أحمد أبوالعلا, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

أحمد أبوالعلا

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

MENA GROUP

البلد
الإمارات العربية المتحدة - دبي
التعليم
دبلوم, Advanced Digital Marketing
الخبرات
23 years, 2 أشهر

مشاركة سيرتي الذاتية

حظر المستخدم


الخبرة العملية

مجموع سنوات الخبرة :23 years, 2 أشهر

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) في MENA GROUP
  • مصر - القاهرة
  • أشغل هذه الوظيفة منذ يناير 2021

- Overseeing, evaluating, and developing Group marketing strategy & plans
- Researching demand for our real estate projects (Residential, Commercial & Admin)
- Working with sales to develop pricing strategies to maximize profits and market share
- Developing budgets and finance, including expenditures, ROI and profit-loss projections
- Building brand awareness, positioning, supporting sales and lead generation efforts
- Managing Group real estate major events and developing digital marketing strategy

Chief Marketing Officer - CMO في Egypt Gold
  • مصر - القاهرة
  • يوليو 2018 إلى يناير 2021

Joined to lead the development and refinement of integrated marketing strategies of the group and manage / expand Agents, wholesalers, and retailers network and boost our digital and print content development and communications. in addition to, managing teams of 14 employees / managers and $14M marketing budget.

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer في Quick Courier
  • مصر - القاهرة
  • أغسطس 2016 إلى يوليو 2018

Hired to lead the development and refinement of integrated marketing strategies for QC programs and services and oversees the organization’s digital and print content development and communications. Managing teams of 20 employees / managers that include digital and print designers, content strategists, writers, editors, data strategists, digital communication and UX designers, social community builders and marketers, and research and insights analysts. Working as a key driver of QC’s high-priority effort to significantly enhance its digital engagement tools and offerings including QC Magazine, QC web solutions, brand and programs print promotions, digital communications, video, and webcasts and managing $1.1M marketing budget.

♣ Managing QC marketing and corporate communications teams/departments focusing on the development of strategic marketing, content, and communications plans for the QC.
♣ Contributing to the development of QC’s long-term strategic vision. 
♣ Translating the long-term vision into actionable and measurable marketing and communication plans to be implemented and supported by QC marketing communications teams (i.e., strategy and marketing plans detailing one, two and five year schedules and metrics). 
♣ Managing the selection of QC teams/departments and leading them toward the achievement of engagement and revenue targets. 
♣ Managing QC Magazine including its editorial positioning across all platforms (print and digital). Overseeing content and managing magazine business operations. 
♣ Overseeing and guiding development of a robust marketing communications plan that articulates QC’s global positioning and mission, targeting both internal and external audiences. 
♣ Guiding marketing, digital, and communications teams’ collaboration with other QC department directors to ensure consistency of the company’s marketing and communications message across various departments and platforms and to the broader audience. 
♣ Overseeing and guiding the development of a robust web marketing and social media strategy. 
♣ Leveraging a mix of classic marketing tools and emerging digital technology platforms to the benefit of the company, the stakeholders and its customers. 
♣ Overseeing all marketing content initiatives, both internal and external, across multiple platforms and formats to drive engagement, sales, retention, leads, and positive employees’ / partners behaviours. 
♣ Guiding teams to leverage data and research to increase relevance and drive engagement. 
♣ Act as a resource to the rest of QC and work to increase broader cohesion across department-specific communication teams. 

Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications - GCC في Nehmeh Holdings
  • قطر - الدوحة
  • أبريل 2015 إلى يونيو 2016

Joined to develop and manage marketing and corporate communications strategies to create value for the holdings in GCC (21 companies, 7 industries); devise annual marketing plan and budget in conjunction with sales and after sales departments meeting the group business objectives. Manage $4.5M marketing budget and lead a team of 5 managers / employees.

