Open to opportunities

Vanja Mihov

@vanjamihov

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Senior business operations leader driving revenue growth across luxury retail and events.

Germany

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What I'm looking for

I seek leadership roles where I can drive multi-site retail and event operations, grow revenue, mentor teams, and deliver high-end customer experiences in international, fast-paced organizations.

I am a dynamic senior professional with 15+ years of international experience across luxury retail, hospitality, media, tourism and large-scale events, known for hands-on leadership, an entrepreneurial commercial mindset, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. I have led multi-unit retail networks, high-scale event retail operations, and cross-functional projects while driving revenue, KPI improvements and operational excellence in multicultural environments.

My track record includes managing retail operations for global luxury brands, overseeing full retail lifecycles at major events, building and coaching high-performing teams, and implementing strategic plans that improve conversion, AOV and overall performance. I bring strong stakeholder management, project leadership and compliance reporting skills, with fluency in multiple languages and deep market knowledge across DACH and the Adriatic region.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Venue Manager

Current

Fanatics, Inc.

Apr 2024 - Present (1 year 11 months)

Lead day-to-day retail operations across stadiums and fan zones for UEFA events, managing pre-tournament setup, on-site execution and post-event dismantling while coaching a 75+ workforce and driving revenue through KPI optimization.

Event Operations Retail Operations Team Leadership VM & Visual Merchandising KPI Analysis Stakeholder Management

Area Manager DACH & Italy

Michael Kors

Feb 2021 - Mar 2023 (2 years 1 month)

Accountable for performance and operations of 12 stores across DACH & Italy, driving revenue growth through strategic business planning, SAP/JDA systems management and talent development to improve regional KPIs.

retail management SAP JDA ERP Talent Development Visual Merchandising P&L management Performance Tracking

Store Manager

Michael Kors

Mar 2019 - Feb 2021 (1 year 11 months)

Managed Munich flagship store and a 12-person team, led luxury collection buying, VIP clienteling and in-suite selling, and ran events and KPI-driven operations to maximize high-end revenue.

Inventory Management JDA Event Management KPI Analysis Visual Merchandising Luxury Sales

Assistant Store Manager

Gucci

Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 (11 months)

Supported store operations, profitability and financial reporting while enforcing Gucci visual and service standards and coaching staff to meet sales and customer experience objectives.

Retail Operations Financial Reporting Staff Training Visual Merchandising VIP Service

Team Manager

Louis Vuitton

Sep 2017 - Apr 2018 (7 months)

Led a sales team to drive VIP client development and after-sales service, managed recruitment and succession planning, and ensured operational excellence and brand representation on the selling floor.

Client Development Team Leadership Succession Planning VIP Service Recruitment

Store Manager

Agent Provocateur

Dec 2016 - Sep 2017 (9 months)

Owned P&L and store profitability, managed banking and reporting, optimized performance via KPI analysis and CRM-driven clienteling to build a loyal high-value clientele.

P&L management KPI Analysis CRM Inventory Control Financial Reporting Clienteling Visual Merchandising

Assistant Store Manager

Agent Provocateur

May 2016 - Dec 2016 (7 months)

Managed daily operations, financial reporting and rota planning while ensuring VM compliance and delivering targeted sales through category-specific action plans.

Operations Management Financial Reporting Sales Planning Staff Training Customer Service CRM

Head of Editorial & EPG

Media Press

Mar 2010 - May 2016 (6 years 2 months)

Directed production, editorial operations and EPG quality for national TV channels in Croatia and Slovenia, leading editors, managing CMS workflows and improving audience engagement through localization strategies.

Editorial Management CMS Content Localization Team Leadership Social Media Quality Assurance

Operations & Sales Coordinator

BoFrost

Jun 2009 - Mar 2010 (9 months)

Led telemarketing, logistics and sales teams across three EU markets, managed payroll and deployed ERP systems to improve production control and cross-border partner collaboration.

Telemarketing Logistics Sales Coordination ERP Payroll Management Market Analysis team development

Guest Experience & Event Manager

Valamar Hotels & Resorts

Orchestrated VIP guest relations and full-cycle event planning, coordinating cross-departmental logistics and training staff to deliver consistent 5-star personalized service.

Event Management Guest Relations VIP Service Logistics Coordination Staff Training Service Recovery

Content & Booking Manager

Adriatica.NET

Managed digital content and quality assurance for luxury accommodations and yachts, optimizing listings through image processing, data verification and client communication to improve conversions.

Digital Content Management Quality Assurance Booking Management Image Editing Client Communication Web Optimization CRM

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Speranza touristic agency / Travel Guide Learning Center Edukon

Travel Guide Certification, Tourism / Travel Guiding

2007 - 2007

Completed travel guide training at Speranza touristic agency / Edukon in Zagreb.

VERN' - University of Applied Sciences (Event Management course)

Course Certificate, Event Management

2005 - 2005

Completed Event Management course at VERN' University of Applied Sciences in 2005.

XIII. Gymnasium

High School Diploma, General Secondary Education

1996 - 2000

Grade: Graduated with Distinction (Top 5% of Class)

High School Diploma, graduated with distinction (Top 5% of class) in the class of 2000.

Music School "Pavao Markovac"

Secondary Music Diploma, Music (Piano & Opera Singing)

1987 - 1997

Completed a comprehensive 10-year musical education culminating in a Secondary Music Diploma in Piano & Opera Singing, covering music theory and history.

Vern' University of Applied Sciences

Bachelor of Economics, International Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management

Activities and societies: Key coursework: Management, Managerial Economics, Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Organizational Psychology, HRM, Tourism Logistics & Transport, Accounting, IT, Tourism Law, Business Mathematics.

Bachelor of Economics (univ. bacc. oec.) with specialization in International Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management; final phase of studies focusing on management, marketing, tourism logistics, and hospitality disciplines.