Afsar Hashmi,  VP Commercial Operations

Afsar Hashmi

VP Commercial Operations

Jawwy - Saudi Telecom Company

Location
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh - Al Olaya
Education
Master's degree, MBA - Marketing & IT
Experience
21 years, 4 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :21 years, 4 Months

VP Commercial Operations at Jawwy - Saudi Telecom Company
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • My current job since January 2015

A Senior Executive Management role in establishing a New Digital Brand of STC - Jawwy in KSA

Jawwy from STC is a re-imagination of the entire mobile service experience. 
It is a digital mobile experience for the digital generation in KSA. 
Combining fresh experience design and cutting-edge technology from Silicon Valley, Jawwy from STC is poised to usher in a new era in the mobile telecom space.

I have been part of the launch team for Jawwy in KSA and Launched the world's first fully & truly digital telecom services in Saudi Arabia. 

♣ Formulating and implementing the end to end digital strategy for Jawwy.

♣ Instrumental in establishing Jawwy's Commercial Operational Model, eCommerce, digital marketing, Devices and Propositions strategy 

♣ Responsible for Value Proposition, Digital Products, Devices & P&L.

♣ Formulated and executed the strategy for Saudi Youth which is 65% of the local population, Crafting the digital ecosystem & product development supporting the overall organizational strategy 

♣ Managing Digital Products, Platform, eCommerce, Devices, Partnerships & Operations.

♣ Change agent for the organizations' digital migration, illustrates concepts and prototypes, summarizes marketplace and competitive trends and strategies

♣ Create road maps for digital products, partnerships and processes, designing products to create distinction and competitive advantage

♣ Responsible for collaborating with cross-functional partners to manage all aspects of the product, App Design, Web development & building the ecosystems.

♣ Secure and establish partnerships to be integrated with Jawwy platform to enable 3rd party services.

♣ Development and execution of strategic and tactical business plans with the cross-functional team supporting the Digital & eCommerce strategy

♣ Manage the user experience of the digital and eCommerce platform including navigation, content development, checkout funnel and promotional campaigns.

Director Marketing Propositions, Partnerships, Devices & Operations at Mobily - Etihad Etisalat Copmpany
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • September 2013 to January 2015

♣ Managing Devices Strategy, Portfolio, Propositions and Partnerships at Mobily.

♣ Responsible for 4.5bn SAR of Revenue Stream for Mobily.

♣ Operate Mobily’s Devices business, enhancing services revenue and increase market share.

♣ Served as the Head of Devices, Propositions & Partnerships and manage the strategic relationship with Device Manufacturers (i.e. Apple, Nokia/MS, Samsung, HTC, RIM, LG, Lenovo, Huawei etc.)

♣ Development and management of projects with the objective to push Mobily services- voice or data, thru bundling the service with different devices.

♣ Driving device penetration across different customer segments to increase ARPU, acquire new customers, and retain existing customers.

♣ Develop and implement value propositions to target different segments with different devices categories, which include bundling, subsidy, discounts, and exclusive first to market devices deals.

♣ Conceptualize, plan and strategize devices campaigns/projects congruent with the Company’s direction and optimizes ROI around events.

♣ Develop, recommend and implement tactical and strategic plans consistent with Device manufacturer’s and Corporate objectives and goals, having joint-promotions with partners to push Mobily services.

♣ Manage Special services like Device upgrading, Buy Back Trade-in, Device Leasing etc.

♣ Monitor and evaluate market trends and provide competitive insight and develop ideas/concept papers product development related to devices that generate positive revenue and differentiate Mobily services offering.

♣ Support the CLM team to develop Mobily service offering along with the special projects related to devices.

♣ Champion the sourcing activity by vendors and partners to identify the best providers in technology and latest devices globally from all ODM’s / OEM’s.

♣ Ensure Post Feasibility Study is developed, assessing the product performance and proving profitability/margin against the initially approved projections.

Head Devices & Partnerships at Saudi Telecom Company
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • June 2009 to August 2013

♣ Responsible for establishing and driving Handset Strategy across the business units covering STC's Retail, Distribution and Enterprise.

♣ Established STC's Devices Business from Scratch to 2bn SAR, along with establishing as major device player in KSA Market.

♣ Products & Services development (Handsets, Voice & Data Bundles) STC's direct and indirect sales channels.

♣ Develop Product Roadmap and Manage Product Life Cycle, with an emphasis on creating profitable revenue and market share opportunities.

♣ Managing Strategic Relationship with Apple, RIM (Blackberry), Samsung, Nokia, HTC, and Huawei to secure Organizational Level Commercial framework.

♣ P&L responsibility for the product/service, Including Budgetary Planning and Control.

♣ Develop and launch product-marketing initiatives to meet customer retention, revenue and usage targets.

♣ Develop product positioning and messaging that differentiates products in the market.

♣ Establishing pricing strategies, Selling prices / Costs, competition, supply, and demand.

♣ Drive customer-focused innovation coordinating resources in Marketing, Consumer Insights, and Retail to understand current and future customer needs.

♣ Engages business managers on a weekly basis to discuss pre-sale activities, new launches, Selling proposition, Communication plan, customer experience.

♣ Monthly reporting of the performance of products, Sales Channels, to the management.

♣ Facilitates Product Training.

♣ Performing sales, trend, and profitability analysis, researching, reviewing & reporting on competitors & rival products, competitor's share, and competitor's strengths and weaknesses.


Accomplishments:

♣ Established STC as a major handset player in the Saudi Market.
♣ Established devices department as a completely new revenue stream of 2bn SAR.
♣ Pioneered the Subsidy / Devices Contract Plans for Handsets/ Internet devices/ Laptops including LTE/4G devices in KSA in 2011.
♣ Acknowledged for revenue generation of $550 Million annually within a span of 2 years.
♣ Enabled 350+ direct retail points of STC to have the capability to position and sell devices and propositions.
♣ Instrumental in development & implementation of Product Certification Program for 1500 sales personnel.

