Managing Partner
Soup Marketing
Total years of experience :18 years, 7 Months
Managing Partner - Soup Marketing, UAE
February 2013 - Present
www.soup-marketing.com
Having started Soup from scratch, James led pitches and won 8 new clients in an 11 month period. Sourced and oversaw a pool of ‘creatives’ and strategists to carry out all the work required for Soup’s clients.
Responsibilities:
- Managing the start-up process of a new business from obtaining the trade license, to creating the brand and launching the new business drive.
- Sourced and managed a pool of freelancers based in the UAE, India and the UK who carried out the creative work for the agency.
- Increased the reputation of Soup amongst marketing personnel and senior decision makers within the UAE.
Achievements:
- Won new accounts such as Anantara, 7Days, Dubai Golf, EMC, Wafi, IQPC, Roche and Baker Botts, whilst maintaining close business relationships with previous clients.
- Successfully led pitches to win new accounts against large networked agencies including TBWA, Ogilvy and Insignia.
- Invited to present to the Carlson Rezidor (Radisson Hotels) Regional Sales and Marketing Staff (50 persons) on the topic, ‘Integrated Marketing in 2014’.
- Turnover of AED700k in Soup’s first 8 months of trading.
Director (Client Servicing and Business Development) - Tidalwave/OTM, UAE
January 2010 - February 2013
www.tidalwaveinternational.com
Hand-picked from a number of employees in the UK office to set up Tidalwave International in the Middle East. Mandated with the company’s formation, including building an infrastructure and generating new business through client acquisition.
Responsibilities:
- Setting up the business from scratch, including finding office premises, gaining a trade license, staff documentation and managing budgets.
- Acquisition of new clients through implementation of business development plans to grow the company and aid expansion in the region.
- Overseeing the client servicing team to ensure they are performing to their full potential.
- Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders within existing client organizations and potential new ones.
Achievements:
- Worked tirelessly with no ‘in country’ support and created a AED3 million business.
- Won new accounts such as Microsoft, Adobe, Hewlett-Packard (UAE and Saudi Arabia), Warner Bros, Figaro’s Pizza and Toshiba.
- Successfully attained office premises, over saw fit out procedure and acquired relevant approvals.
- Managed the company set up within budget and to the proposed deadline.
Account Director - Tidalwave Ltd, UK
May 2008 - January 2010
www.tidal-wave.com
A key member of the Tidalwave Ltd team. Handling high profile campaigns for multinational clients within budget and on time.
Responsibilities:
- Direct responsibility for a number of high value accounts including that of a ‘blue chip’ multinational corporations.
- Strategized and managed multi-regional on and offline campaigns from concept to delivery.
- Generate new business through professional relationships and corporate initiatives.
- Managed project budgets ensuring maximum profitability of the campaign.
Achievements:
- Managed the £2 million rebrand of ntl: Telewest Business to Virgin Media Business after the buyout.
- Delivered pan EMEA campaigns in multiple languages for major multinational corporations.
- Headed up a team of 5 account handlers monitoring KPIs, their career progression and reporting directly to the CEO.
Director - SPA Consulting, UK
May 2007 - May 2008
www.spaconsulting-training.com
Formerly a Director of a security consultancy company that managed training events and security audit projects for customers in the UK and overseas.
Responsibilities:
- Run day-to-day operations of the company from new business development to basic accounting.
- Make sure the business was run efficiently ensuring maximum profitability.
- Preparing and delivering PowerPoint presentations for clients.
Achievements:
- Won clients such as HSBC, Cartier, Barclays and De Beers.
- Grew the business to a turnover of AED1.5 million per annum.
- Successfully recruited and managed 4 new staff member to control different regions of the UK and abroad.
Head Chalet Host - Skiworld (Career Break), France
November 2006 - May 2007
Ran a Hotel Chalet in Tignes, France during the ‘ski season’ for one of the UK’s leading travel operators.
Account Executive - Mason Zimbler (Part of the Harte Hanks Group), UK
September 2005 - October 2006
www.mzl.com
Once a highly effective Account Executive with Mason Zimbler Ltd (MZL) a fully integrated advertising agency based in Bristol, UK.
Responsibilities:
- Providing account support for Account Handlers on major accounts such as Microsoft, SAP and Toshiba.
- Creation of timing plans, briefs, cost estimates and status reports for client’s campaigns.
Achievements:
- At the time the first Account Executive to have ever been hired straight from university with no experience.
- Seconded to Microsoft as a Marketing Communications Manager and created the link between MZL and their premier client.
BA (Hons) in Business Administration focused on International Marketing & Marketing Communications.