She pushed for Aquascutum to be one of the first brands to put on a fashion show in Shanghai, China. In 2009, when the company’s owners opted to sell off components of the business rather than keeping it intact, Winser decided to leave.
, Ewan McGregor
for the Children's Hospice Association Scotland
(CHAS), and Lady Helen Taylor
for CLIC Sargent
. She’s also very active in a number of events dedicated towards breast cancer awareness
.
, and in 2011, was asked by the English Government to deliver The Good Work Commission, alongside John Varley
and other notable executives.
Helensburgh
Helensburgh is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gareloch....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and educated at Purbrook Grammar School, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In her childhood, she was a highly talented tennis player, and considered moving to America to pursue the sport before switching over to business where she joined Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
(M&S) in 1977 and became retailer’s youngest appointed divisional director and first female in the commercial field. Winser's turnarounds of Pringle of Scotland
Pringle of Scotland
Pringle of Scotland is a luxury knitwear manufacturer and importer. The brand is worn by the likes of Madonna, DB7 , Nicole Kidman, Sophie Dahl, Claudia Schiffer, the television character Alan Partridge and British bands such as The Kooks, Dirty Pretty Things and The Twang...
and Aquascutum
Aquascutum
"Aquascutum" is a UK-based luxury clothing manufacturer and retailer, owned by Jaeger.-Company history:Aquascutum was established in 1851, the year of the Great Exhibition, when tailor and entrepreneur John Emary opened a high quality menswear shop at 46 Regent Street...
were featured by the BBC in two separate programmes. In early 2009, she was brought on by 3i
3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
to advise them on its retail and consumer investments and to chair one of their portfolio’s brands – Agent Provocateur
Agent Provocateur
Agent Provocateur is the fifth studio album by American/British rock band Foreigner, released in 1984. A concept album, the songs tell the story of a spy who sees life through both the inside and the outside. The album was the band's first and only number one album in the UK, and it reached the top...
. During her time with 3i
3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
she has repositioned the chain as a luxury brand, led its global expansion into new markets and most recently announced almost tripling the company's underlying profits. Currently, Winser serves as a special advisor at French Sole.
Turnaround of Pringle of Scotland
Winser became Pringle of Scotland's chief executive officer following its takeover by Hong Kong-based S.C. Fang & Sons Company in 2000 . As a partial owner, she revamped the business by taking it from a brand known for men’s golf wear, to an international brand in fashion. She closed a number of poor licenses, used the company’s vast archive of nearly 200 years and relaunched the brand as a modern, desirable one. She sought greater efficiencies in the company’s Hawick factory. She launched a retail division with shops in Bond Street and Sloane Street, London and elsewhere internationally.Turnaround of Aquascutum
In April 2006, Renown/Kaleido appointed Winser to President and Chief Executive Officer of the British Aquascutum company to revitalize the brand. She introduced a wholesale structure into the company and launched the top accounts globally. Since her appointment, the international growth of the brand had increased. She introduced a new image for the brand, with celebrities such as Pierce BrosnanPierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
and Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Caroline Bündchen is a Brazilian fashion model, occasional film actress and goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme.In the late 1990s, Bündchen became one of the first in a wave of Brazilian models to find success...
appearing in campaigns. She pushed for Aquascutum to be one of the first brands to put on a fashion show in Shanghai, China. In 2009, when the company’s owners opted to sell off components of the business rather than keeping it intact, Winser decided to leave.
Charities
Winser supports a number of charities, including working with HRH Prince Charles with The Prince's TrustThe Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
, Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
for the Children's Hospice Association Scotland
Children's Hospice Association Scotland
Children’s Hospice Association Scotland is a Scottish charity that provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-shortening conditions...
(CHAS), and Lady Helen Taylor
Lady Helen Taylor
The Lady Helen Taylor A first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II, she is a great-granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and is in the line of succession to the British throne....
for CLIC Sargent
CLIC Sargent
CLIC Sargent is charity in the United Kingdom that was formed by the merger of Sargent Cancer Care for Children and Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood in 2005. The charity specializes in providing support for children with cancer....
. She’s also very active in a number of events dedicated towards breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer and reduce the disease's stigma by educating people about its symptoms and treatment options...
.
Appearances
Winser has appeared on several notable TV and radio programmes including:- BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
- ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
- CNBCCNBCCNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
Other Accomplishments
Winser served as a Non-Executive Director of The Edrington GroupThe Edrington Group
The Edrington Group Limited is a major Scotch whisky company involved in blending, bottling, distributing and marketing. It produces several well-known brands, including The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, and premium single malts The Macallan and Highland Park...
, and in 2011, was asked by the English Government to deliver The Good Work Commission, alongside John Varley
John Varley
John Varley may refer to:* John Varley , English canal engineer* John Varley , English painter and astrologer* John Varley , American science fiction author...
and other notable executives.