Excellence in Leadership
Fred Mullen, Vice President/Director of Loss Prevention, HomeGoods/Homesense, TJX Companies
Fred Mullen began his career as a security officer for Marshalls distribution center in 1978, forging his own career path and taking on positions with increasing responsibility ever since. He was promoted to vice president, director of LP for HomeGoods stores in 2004, assuming additional responsibility in 2017 with the addition of Homesense, TJX Companies’ newest home furnishings business.
“It’s important that every LP industry leader support their teams with standards for excellence, embracing the true value of the LP role,” said Mullen. “First, we must have personal integrity, building the confidence and trust necessary for relationships and the ability to lead others. A leader must also be an effective motivator who carefully listens, pays attention to details, and prepares others with information, feedback, and constructive criticism-if you can’t teach and motivate, you can’t lead. Finally, a true leader must have the courage to speak up and be heard, influencing others to make the right decisions.”
Mullen also feels that young leaders shouldn’t be afraid to take “intelligent risks.” While leaders may manage and engage their teams in different ways, it’s important that every leader learns from mentors and others along the way, shaping the characteristics that fit who they are to fashion their own leadership success.
“Be resilient and don’t let mistakes or failures stop you from achieving big results,” he said. “Learn from your mistakes and make the necessary changes to achieve success. Don’t be afraid or resistant to change. Loss prevention is evolving every day. Embrace the enormous capabilities offered through technology and information resources, and manage change as necessary to help all of us successfully move forward.”
Nominations Are Encouraged
The LPM team is privileged to have a front-row seat to the very best in the loss prevention industry, providing a unique opportunity to present positive, productive ways to promote loss prevention, build successful and constructive partnerships, educate and inform the LP community, and support the thought leadership that drives us forward.
The LP Magazine “Magpie” Awards are a means to celebrate industry accomplishments on an ongoing basis, recognizing the loss prevention professionals, teams, solution providers, law enforcement partners, and others that demonstrate a stellar contribution to the profession. Fred Mullen is among our March–April 2018 recipients.
We want this to be your program. Those of you working as LP practitioners witness these exceptional performances on a regular and ongoing basis, and we strongly encourage you to provide us with nominees for each of the award categories. We encourage creative nominations and want the program to cast a positive light on the many tremendous contributions of the loss prevention community. Nominations can be submitted via email to excellence [at] LPportal.com.
Find out who else has been recognized in the March–April 2018 issue – check out “LPM “Magpie” Awards: Applauding Excellence.”