Paul Donovan
About Paul Donovan
Paul Donovan serves as the Senior Manager of Store Retail Systems and Infrastructure Support at Advance Auto Parts, where he has worked since 2018. With extensive experience in retail systems management and a strong background in multi-channel retailing, he has previously held key positions at Walgreens and other notable companies.
Work at Advance Auto Parts
Paul Donovan has served as the Senior Manager of Store Retail Systems/Infrastructure Support at Advance Auto Parts since 2018. In this role, he oversees the Level 2 application support teams for both Advance Auto Parts and Carquest divisions. His responsibilities include managing support for over 6,000 retail stores across domestic and international locations. His leadership in this capacity has contributed to the efficiency and effectiveness of retail operations within the company.
Previous Experience in Retail IT Management
Before joining Advance Auto Parts, Paul Donovan held several key positions in retail IT management. He worked at Walgreens as an IT Manager, focusing on Store POS and Photo Systems from 2011 to 2015. He then progressed to Walgreens Boots Alliance, where he served as Manager of Store Retail and Distribution Systems from 2015 to 2018. His experience also includes a role as Senior Project Manager at Insight, where he led the McDonald's mobile Point of Sale pilot.
Education and Expertise
Paul Donovan earned a Master's degree with Distinction in Business Administration, specializing in Information Systems Management, from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University, where he studied from 2009 to 2011. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Fairfield University, obtained between 1984 and 1988. His educational background supports his expertise in multi-channel retailing and operational management.
Achievements in Training and Support Organizations
Paul Donovan is recognized for developing training programs that enhance negotiation skills and support organizational growth. He has a proven track record of building effective support organizations that have resulted in multi-million-dollar cost savings. His ability to secure executive buy-in for change initiatives has led to improved operations and revenue through collaboration across various functions.
Career Progression and Roles
Paul Donovan's career spans several roles in retail and operations management. He began as Assistant General Manager at Osco Drug from 1987 to 1992, followed by a decade as Director of Retail Store Systems at Claire's Accessories from 1999 to 2009. He also worked as Manager of Operations Administration at Cash Converters from 1996 to 1998 and as a Senior Consultant at Effective Technologies from 2009 to 2010. His diverse experience has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of retail systems and operations.