♣ Analyzed the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, return-on-investment, profit-loss projections and implemented marketing plans alterations as needed.
♣ Oversaw marketing communications including branding, public relations, corporate communications, advertising, digital / social marketing, trade shows, marketing campaigns, seminars and events, website design and content either directly or on outsourcing basis.
♣ Built trust, valued others, drove execution, fostered innovation, focused on delivery to customers, collaborated with others, solved problems creatively and demonstrated high integrity.
♣ Developed and implemented a group -wide go-to-market plan, working with all departments to execute.
♣ Analyzed market requirements for current and future products by conducting market research supported by on-going visits to customers and non-customers.
♣ Developed and tracked metrics and success criteria for all marketing programs and activities. Monitored, reviewed and reported on all marketing activity and results.
♣ Acted as spokesperson for the group with press and analysts and at industry events.
♣ Assisted in formulating policies and enforced corporate policies.
♣ Adhered to all group policies, procedures and business ethics codes and ensures that they are communicated and implemented within the team of 5 employees.
♣ Understood and complied with groups’ vision, mission, values as well as the quality, safety and environmental systems.
♣ Managed the Corporate Communications Department of the holding including the development of Corporate Communications strategies, Risk and Crisis management plans, framework and notification messages online / offline both internally and externally.
♣ Identified potential types of Risks, developed precautionary actions within effective action plans to overcome risks and effectively communicate them to to Public, Stakeholders, customers and employees.
♣ Managed the 2016 Economic Crises and viewed it as an opportunity internally before communicating our efficiency strategies to increase productivity and market share to public through developing an internal communications / motivational program ‘SAWTAK’ or ‘Your Voice’ to motive employees’ engagement to share their innovative ideas to increase productivity and efficiency. Increasing the efficiency of the company assets - where 'people' comes on the top of it - using the optimal allocation of resources. Working smarter and more efficient, taking risks but definitely being cautious.

Chief Marketing Officer في ColorMax Studios
  • مصر - القاهرة
  • يناير 2013 إلى ديسمبر 2014

Hired to design and implement marketing strategies to reach key customer segments; negotiated strategic alliances and partnerships that delivered major promotions across region. Managed $500K marketing budget and led team of seven marketing managers.

- Generated explosive growth; instrumental to substantial increase in company revenue, with profit targets smashed. Achieved 172% and 293% over budget in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Increased company awareness in its STA by 75% in 2014 compared to previous three years. Created positive publicity in ad value of $131.3K.

- Strategic Marketing: Devised plans and spearheaded hugely effective, widespread campaigns across regions. Developed relationships with third parties and clients, who sponsored marketing promotions. Recruited large numbers of interns and temporary staff; provided hands-on training and workshops that ensured high employee performance standards.

- Product Development CRM: Led innovative, well-researched product development initiatives that boosted sales by 26% in 2014. Adapted key product line packaging for a bakery business to meet changing market needs; gained six new major wholesalers in the MENA area.

- Marketing Communications: Provided strategic leadership to marketing and communications in close collaboration with the MD. Chaired operating subcommittee and committee; devised internal and external communication strategies and acted as spokesperson at AGM.

- Budget Management: Overcame challenges of limited budget through creative use of wide variety of tools and strategies. Initiated cost effective above the line (ATL) and below the line (BTL) advertising to targeted segments, and intensified efforts to penetrate secondary trade areas (STA) in order to exploit higher sales potential at lower cost, using direct mails and mailshots.

- Market Penetration: Improved visibility and depth of customer knowledge and insight; installed promotion software with comprehensive functionality and reliable reporting that enabled accurate configuration of target customer profile.

Marketing Manager, City Centre في Majid Al Futtaim Holding
  • الإمارات العربية المتحدة - دبي
  • نوفمبر 2007 إلى نوفمبر 2012

Employed to lead the marketing departments of Muscat City Centre (regional mall) and Qurum City Centre (community mall) and worked with Mall of the Emirates and Bahrain City Centre at MAF. Devised long-term and annual marketing plans with $52M budgets, managing a team of 55.

