أحمد سعيد شودري

Grill & Spice is a full service restaurant offering dine-in, takeaway, home delivery, and outdoor catering.

Acquired and turned around this existing restaurant from losses to profit within a span of 4 months by:

Reorganizing and revamping entire front and back of house operations with emphasis on total customer satisfaction ensuring steady repeat business.

Rescheduling staff responsibilities improving product and quality control, delivery lead time, and table turnover rate.

Redefining annual budget and implementing effective inventory and cost controls.

Renegotiating with vendors and revising order schedules.

Working closely with Head Chef to streamline kitchen operations, introducing new menu items per market demographics, refining recipes for authenticity, and implementing daily line checks and prep lists.

Conducting customer satisfaction surveys and continuously improving on services to ensure a positive dining experience for every guest.

The Baron - Karbala is the first full service 5 star luxury hotel in the city offering 273 rooms, 9 restaurants, 3 banquet halls, state of the art fitness & recreation center, and retail spaces.

Having achieved exceptional performance growth for THE BARON - KABUL (previous assignment), I was transferred to THE BARON - KARBALA to spearhead its entire startup operations.

Reporting directly to the group Chairman, was overseeing all aspects of pre-opening operations, including:

Setting up all key departments, developing and implementing operational policies and procedures with emphasis on total customer satisfaction, and devising business strategies that would ensure annual revenue of over US$ 50.00 million.

Administering operating and capital budgets, feasibility studies, sales forecast, costing, and price structuring.

Initiating, implementing, and supervising marketing plans and promotional campaigns designed to target key market segments.

Recruitment and team building.

Forging relationships with vendors and developing procurement policies with focus on product quality and guests’ health and safety.


Pending inauguration of the main hotel, successfully launched 5 of the 9 restaurants which received an overwhelming public response.

The Baron - Kabul is a massive 376 rooms hotel spread over 15 acres of land with 6, 000 square meters of office space, 3 food outlets and a shopping area, providing secure luxury accommodation and work space to the expat community operating out of Afghanistan.


Engaged from the planning stage, oversaw and monitored construction of phase-I consisting of 160 standard rooms, a fine dining restaurant, recreational facilities, and main infrastructure.

Developed and nurtured relationships with key corporate clients including major USAID implementing partners and NGOs to secure long term contracts achieving and maintaining yearlong high occupancy rate.

Having achieved 100% occupancy within 5 months in operations of phase-I, conceptualized and implemented expansion plan to add 144 more deluxe rooms, 72 suites, 6, 000 square meters office space, and another restaurant.

Originated and executed successful sales and marketing programs to strengthen brand image, strategically positioning the hotel as the most secure and comfortable facility in the whole of Afghanistan.

Developed additional revenue streams by adding 7 retail outlets and 2 conference / banquet halls.

At the time of my transfer to THE BARON - KARBALA, the hotel was operating at 82% occupancy excelling in customer service through 150 regular employees and 90 contractual staff, consistently exceeding monthly sales targets.

(A self owned business enterprise dealing in Luxury Yachts & Utility Boats.)

Negotiated and acquired dealership rights for some of the leading brands of Boats & Luxury Yachts for Pakistan market.

Extended company’s growth plans through brand building activities, deploying corporate programs to increase brand awareness, and developing joint marketing solutions.
1) Established sound relations with one of the leading property development groups to undertake all their requirements for leisure boats at their waterfront housing project in Pakistan.
2) Negotiated and finalized sales agreement worth US$ 3.0M with Pakistan Coast Guards for supply of utility and patrol Boats.
3) Negotiated agreements worth US$ 15.0M for supply of high speed patrol boats to Pakistan Customs.

Tender participations - raising proposals, financial structuring, and timeline management.

Having created performance-driven culture that ensures accountability and personal responsibility, developed, led, and coached a small but highly motivated team of fresh employees - in brand development, marketing communications, price administration, after-sales service and customer interface - to accomplish key business objectives.

Led the unit to record profit within first year of operations.

(Engaged in General Trade, Overseas Property Investments, and Distribution of Auto Parts)

Reporting to the chairperson, was responsible for maximizing growth by devising and implementing comprehensive yearly business and financial plans with full P&L accountability.

Cultivated long term business relations with some of the major government organizations of Pakistan such as Coast Guards, National Logistic Cell (NLC), Customs, and Pakistan Army to increase revenues by 20% through ancillary trade activities.

Developed brand and channel strategies to grow global market share for Auto Spare Parts:
1) Supervised and led all levels in developing an integrated and efficient distribution network through market segmentation, formulating divisional sales plans, conducting marketing campaign & trade shows, and implementing inventory control and time management systems.
2) Expanded dealers' network from UAE to the entire Middle East, Iran, and Pakistan - achieved sales growth of 160% within two years.
3) Conceptualized and launched private label to replace suppliers' brands to expand market and supply base, thereby further increasing annual sales by 30%, reducing product cost by 20% and curtailing risk on suppliers.

Managed group's property investment portfolio of US$ 18.5M in UK and Pakistan.
1) Proactively engaged in re-negotiations with existing tenants to increase rental income by 18%.
2) Favorably resolved court cases related to properties worth $1.5M in liaison with legal council.
3) Negotiated and concluded all sale / purchase agreements.

Formulated and executed target market plan with emphasis on industries of strategic importance.

As member of Regional Credit Committee, was responsible for evaluating credit proposals originating from regional branches to identify and analyze associated risks and credits' impact on bank's profitability and quality of portfolio.

Originated, structured and syndicated recapitalization, working capital, trade finance, and lease finance facilities for large and midsize private and public sector concerns.
1) Developed and managed funded and non-funded Credit Portfolio of US$ 110.00M+.
2) Worked as team member in concluding off-shore syndicate lease finance of US$ 100M for Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Pakistan.
3) Was involved in structuring and disbursement of lease finance of US$ 2.5M to Sui-Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, Pakistan.
4) Devised strategies to recover bad debts of approximately US$ 5.0M in liaison with Remedial Management Unit and bank's solicitors.

Maintained highest level of interaction with existing as well as potential clients to tap fresh business opportunities.

Developed a highly efficient credit team capable of delivering and exceeding business and revenue targets within the credit policy.

Performed periodic credit risk analysis of team’s portfolio focusing upon portfolio growth, financial performance, and risk levels.

Conducted annual reviews and renewals of team’s portfolio ensuring compliance with prudential regulations.

Assisted Country Risk Management with countrywide Risk Asset Reviews.