Member Article

Clear Returns appoints ex-Tiso director as CFO

Leading retail intelligence specialists, Clear Returns, today announced the appointment of Ben Thomas as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as the company continues on its rapid growth trajectory.

Previously the Finance and Operations Director at Tiso Group – Scotland’s leading outdoor specialist retailer – Thomas has an in-depth understanding of the scale of current issues facing retailers and how return insight could help overcome these challenges. As CFO, Thomas will oversee all financial reporting, budgeting, cash-flow forecasting and management, as well as heading up shareholder communications, banking and legal relationships, and compliance.

Working closely with Vicky Brock, CEO and co-founder, and Julie Ashworth, Chairman, Thomas will help develop and implement the company’s growth strategy and assist in operational management as it expands further.

Clear Returns, a returns intelligence technology, provides retailers with valuable predictions and insight into their returns and profitability, highlighting what is being returned and why. By helping retailers to interpret this data, Clear Returns enables retailers to optimise revenue and boost ROI as consumers keep more of what they buy. This also means that companies can minimise the margin drain of returns and model their profits more accurately.

Commenting on his appointment, Ben Thomas said: “Clear Returns was the ideal choice in terms of my career development as the role builds upon my experience and knowledge. I was particularly drawn by Vicky and Julie’s drive and success in recognising a market opportunity and developing a fantastic product which addresses retailers’ needs.”

He continued: “I’m excited to be part of a high growth tech company which operates in an fast paced industry where my expertise already lies. As ecommerce continues to see rapid adoption, the rate of returned goods will only continue to rise, meaning retailers need to recognise this issue and adapt to overcome it.”

Julie Ashworth, Chairman of Clear Returns, commented: “Ben’s appointment will unpin our strategy to grow the business even further. We have a very specific focus point – returns – which is not widely recognised as a critical driver of business success yet, but this will soon change as retailers scrutinise profits and returns data more closely.

“Our product enables a single platform to provide everything from top-line KPIs to detailed operational alerts and insights, enabling all stakeholders in the returns management and reduction process to manage their areas and impact effectively,” she concluded.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Weeks .