- Brand Awareness: Instrumental to period of sustained commercial success and outstanding brand performance; boosted sales by 21% and generated new footfall record of 2.3M visitors, up from 1.7M visitors, with an increase in primary and secondary trade areas of 62%. Key player as the business won several prestigious awards including:
* Best Shopping Mall in Oman and 17th among Oman’s greatest brands book according to Oman Observer in January 2010. Best Retailers Award for four consecutive years since 2008 from Oman Business Today Magazine.
* Maxi Silver Award from International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) in April 2009 in Miami, USA for the Grand Opening / Expansion and Renovation Campaign of Muscat City Centre.(32 countries and 358 shopping malls across the globe were competing).
* ICSC Asia Shopping Center Award in Singapore, October 2009 for Muscat City Centre in Marketing Excellence / Advertising Category for the campaign ‘’LifeStyled by Muscat City Centre’’ (First Timer Award for Majid Al Futtaim Group, 109 shopping malls and 10 countries in Asia were competing).

- Market Identification: Implemented comprehensive set of marketing strategies; developed new brand positioning for Muscat City Centre as the dominant fashion centre in Oman, with high impact marketing with ‘arms and legs’ to distinctly brand the mall as a world-class destination. Developed brand guidelines, enhanced market analysis and led CRM development.

- Partnerships: Built Qurum City Centre brand image and developed strong community relations program for target audience. Generated publicity, and communicated key milestones in both leasing and construction. Achieved total of eight press releases covering all Oman media vehicles, dailies, weeklies and monthlies; received over $247K of free publicity.

- Team Building: Overcame challenges of geographical displacement, low tourist shopping numbers, excessive brand duplication, poor circulation and instability of key partners to foster outstanding team and brand performance, with particular success in the transformation of customer service quality and productive, harmonious tenant relationships.

- Client Relationships: Radically improved positive key stakeholder relationships; launched a retailer's forum, monthly newsletters, a retailer advisory committee, regular retailer AGMs, ad hoc advisory meetings and met individually with each retailer twice a month. Introduced three motivational programs to foster friendly sense of competition.

- Overhauled customer service; implemented program of initiatives, including better mall directories, behavioural adjustment ‘may I help you’ campaigns, new information desks, innovative gift card programs, the complaints system ‘handled 24/7’ and branded shuttle buses, which boosted tourist shopper percentages from 2% to 24%.

- PR Strategy: Added $65.8K of ad value publicity through comprehensive PR plans; organised press releases, product shoots and conferences aimed at all media, including daily news, magazines, business and trade publications, radio, online portals and broadcasts.

- Contract Negotiation: Achieved gift voucher sales of $3.5M per year; sold new transferable vouchers to corporates, government, hotels and individually by customer service staff in the malls. Initiated incentives that immediately generated a 68% increase in sales. Devised a new loyalty program that achieved 20% increase in food court sales, substantially increased fashion avenue footfall and secured a new qualified customer database of 300, 000 in less than a year.

Director of Sales and Marketing في Merit Academy
  • مصر - القاهرة
  • نوفمبر 2006 إلى أكتوبر 2007

- Brought in to overhaul annual marketing and sales plans for main academy services at a leading IT training company. Managed $150K budgets and ran a team of five staff, including sales managers and a marketing and communications manager.
- Exceeded all sales targets and achieved marketing goals set in annual plan. Fostered productive and cohesive relationships with key stakeholders, and mentored and coached team to substantially improved performance.

Regional Marketing Manager في Hotel Dynamics UK.
  • المملكة المتحدة
  • أكتوبر 2000 إلى نوفمبر 2006

- Hired to lead marketing programs for key clients, including Intercontinental Jordan, Hilton Abu Dhabi, Nile Hilton Cairo, Conrad Cairo and Crowne Plaza Hotel Kuwait. Developed marketing plans that expanded and promoted brand vision, generated revenue and increased agent network profitability.

- Generated radically increased sales performance, setting large number of sales records, including the Hilton Diamond Program Cairo (157% over sales), Conrad Class Cairo (399% over profit budget), Crowne Plaza Privilege Program, Kuwait (294% over profit) and Intercontinental Privilege Program Jordan (240% over profit budget).

- Achieved first rank on the MENA region offices for Hilton Premium Program Cairo in 2006 and set new record at Hilton Premium Program Abu Dhabi for year 2006 (254% over profit budget and 154% over sales target).

