Hilary McNair

I am passionate about guiding and supporting business owners to build more profitable businesses and balanced lives. 

Many business owners are too involved in day-to-day firefighting to focus on long-term strategy or sustainable profit. They are also in a constant state of overwork or overwhelm. 

In my role as a Business Profit Coach, I use a proven 9-step framework to guide them to make more profit whilst getting a better work/life balance. This isn’t theory - it’s a proven, hands-on system that gets results fast through a combination of coaching, tools, accountability and expert support every step of the way. Many businesses have doubled their profits within 6 months and their owners have gained back 10-15 hours a week using this framework.

I’m also passionate about helping boards navigate change, improve operational resilience, and deliver sustainable growth. I’m now seeking Non-Executive Director roles where I can leverage my expertise to guide businesses through transformations and multi-market growth strategies. I see these roles as being the perfect complement to my coaching work. 

I have almost 30 years’ experience in the Retail industry, leading multiple functions and teams and working with over 80 markets as Global Commercial Director for The Body Shop. I specialise in driving strategic commercial innovation, digital and omnichannel growth, and ESG-aligned business practices. With a strong background in mentoring leaders and managing complex stakeholder ecosystems, I bring a collaborative yet challenging approach to my work. I’ve experienced working in high-performing, motivated and driven teams and have also experienced more difficult times, all of which have helped to give me an in depth understanding of the many challenges of running a profitable business without burning out. I also have extensive experience in guiding and supporting franchise markets to drive their businesses.

I have almost 30 years of business experience, mostly within the retail sector. I’ve worked for several different companies including Boots, Superdrug, Marks & Spencer and The Body Shop, where I spent over 20 years. I was based in Singapore and Hong Kong for seven of these. The business went through a number of transitions and transformations during this time, and I played a key role in reviewing our structures and processes during these changes.

I’ve had many different roles across various functions and geographies spanning Product Development, Buying, Procurement, Operations, Digital and Marketing, always with a Commercial element. This breadth of experience has given me a good understanding of how different functions and stakeholders need to work together. I worked in the global team developing our strategies, drove some of our company owned markets in both Asia and Europe, and supported our many franchise markets to grow their businesses. These markets varied from small family-owned businesses to multi-brand international corporations, and there was also significant cultural diversity to consider.

My final role at The Body Shop was Global Commercial Director which encompassed all of these elements and in which I supported over 80 markets around the world. In that role I also initiated and led the implementation of AI tools to support our commercial decision-making. 

Being a strong leader has always been one of my key strengths. I’m particularly proud of the high engagement scores and high levels of performance delivered by the teams I’ve led.

I am now building on my experience by coaching the leaders of retail and consumer goods businesses to build more profitable businesses and balanced lives. This is very much in line with my personal purpose of helping people to lead rich, fulfilling lives, and the perfect complement to a Non-Executive Director role which I am now seeking.

Certified Profit Coach: Business Coach Academy 2025

University of Oxford: Master’s Degree, Music. Grade: 2:1

Rapid Results College (Distance Learning): Chartered Institute of Marketing
Grade: Advanced Certificate and 3 papers of Diploma