Richard Von Hirschberg

Executive Leadership in Merchandising Planning Systems

Richard is a Partner of Columbus Consulting. Richard is a merchandising process and systems consultant with 25 years’ experience in designing and implementing merchandise processes and associated systems at major retailers in the US, Europe and South Africa. He has held management and executive responsibility for marketing and product strategy with four US software companies involved in the development of supply chain and merchandising systems. Headed up the original development teams of the two world-leading Merchandise Planning systems: Arthur and i2 Merchandise Planner.

Experience

• Wal-Mart – Program Manager
  • Program manager and principal subject matter expert for several Merchandise Planning, Assortment Planning, and Allocation projects for Wal-Mart’s global business
• Target – Project Lead
  • Led team to re-engineer allocation processes and define detailed system requirements for apparel and related business. Expert advisor to the apparel Assortment Planning project team
• AllSaints (UK) – Project Lead
  • Performed evaluation of system and process capabilities for the executive team and developed blueprint for system initiatives
• Saks 5th Avenue – Project Lead
  • Developed and revised merchandise planning process for Saks Fifth Avenue. Headed up project team to implement i2 Merchandise Planner
•     Woolworth (South Africa) –  Advisor
  • Expert advisor to Assortment Planning project team 
•     Mr. Price Group (South Africa) – Strategic Advisor
  • Strategic advisor to executive team on merchandise process and system investments