May Poon
Kennedy Town, Hong Kong
Summary
Experienced and dynamic Assistant General Manager with a 15-year proven track record at DFS in various locations, including Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, and New Zealand. Excelling in strategic planning and team leadership. Successfully drove sales through impactful brand partnerships and client engagement initiatives. Adept at project management, fostering a high-performance, people-focused culture, and enhancing customer experiences in luxury retail environments.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, SALES
DFS MACAU
08.2023 - 05.2025
- Oversees luxury watch and jewelry brands, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bvlgari, etc. Managed 9 sales managers and over 180 sales associates, with a sales volume of U$200 million.
- Guide sales managers on enhancing brand productivity through strategic plans such as monthly sales initiatives, seasonal clientele events, and to drive sales profit and healthy ROI.
- Partner with stakeholders (landlord, brand partners) to lead and execute key store events, which events have driven over US$7 million in sales in 2023 and 2024.
- Drive client engagement, retain, and upgrade our customers via in-store animations, VIP events, through curated products, and personalized treatments.
- Provided leadership, insight, and mentoring to sales managers, with a development plan in place to cultivate a strong team culture and individual career development.
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
DFS AUSTRALIA
03.2022 - 08.2023
- Acted as Acting GM, with full ownership for managing sales (Fashion, WJ, Beauty), and absorbed AGM Operations responsibility; set strategic plans to drive sales and market awareness after a two-year closure (COVID).
- Manage P&L, liaise with store finance on performance tracking, and location forecast through budget exercises.
- Oversee local landlords, marketing partners, to manage campaigns and lease brand relationships, including hotel and travel partners.
- Reboot market awareness by partnering with TTNQ (Tourism Tropical North Queensland) hotel partners and landlords, with in-store activations and a KOC campaign (over 4 million views) on social media.
- Drive service, and improve customer service. Awarded three times with DFS Global Best Service Awards in 2022.
- Facilitated communication between departments to ensure seamless operations. Conducted regular performance evaluations for employees to ensure quality standards were maintained.
PRODUCT SALES MANAGER
DFS NEW ZEALAND
01.2018 - 03.2022
- Oversee all fashion, W&J brands at Auckland Galleria, and 5 fashion and watch boutiques at Auckland International Airport.
- Category management: Work on sales strategies, and implement action plans to drive both sales and customer experience.
- Product & Inventory management – Maintain high standard of product and brand knowledge in selling team, ensure excellent floor presentation. Review store floor plans to ensure maximum exposure and enhance sales productivity.
- People management: Actively engaged in talent development, facilitating training, and identifying potential talent for internal promotions.
- Key achievements: Project leader for the execution of the Auckland Galleria renovation in 2017. Brings in over 30 brands into the market and record store sales with over $110 million, +30% versus pre-renovation.
- Project leader for Auckland International Airport, opening in 2018, with five brands, including Hugo Boss, Montblanc, Furla, Fossil, and Lacoste.
- Improve sales productivity: e.g., Improved and doubled Tiffany's sales by restudying the customer profile, setting up the correct assortment and stock levels with a sales team that was retrained.
- Build future leaders: Successfully developed several store leaders with promotions.
PRODUCT SALES MANAGER, BEAUTY
DFS HONG KONG
11.2012 - 07.2017
- Project lead to execute and open 15 DFS beauty stores in Hong Kong International Airport in 2012, ensure smooth transition and complete all renovation projects.
- Liaise with Promotion team and start up Airport Community Club in HKIA to expand internal community & drive sales e.g. $3.3m for beauty staff sale in 2016.
- Partner with Local Merchandising and successfully bring in new beauty brands with in-store activations & drive incremental sales. With successful launch, the brands further expanded to other Hong Kong stores.
- Initiated and executed the first cross-category sale event with $2.5 million in sales.
RETAIL SALES MANAGER
NUANCE WATSON LIMITED
02.2007 - 11.2012
- Oversee 15 beauty stores in Hong Kong International Airport, Report to Senior Operations Manager.
- Monitor Store managers and sales team of over 250 frontline staff, ensure team to keep track and achieve store target and deliver excellent service standard. Sales portfolio U$100m.
- Communicate with merchandising team and brands on store promotions, review and provide feedback on promotion mechanics for smooth execution.
- Coordinate and execute projects e.g. new boutiques and store expansion to maximize space productivity.
- Build and maintain strong partnership with vendors on brand performance including store merchandising, staff performance and counter issues.
Education
BA (HON) - MEDIA & CULTURAL STUDIES WITH JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY
United KingdomYEAR 13 COMPLETION -
PENROSE HIGH SCHOOL
New ZealandSkills
- Strategic planning
- Brand partnership
- Client engagement
- Performance evaluation
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Organizational structuring
Personal Information
Citizenship: Hong Kong SAR
Mobility: Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, SALES
DFS MACAU
08.2023 - 05.2025
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
DFS AUSTRALIA
03.2022 - 08.2023
PRODUCT SALES MANAGER
DFS NEW ZEALAND
01.2018 - 03.2022
PRODUCT SALES MANAGER, BEAUTY
DFS HONG KONG
11.2012 - 07.2017
RETAIL SALES MANAGER
NUANCE WATSON LIMITED
02.2007 - 11.2012
BA (HON) - MEDIA & CULTURAL STUDIES WITH JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY
YEAR 13 COMPLETION -
PENROSE HIGH SCHOOL
Similar Profiles
Kelly LeongKelly Leong
Product Sales Manager at T Galleria Beauty by DFS at Galaxy MacauProduct Sales Manager at T Galleria Beauty by DFS at Galaxy Macau
Min Huei LiaoMin Huei Liao
Program Assistant at Teledifusão de Macau, S. A. (TDM Macau)Program Assistant at Teledifusão de Macau, S. A. (TDM Macau)
Maria Aireen BarbaMaria Aireen Barba
Attendant F&B at COD RESORTS LIMITADA MELCO MACAUAttendant F&B at COD RESORTS LIMITADA MELCO MACAU
Yannes LamYannes Lam
Hostess Lead at The Steak House, Regent Hong KongHostess Lead at The Steak House, Regent Hong Kong
Marc YanMarc Yan
Sales Manager at AUB LtdSales Manager at AUB Ltd