Product & Marketing Manager (VAIO Notebook, PC, Tablet) - META & Levant Region
SONY
Total years of experience :19 years, 0 Months
● Managing Sony VAIO & Sony Tablet Product Sales & Marketing Operations, responsible for business scope of over $300 Mn
● Leading the Enterprise Sales Channel Development for Sony VAIO and Brand Enhancement in the B2B vertical
● Leading Africa Expansion Strategy to drive and implement a consistent Premium Image of Sony VAIO across Retail Channels. Conceptualized and Implemented consistent Retail Channel display concept, which is now a Best Practise across region
● Excelled & completed a 6 month Sony Global Leadership program thru Harvard Business School & Sony University Singapore (only 24 candidates selected across Sony Global). Was the youngest and only member selected from MEA Region
● Appointed in Corporate Initiatives Office for Business Growth & Regional Development Initiative for all Sony Categories, MEA.
● Implemented New Marketing Strategy Approach leading to annual saving of over $1 Million Marketing Fund. Re-directed savings towards enhancing Retail Channel Brand Value, leading to 10% sales incremental in a declining PC market
● Lead & Implemented VAIO Windows 8 Retail Visual Merchandising Concept, further enhancing Sony VAIO Premium outlook
● Initiated Social Media Strategy for Sony VAIO and strengthened Facebook presence thru unique Apps, Games & Contest approach, now being followed as a Standard across Sony Product Categories
● Successfully launched Sony Tablet in UAE & KSA, managing entire Product Marketing & Sales process, which was acknowledged as best launch of the year 2011 by Sony MEA CEO
● Responsible for Joint-Marketing Fund Management and Business Relationship with Intel, Microsoft and AMD. Structured process improvement which led to ROI of campaigns going up by over 25%
● Strengthened VAIO Social Media presence by conceptualising the launch of VAIO MEA English and Arabic Facebook page, reaching 100K fans in under 6 months. Further integrated the page with SOMEA Page with over 1 Million Fans
● Duly recognised for best Product Line Selection in Sony HQ, which lead to Sony MEA being the only Sales Company Globally to achieve Zero IFC stock in FY11 & FY12. Inventory Freshness Control (IFC) is a strict internal stock control measure at Sony
● Strategized and implemented GITEX 2010, 2011 & 2012 Marketing campaigns which was an immediate success with innovative ideas, resulting in over 100% growth for slow moving stocks in 2010 and over all sales increase of 95% in 2011
● Introduced Inventory Management Schemes delivering record Zero Dead Stock for FY10, FY11, FY12, FY13
Set up the brand operations for Neal's Yard Remedies (www.nealsyardremedies.com - Best British Brand, CEW 2009 Award) in Middle East.
● ● Established UAE & Oman Retail Sales Operations from scratch and launched the business model with relevant Business Plans
● Responsible for end-to-end management of the product line including operational supply chain viz. S&OP, P&L, Buying & Merchandising, Recruitment & Training, Marketing & PR and Business Development
● Accomplished direct UK-to-store product delivery and avoiding all fixed overheads of Warehouse Operations
● Played a pivotal role in devising a new sales channel for the Principal Partner in UK and executing the first global launch in Dubai. The kiosk channel got incorporated as standard brand expansion plan
● Steered efforts for initiating the shop-in-shop business proposition for brand expansion across the region
● Pioneered the tie-ups with Early Learning Center (ELC) UK for a cross promotions since ELC has good client base in Dubai and customer profile matches with that of NYR, leading to a 30% increase in sales
● Bagged the CEO’s award for launching the Dubai business operations one month ahead of deadline
● Rewarded with the S.P. Jain Center of Management Dean’s Industry Performance Award for being the best performing alumni in the Middle East and accomplishing 3 start-up projects since graduating from the MBA program
● Served as Change Management Lead for the Oracle Retail ERP Project for KOJ Est.
○ Implemented Oracle RMS \[Merchandising system\], ReSA \[Sales Audit\], RPM \[Price Management\], Allocation, RTM \[Trade Management\] modules
○ Analysed Oracle Marketing, RDF \[Demand Forecasting\], SIM \[Store Inventory Management\], POS \[Point of Sale\] & ReIM \[Invoice Matching\] for post implementation
● Instrumental in guiding internal communications for the ERP Project including the conceptualisation & creation of newsletter series highly commended by the CEO, the Director and HOD’s
● Acted as Team Leader for the Process Re-Engineering Project of the Merchandise Planning Department
● Entrusted with mentoring and managing 8 Business Process Analysts for the to-be documentation of the new business processes and reduced the project cost by at least AED 2 million
● Recognised as Key Presenter at IBF’s Demand Planning, Supply Chain Forecasting Conferences (www.ibf.org) held in Amsterdam and Dubai
● Actively involved in ensuring effective cost management by in-sourcing documentation and design tasks within project team, thereby reducing outsourcing costs by AED 1 million
● Acknowledged as one of youngest members in Oracle Retail Industry with experience in end to end implementation
● Recognised and awarded Best Employee - Loyalty & Dedication for FY 2005 - 06
● Steered efforts for enhancing the monthly turnover of the Department by 50% and profit margin by 5%
● Instrumental in implementing the procurement process changes, that resulted in annual savings of over AED 3 Mn
● Played a pivotal role in facilitating over 30 product launches from end to end from design/concept stage, ensuring a smooth supply chain deployment
● Credited with devising strong network of suppliers which led to improved product margins and supply chain performance for the company. Served as the Brand Ambassador of the company at Canton Fair 2006, China
● Pioneered store analysis for Jeddah, Mecca, Madina & Tabouk in KSA. Rendered suggestions for addressing issues like footfall conversion, stock handling time, model stocks, etc.
● Management & Strategy Effectiveness ● Marketing & Sales Development Program
Sony Global Emerging Leaders Program (6 month module) – Harvard - Sony University Singapore
● Effective Sales and Customer Service Techniques – NYR, London
● Train the Trainer advanced level 5 day training – Performance Connect
Bagged the top rank in the MBA batch for the following modules: ○ Semester 1 - People & Performance Management, IT in Business, Negotiations ○ Semester 2 - Business Strategy, Retail Strategy & Formats, Buying & Merchandising