National Marketing Manager at Cellucom LLC
  • Saudi Arabia - Jeddah
  • January 2005 to May 2009

Cellucom - Was a Major Distributor & Retailer of Telecom Products, Devices, Accessories and Telecom Solutions.
• Responsible for managing Sales and Marketing for Mobile Handsets & Accessories in KSA

• Spearheaded sales operations across the kingdom spanning channel management, business development and distribution network through a team of 20 members.

• Managed Sales of Blackberry, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG, HTC, & I-Mate Mobile Phones.

• Responsible for managing Key National Retailers (Jarir, Geant Hyper Market, Extra, Carrefour, Plug-Ins, Obeikan, Virgin, BEST, LINGO, E-Max, Electro, Panda, and Al Haddad ), Independent Retailers and Trade Market.

• Involved in forecasting, planning, product mixing, formulation & implementation of pricing strategy including management of inventory and stock ageing for Cellucom Owned Shops & Partners outlets.

• Responsible for meeting budgetary and sales targets.

• Responsible for managing Branding and in- store activities within partner’s outlets, running road shows, Sales promotional activities.

• Developed & maintained productive business relationship with major vendors like Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, HTC, I-mate, LG and others, covering the entire value chain from Marketing / Product Roadmap planning, procurement and delivery through to ongoing maintenance/support, aimed at accomplishment of business targets of $100 Million.

• Conducted assessment of performance, based on financial statements package.

• Forecasting, making business plan and achieving the Handset Volume Targets set by the Vendors.

• Ensured targeted sales volume for each Power Retailer, and sub Distributors.

• Provided wholesome Telecom Solutions at the Retail level, while liaising with Telecom Operators.

Accomplishments:
• Set up the Cellucom full fledge operations in the western region of KSA including setting up distribution & retail network across the kingdom.

• Achieved the highest revenue of 300mn annually for the company.

• Acknowledged for attaining monthly sales growth of 50% in the very first year of operation including monthly average sales target of 110% in the region.

Area Sales & Marketing Officer at Zip Telecom-Airtel Limited
  • India - Delhi
  • January 2003 to December 2004

• Managed the sales and customer relationship with AIRTEL (Largest Private Telecom Service Provider in India).
• Handling sales & marketing of Zip Fone Machines and Airtel Long Distance Telephony business (for the PCO/Payphone business)
• To look after the Franchisee Enhancement for Zip Telecom and their development as a Business Partners for the Organization.
• Ensure targeted Sales Volume to be achieved each month (Zip Fone and Airtel both)
• Develop a network plan in operation.
• Dealer & Distributor Network Management.
• Ensure targeted sales volume for each Dealer, DSA and Distributor.
• Handling Marketing activities as Brand awareness, Brand promotion, Advertising, Sales Promotion etc.

Education

Master's degree, MBA - Marketing & IT
  • at Hamdard University (Jamia Hamdard)
  • March 2003

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Specializations in Sales-Marketing and IT, from Central University of India - Jamia Hamdard. Summer Internship: Carried out a Syndicated Market Research on Men's Western Wear at ORG-MARG AC-NIELSEN New Delhi. Dissertation / Thesis: Ambush Marketing Co-curricular Activities during MBA: Conducted marketing survey pertaining to various Consumer Brands. Successfully Conducted Marketing Seminar on Marketing Strategies during a recession Carried Out a project on GSM ARCHITECTURE. An extensive study of recent developments in E-COMMERCE

Bachelor's degree, Economics
  • at Aligarh Muslim University
  • April 2001

Major in Economics.

Specialties & Skills

Product Management
Commercial Operations
eCommerce
Telecommunications
Marketing
Telecommunication
Leadership
Devices Partnerships
Ecommerce
Segmentation
Innovation
Customer Retention
Consulting
Advisor
Strategic Partnerships
Creative Problem Solving
Project Management
Start-ups
Technical Marketing
Business Planning
Product Development
Consumer Proposition
Value Proposition
Devices Management
Devices Propositions
Product Marketing
Mobile Handsets
Product Strategy and Roadmap
Product Life Cycle
Category Management
Brand Management
Product Pricing Strategy
Product Positioning
Business Development
Telecom Sales
Product Launching
Market Research
Customer Experience
Smartphones
Channel Sales
Wholesales
Prepaid GSM
Postpaid
Distribution Management
Team Management
Franchisee Development
Budgeting, Forecasting and Planning
Consumer Electronics
Mobility Solutions
Apple iOS
Android
Windows Mobile
Product Training
Business Analysis
digital marketing
online marketing
Prepaid
Broadband
Product Design
Mobile Communication
Channel Strategy
Competitive Analysis
Executive Management
Cross-Functional Team management
Commercial Operations
Commercial Enablement
Commercial Head
Digital Sales
Partnership Management
General Manager
Digital Channels
Commercial Director
Operation Director
Handset Bundling
negotiation
procurement
operations management
eSIM Product and Proposition

Social Profiles

Personal Website
Personal Website

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Languages

English
Native Speaker
Arabic
Expert
Hindi
Expert
Urdu
Native Speaker

Memberships

Delhi Management Association
  • Member
  • April 2001

Training and Certifications

Mobile Handsets Market in Saudi Arabia (Training)
Training Institute:
Nokia Academy
Date Attended:
April 2005
Leadership and Management (Training)
Training Institute:
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT CENTER
Date Attended:
June 2012

Hobbies

  • Technology, Devices, ecommerce,Socializing, Sports: Cricket