Oct 2006 — Dec 2007

1 year 3 months

Vision Direct

Systems Director · Centralised the manufacturing and glazing operation of a fast-growing optical chain, using systems to reduce cost across the estate.

SECTOR

Retail

Optics

COVERAGE

UK, West Europe

Regional

ROLE

Systems Director

Operating leadership

FOCUS

IT Systems & Funding

Infrastructure

STATUS

● Previous role

Oct 2006 — Dec 2007

A centralised manufacturing model for a growing optical chain

Vision Direct was a fast-growing optical chain competing on price and turnaround. Glazing lenses store by store is expensive and can be inconsistent; Vision Direct’s model was to consolidate the work into regional glazing centres, gaining economies of scale, improved product quality and faster delivery. This required an innovative use of IT for its time, so that the supply chain, the stores and the customer operated in unison.

Steve was also involved in further store acquisitions and in securing funding from Octopus Ventures. That investment later supported the acquisition of two contact lens businesses and, in 2016, the sale of the business to Essilor International.

AT A GLANCE

Steve joined

October 2006

Fulfilment model

Centralised manufacturing and glazing

Model

Retail chain

Verticals

Optics · Retail

Coverage

UK, West Europe

Systems Director-led focus on IT systems and funding

What Steve did here

A short operational appointment with two defined responsibilities: the systems on which the centralised model depended, and the funding behind it.

Primary focus areas

Systems and infrastructure — Ordering, prescription handling and glazing-centre workflow, operating as a single integrated process across the stores.
Cost reduction through systems — Using technology to consolidate manufacturing and glazing and remove cost from the operation.
Funding — Raising and managing the capital required to establish the centralised model.

“

Using systems to centralise manufacturing and glazing, and take cost out of every store in the chain.

Vision Direct · Steve Tiley, Systems Director

1yr 3mo

Tenure

2006

Steve joined

2016

Acquired by Essilor

Other companies Steve has built, led or advised

MDIS Services Limited

Founder & Managing Director

A multinational IT business serving the quick service restaurant, retail and hospitality sectors across Europe and North Africa, merged with Acrelec.

Dec 2007 — Dec 2013

QikServe Limited

Chairman

Chaired the enterprise platform for guest self-service in hospitality through restructuring with an incoming chief executive to its sale to Access Hospitality in September 2024.

Oct 2018 — Sept 2024

Acrelec

Founder & Managing Director

Overseeing operations, service and sales across a group serving McDonald’s, KFC, Starbucks, Walmart and Carrefour, and its expansion into the Middle East and the United States.

Feb 2013 — Feb 2018

QSR Automations

Board Advisor

Advised a restaurant technology business whose kitchen orchestration software is used by 21 of the 25 largest casual dining chains in the United States.

Jul 2022 — Jun 2024

Board appointment, restructuring or international expansion in prospect?

If you are scaling a business, restructuring, or appointing to a board, Steve would be glad to hear from you.