ROWIN SHINGDIA

Senior Executive Assistant & Operations Strategist

London, UK.

About

Highly accomplished Senior Executive Assistant with over 20 years of progressive experience, adeptly partnering with Founders, Boards, and C-suite leaders in fast-paced hospitality and manufacturing sectors. Combines deep financial fluency (FCCA qualified, BSc in Business & Finance) with advanced AI-assisted workflow capabilities to streamline complex operations, manage international logistics, and ensure seamless executive and board administration. Proven expert in strategic project coordination, financial oversight up to £1M, and discreet personal support, poised to transition into a Senior EA, Chief of Staff, or Business Operations role.

Work

Global Hospitality Group

|

Senior Executive Assistant to Founder & Co-CEO / UHNW Individual

London, England, UK

→

Summary

Senior EA supporting the Founder & Co-CEO of an international, fast-scaling hospitality group (14 brands, 90+ operating properties, 30,000+ employees), managing complex diaries, inboxes, and daily operations, working directly with the CEO Office to professionalize structure and processes.

Highlights

Managed 9 complex inboxes across multiple entities and time zones, vetting and prioritizing communications to draft responses with full discretion, ensuring the principal focused only on critical matters.

Coordinated up to 10 complex international trips monthly across Far East, Middle East, US, and Europe, including private jet travel and multi-leg itineraries, consistently rebuilding schedules without disruption.

Provided seamless in-person support across two office locations, anticipating needs to maintain principal's smooth transition between back-to-back meetings, minimizing friction.

Managed CEO office expenses and invoices, ensuring accurate coding and audit-ready records in collaboration with the finance team, enhancing financial transparency.

Leveraged AI tools (Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Granola) to draft correspondence, summarize briefings, and expedite research, significantly improving turnaround times while preserving discretion.

Mentored and supported the wider EA team, sharing best practices in diary and inbox management to embed resilient processes and enhance overall efficiency.

Provided discreet support for personal and household logistics, coordinating with private PAs to ensure seamless management of family affairs.

Private UK-Based Manufacturing Group

|

Senior Executive Assistant & Operations Liaison

London, England, UK

→

Summary

Provided senior-level executive support to the board and led operational project coordination, acting as a key link between leadership, finance, logistics, and compliance teams as the business scaled from £3m to £40m annual turnover and grew to 120 employees.

Highlights

Orchestrated the planning and launch of a second manufacturing site in 2020, delivering on budget and ahead of schedule by personally coordinating staffing, facilities, and compliance.

Led the selection and implementation of new operational software across the business, delivering on budget and ahead of schedule, significantly enhancing reporting accuracy and cross-team workflow efficiency.

Coordinated strategic projects from inception to completion, meticulously tracking milestones and ensuring optimal resource, budget, and personnel allocation.

Streamlined board reporting through consistent templates and clear information flows, reducing preparation time for board meetings and improving data quality for founders.

Served as primary liaison for auditors, accountants, legal advisors, and regulatory bodies, ensuring continuous compliance and smooth operations amidst post-Brexit and COVID-19 challenges.

Supported financial oversight by monitoring budgets, tracking costs, and approving expenditures up to £1m, ensuring transparency and accountability in partnership with finance.

Managed and trained a team of 5+ junior EAs and support staff, embedding consistent processes and standards to build a reliable executive support function.

Private UK-Based Manufacturing Group

|

Executive Assistant & Cross-Department Liaison

London, England, UK

→

Summary

Provided dedicated executive support to 5 senior executives and the board, coordinating operational activities across multiple departments during a sustained period of company growth.

Highlights

Supported 5 senior executives and the board by coordinating diaries and meetings, ensuring all leaders were fully briefed for internal and external engagements.

Coordinated the preparation of reports, presentations, and materials for board and client meetings, consistently meeting tight deadlines across multiple departments.

Acted as a trusted point of contact, liaising daily with finance, HR, logistics, and production to track progress and proactively resolve operational bottlenecks.

Implemented operational improvements in manufacturing and logistics, measurably enhancing efficiency and service quality during company scaling to a multi-site operation.

Monitored supplier performance and negotiated terms, contributing to long-term operational stability during a period of rapid growth.

Arranged an average of 8 business trips monthly for board members and stakeholders across Far East, Middle East, US, Europe, and UK, managing complex itineraries flawlessly.

Private UK-Based Manufacturing Group

|

Executive Assistant & Founder Support (Business & Personal)

London, England, UK

→

Summary

Provided combined executive support and business coordination, assisting founders, finance, HR, and operational functions during the company's early growth years, establishing operational rigor.

Highlights

Managed complex diaries, arranged meetings, and coordinated domestic and international travel for founders, establishing a reliable and detail-focused working relationship.

Provided discreet personal and household support, including property, contractor liaison, and family logistics, maintaining the same level of discretion as business duties.

Assisted in preparing board papers, reports, and internal communications, contributing to the development of the business's formal governance structure.

Supported finance functions including invoice processing, supplier payments, and payroll administration, gaining foundational experience that underpinned a formal accountancy qualification.

Developed internal HR, payroll, and stock management systems from the ground up, enhancing oversight and compliance as the team expanded.

Liaised with suppliers, transport providers, and production teams to ensure consistent schedules and deliveries, building early business credibility.

Community Pharmacy

|

Pharmacy Assistant (Part-Time)

N/A, N/A, UK

→

Summary

Provided trusted public-facing support in a healthcare setting, gaining early exposure to compliance and accurate work under licensed supervision.

Highlights

Provided trusted public-facing support in a healthcare setting, gaining early exposure to compliance and accurate handling of controlled substances under licensed supervision.

Developed foundational skills in discretion and meticulous attention to detail through consistent adherence to regulated procedures.

Education

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

N/A, N/A, UK
→
Certification Chartered Certified Accountancy

Aston University

Birmingham, England, UK
→
Bachelor Business & Finance Grade: 2:1

Languages

English

Skills

Executive Support & Administration

Multi-Entity Executive Support, Diary Management, Board-Level Liaison, Board Administration, Confidential Communication Handling, Board Pack Preparation, Minute Taking, Meeting Coordination, Report Preparation, Presentation Material, Cross-Departmental Coordination, Workflow Coordination, Stakeholder Management, Relationship Management.

Financial Management & Operations

Budgeting, Expenses & Financial Control (£1m), Vendor Management, Contract Management, Accountancy (FCCA), Financial Fluency, Invoice Processing, Supplier Payments, Payroll Administration, Stock Management, Financial Oversight, Cost Tracking, Expenditure Approvals, Compliance, Audit Liaison, Operational Improvements.

Technology & AI Tools

AI-Assisted Workflow, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Granola, Microsoft 365, Asana, Monday.com, Trello, DocuSign, Google Workspace, Operational Software Implementation.

Project & Program Management

Project Coordination, Strategic Project Coordination, Milestone Tracking, Resource Allocation, Workflow Coordination.

Travel & Logistics

High-Volume International Travel, Private Jet Logistics, Multi-Leg Itineraries, Visa Management, Contingency Planning, Travel Coordination, Personal Travel, Family Logistics.

Leadership & Development

Team Leadership, Junior EA Mentoring, Staff Training, Process & Standards Embedding.

Personal & Household Management

Property Coordination, Contractor Liaison, Household Logistics, Personal Errands, Family Logistics.

Strategic & Soft Skills

Discretion, Calm Under Pressure, Anticipation, Judgement, Problem-Solving, Crisis Response, Risk Management, Strategic Thinking, Cross-functional Collaboration, Adaptability, Flexibility.