Advanced Supply Chain (ASC), part of Reconomy, has expanded its strategic customer account team with the senior appointment of Karen Gibson, as it continues to invest in supporting retailers to optimise supply chains.
With over 30 years’ logistics experience, Karen joins ASC as Key Account Director and will be responsible for managing customer relationships with large volume retailers and consumer brands. This will involve the development of pan-European supply chain solutions that enable UK-based businesses to grow sales across the continent through ASC’s European operating facility in Germany.
Karen joins from Asda toyou, where she led the Client and Commercial team for ten years. She helped establish the company’s pioneering Pick Up and Drop Off (PUDO) parcel service as the fastest-growing PUDO in the UK and grew a client base of more than 150 brands.
Development of the service heralded many PUDO industry-firsts. Karen also played a key role in the creation of Asda’s innovative ‘George Take Back’ scheme, which allows consumers to trade old clothes and textiles for discounts on new purchases, while promoting recycling and circularity.
Prior to Asda toyou, Karen worked in senior roles with UPS Supply Chain and Yodel, which have equipped her with extensive experience of high-value, time-critical products, direct to consumer services and returns.
Andrew Hill, Commercial Director at ASC, commented: “Karen has an impressive track record of scoping and developing innovative supply chain services that anticipate market trends and create new commercial opportunities. Her experience of establishing partnerships with leading brands and ability to balance the need for supply chain speed and security of delivery, with cost-effective, flexible operations, will prove extremely valuable to our customers.”
“The large retailers and consumer brands we partner with are prioritising supply chain operations as part of core strategies for strengthening shopper satisfaction and brand loyalty, protecting margins and transitioning to a circular economy. Highly experienced professionals like Karen can work closely with customers to properly understand these opportunities and challenges, and can draw on insights and group-wide resources to deliver value-adding solutions.”
Karen’s appointment follows the recent hire of Key Account Manager Jacqui Reed, who joined ASC from DHL Supply Chain in New Zealand.
Commenting on her appointment, Karen said: “ASC is well-known for its dynamic, agile and creative services, and these are crucial to helping retailers navigate a fast-changing landscape. Being part of this as companies increasingly look for innovative solutions to be more efficient, sustainable and circular, was too good an opportunity to turn down.”
“The Key Account Director role allows plenty of scope for me to utilise my outbound and reverse logistics experience, and to connect with specialisms throughout Reconomy which will enable ASC’s customers to maximise the value of their supply chains.”
ASC is part of Reconomy’s Re-use loop, which specialises in end-to-end, omnichannel returns management and logistics solutions, and includes sister organisation ReBound Returns.
