Bilal Soomro, Group Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications

Bilal Soomro

Group Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications

Shaikhani group

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Doctorate, Marketing Management
Experience
14 years, 10 months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :14 years, 10 months

Group Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications at Shaikhani group
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since June 2014

Shaikhani is a group of companies with major interest and resources vested in the real estate development sector of Dubai. With seven ongoing projects, the group plans to launch three more by H1 2015.

•Responsible for devising marketing strategies and supervision of functional marketing. Developing cohesion between offline and online promotional tools. Tapping opportunities for direct consumer contact to maximize leads.
•Supervised and managed on ground presence in India by participating in Times Property Expo and Dubai property Show in London. These activities helped source potential leads in international markets. Also participated in Cityspace Dubai.
•Managing the creative, media, activation and PR agencies to ensure highest quality of work and timely deliveries.
•Dealing and negotiating with various vendors and third parties for effective utilization of budgets whilst making sure the quality standards are met.
•Responsible for managing and supervising a team of three.

Account Manager at Insignia Worldwide
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • December 2013 to May 2014

Insignia Worldwide is an agency that provides complete branding solutions and specialises in catering to the hospitality sector.

•Served as a primary contact for all assigned clients. Ensured provision of excellent client services at all times. Interpreted and analysed client briefs to determine their communication needs. Developed branding strategies to address their objectives whilst keeping client relationships the foremost priority.
•Managed pre-launch branding of the luxurious Zaya Nurai Island resort in Abu Dhabi, which included their website development, designing of marketing collaterals and branding of all their assets.
•Supervised rebranding and development of SKAI Holding’s new identity and revamped their website.

Head of Media Planning at Interflow Communications
  • Pakistan - Karachi
  • December 2009 to August 2012

Interflow Communications is one of the largest and most well-known communication groups in Pakistan.

•Seamlessly analysed client briefs. Developed media strategies to address the brand communication objectives.
•Managed and supervised an array of activities including media planning and scheduling, tracking and monitoring of competitive activities, pre and post campaign analysis, developing weekly status reports and sending it to the client and handling day to day client queries.
•Performed competitive analysis, market analysis and target market analysis. Developed and maintained the media landscape study. Prepared annual / semiannual reviews and reports linking them to brand-tracking studies.
•Actively involved in client management including supervising and managing billing and invoicing issues.
•Administered PR activities like sending out press releases and getting them published, organized and managed press conferences and ensured media representative event presence and coverage.
•Spearheaded and trained a team of media planners, assistant media planners and media planning executives.
•Managed media activities of UNICEF, Burj Bank, UFone (largest telecommunication service provider in Pakistan), Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Azme Alishan - a non-commercial brand, Zafa Pharmaceuticals, Skin Care, Powerful Energy Drink, Toyota (Indus Motors), IBM and TPL (Tracker Pakistan Ltd.).


Key Accounts:

UNICEF (Polio Eradication Campaigns)
•Successfully developed media strategies to target the semi urban and rural areas of the country with specific focus on high risk areas (in terms of Polio Infection).
•Managed the nomadic/mobile populations, which were a major concern, tapped through collaborations with NGOs which were providing aid to them. Handled literature on polio vaccinations that was distributed through these NGOs and their transport vehicles branded with our messages.
•The awareness of the program after the first campaign went up by 24%.

Ufone - the largest telecom service providers in Pakistan
•Successfully developed in-depth competitive / market analysis.
•Seamlessly compared the past campaigns with elements of Brand Health Trackers to gauge the effectiveness of the strategies and made modifications in the light of findings.
•Responsible for laying the foundation of Uth Records - The youth of the country got the opportunity to show off their talent - and had it strategically placed across major media channels.
•Evaluated the media deals and gave recommendations for modifications and improvements for better ROI

Burj Bank
•Successfully re-launched Dawood Islamic Bank as Burj Bank.
•Handled PR activities and interviews of their CEO and Chairman. Insured airing on various news channels for addition mileage.
•Instrumental in creating a customized / branded talk show discussing specifics of Islamic Banking. Managed six episodes which were aired across various national TV channels that gave a boost to the brand image.
•Managed creation of online forums on social media platforms with discussions on Islamic Banking. The general audience and potential consumers cleared their ambiguities about the products.
•After first three days of the campaign approximately 350, 000 calls came in at client’s call centers to inquire about the products and details.

Media Planner at Starcom MediaVest
  • Pakistan - Karachi
  • December 2007 to September 2009

Part of the Publicis Groupe, Starcom is a global media buying and planning agency.

•Handled media planning and scheduling activates for assigned clients.
•Developed weekly updates and reports which included campaign updates, droppage reports and competitive tracking.
•Was also involved in various functions of media buying.
•Managed the International Network Media Accounts of Starcom which included Samsung Electronics GMO Campaigns, Emirates Airlines and IWC. Also handled the media activities for Abbott and United Bank Limited from the local portfolio.



Key Accounts:

Samsung Electronics (GMO Campaigns)
•Successfully launched Samsung U900 and Samsung Ultra Touch Media Campaigns.
•Involved in media buying for creative ATL solutions. Managed creation of customized content which was in perfect sync with the product image and its features. This was aired on various TV channels.
•Managed the development of web application depicting the product highlights. It was launched on social media platforms to give the users a virtual feel of the product.
•Took part in organizing branded concerts and music gigs in collaboration with music channels. The events were recorded along with the “Red Carpet Moments” and were taken on air on music channels as fillers for additional ATL mileage.

Emirates Airlines
•Managed all the digital, print and radio placements for the account.
•Successfully developed “frequent flyer updates” in collaboration with one of the leading Radio networks and branded them with Emirates message. This generated a lot of hype and triggered immense social media conversations
•Handled online banner placements which were done across digital platforms catering to the target audience.

Education

Doctorate, Marketing Management
  • at University of Southampton
  • September 2013

Achievement: Upper distinction in Integrated Marketing Communications

Bachelor's degree, Marketing
  • at Institute of Business Management
  • May 2007

Specialties & Skills

Media Planning
Media Buying
Communication Strategy
Media Strategy
Media Communications
MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook)
Gallup (AMB & Reporter)
Media Logic - Reporter (People Meter)
IBM AMOS
Adobe Photshop

Languages

Urdu
Expert
English
Expert

Memberships

Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS)
  • Active participation in seminars and conferences
  • March 2010
Marketing Association of Pakistan (MAP)
  • Active Member
  • June 2010