- Radically improved service quality standards through implementation of country calibrated marketing plans, using ad campaigns, consumer promotions and local marketing events. Retained and increased loyalty bases and revenues through targeted programs, benefits, incentives and promotions for hotel facilities.

- Implemented sweeping change; brought in new benefits programs, enhanced online marketing, generated PR and negotiated advertising. Built partnerships with key stakeholders, including banks and corporates, to exploit staff loyalty programs.

الخلفية التعليمية

دبلوم, Advanced Digital Marketing
  • في UDACITY
  • يناير 2021

Marketing, Advanced Digital Marketing, Content Strategy, Content Marketing and Distribution, SEO, SEM with Google Ads, Google Analytics, Display Advertising, Social Media Marketing and Advertising and Email Marketing. The degree in collaboration with Facebook, Google, Hootsuite, Hubspot, MailChimp and MOZ.

دبلوم, Digital Marketing
  • في Google, IAB Europe and The Open University
  • نوفمبر 2020

26 Modules by Google: • Take a business online (4) • Make it easy for people to find a business on the web (5) • Reach more people locally, on social media or on mobile (7) • Reach more customers with advertising (4) • Track and measure web traffic (3) • Sell products or services online (2) • Take a business global (1)

دبلوم عالي, Shopping Centre Management Diploma - USA
  • في International Council of Shopping Centres - USA
  • يوليو 2010

1 year Shopping Centre Management Diploma (ICSC SCMD Certificate) Modules: Management Overview Retailing Insurance and Risk Management Marketing Leasing and its language Leasing Strategies Finance Maintenance and Security Graduation Project: Planned a high profile development project for City Center shopping mall

دبلوم, Marketing
  • في Social Development Fund - Prime Ministry Premiership
  • مايو 2003

Subjects Covered: Feasibility Study, Marketing Research, Marketing Strategies offline / online, Advertising and Target Markets, SWOT Analysis, Managerial Accounting, Operations Management

دبلوم, International Toefl in English Language
  • في Educational Testing Service
  • يونيو 2002

International Test Of English As A Foreign Language

ماجستير, E-Commerce
  • في CIW Certification Council
  • مارس 2002

Certificate: Master Ciw Designer Certificate; including 3 certificates: * CIW Foundation Certificate * CIW Site Designer Certificate * CIW E-Commerce Designer Certificate

دبلوم, Internet Web Professional Development Track
  • في IBM
  • أغسطس 2001

IBM Web Development Diploma

بكالوريوس, Business Administration-English section
  • في Faculty of commerce & Business Administration-Helwan University
  • يونيو 2000

Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration (English Section)

دبلوم, General English
  • في International Language Institute - Ih
  • أبريل 1998

Post - Intermediate Certificate in General English

Specialties & Skills

Event Management
Digital Marketing
Marketing
Public Relations
Strategic Marketing
Brand Awareness
Market Identification
Product Development CRM
Partnerships / Joint Ventures
PR & Project Management
Marketing Communications
Budget Management
Contract Negotiation
Market Penetration
Team Building
Client Relationships
Social Media
Digital Marketing
Events Management
Corporate Communications
Marketing Research

اللغات

الانجليزية
متمرّس
العربية
متمرّس

العضويات

Ciw -Certified Internet Webmaster- Certification Council, Arizona,US.
  • Ciw Associate
  • August 2001
International Council of Shopping Centres – USA
  • Affiliate Member
  • July 2009
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council, USA
  • Member
  • May 2016
American Marketing Association (AMA) USA
  • Professional Member
  • May 2016

التدريب و الشهادات

Shopping Centre Management Diploma (الشهادة)
تاريخ الدورة:
August 2010

الهوايات

  • Reading
    I read a lot especially about topics and updates in E-Commerce, Digital and Strategic Marketing and Advertising.
  • Swimming
    Won 2 championships of Crawl swimming from Saudi Arabia
  • Public Speaking
    I consider myself talented by birth in Public Speaking, of course in addition to my educational and practical experience backgrounds