Izabela Zalewska

Established the merchandise and production planning function from the ground up for a fast- growing activewear brand. Built comprehensive financial and business planning frameworks to support growth targets. Designed and implemented an end-to-end allocation system, enabling data-driven inventory decisions across markets. Played a pivotal role in creating scalable planning operations.

Led end-to-end seasonal Buying and Planning for six global divisions, managing a portfolio valued at approximately $600M per season. Oversaw commercial negotiations with vendors on critical terms including lead times, MOQs, and cost structures. Directed the pre-booking and pre-buying strategy to ensure optimal stock positioning and mitigate oversell risk. Built and coached a high- performing team of six, fostering development through structured feedback and mentoring. Spearheaded the creation of strategic planning tools and performance reports, enhancing decision-making across merchandising and vendor partnerships. Promoted to Senior Manager in recognition of leadership and business impact in 2022. Directed sales and inventory management across the DACH region, driving efficiency through consolidated purchasing strategies. Led the strategic development of localized product assortments, aligning client-specific needs with broader commercial goals. Delivered in-depth performance analyses and KPI reporting to senior leadership, enabling data-driven decision- making across regional planning and stock allocation. Managed a network of 80+ global suppliers for the NOS program, achieving 97% availability on core products. Led seasonal and NOS forecasting using advanced Excel tools to optimize inventory levels. Partnered with E-commerce and Buying teams to align product visibility with sales priorities. Oversaw complex order flows across thousands of SKUs, ensuring operational precision at scale.

Directed sales and inventory management across the DACH region, driving efficiency through consolidated purchasing strategies. Led the strategic development of localized product assortments, aligning client-specific needs with broader commercial goals. Delivered in-depth performance analyses and KPI reporting to senior leadership, enabling data-driven decision-making across regional planning and stock allocation.