Alexandre Marais, Head of Fashion, Accessories and Beauty franchises MENA

Alexandre Marais

Head of Fashion, Accessories and Beauty franchises MENA

Azadea Group

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Master's degree, Management, Economics, Marketing
Experience
22 years, 7 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :22 years, 7 Months

Head of Fashion, Accessories and Beauty franchises MENA at Azadea Group
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since July 2019

Managing a portfolio of Fashion, Accessories and Beauty brands such as KIKO Milano, Sunglass Hut, Lovisa across the Middle East, Levant, North Africa and Cyprus
Ensuring OTB, sales, profitability and strategical targets are met.
Reporting to Group Fashion Direction, 11 countries

Senior Brand Director RALPH LAUREN at Chalhoub Group
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • January 2018 to July 2019

Managing Middle East and Levant global business & ensuring sales, profitability and strategical targets are met.
Reporting to COO with 14 direct reports and a network of 180 team members

Restructuring operations:
Worked with financial auditors for business valuation and joint-venture elaboration
Managed the fusion of distribution and retail activities to unify governance, streamline decision making processes, gain in agility and drive operational efficiency
Renegotiated retail, travel retail and wholesale contracts with partners and clients
Optimized P&L of company-owned stores & franchises and wholesale channels (department stores, travel retail, outlets and eCommerce platforms)
Redesigned logistics flows to reduce lead-time, admin costs and improve seasonal product sell thru performance

Senior Brand Director LACOSTE at Lacoste - Chalhoub Group
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • January 2013 to December 2017

Managing Middle East retail and distribution network with full P&L accountability
Reporting to COO with 15 direct reports and a network of 280 team members

Mission:
Brand positioning premiumization & Digital transformation

Achievements:
1. eCommerce platform integration & launch + pure players development
2. Customer-centric marketing strategies implementation
3. Retail and distribution activities verticalization
4. L&D reinforcement / training department creation
5. Store network renovation and development
6. Regional showroom opening
7. Store design improvement
8. International logistics and inventory optimization

Senior Brand Manager RALPH LAUREN at Chalhoub Group
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • January 2008 to December 2012

2011-12: Senior Brand Manager
2009-10: Brand Manager
2008: Brand Senior Commercial Executive
Reporting to General Manager with 9 direct reports and 150 team members

Distribution and wholesale P&L management
Marketing, training and retail development direct responsibilities

Mission:
Business consolidation post financial crisis combined with the strategic elevation of all brand segments

Achievements:
1. Leading a network of 60+ doors
2. Opening many luxury, polo, kids stores and corners
3. Launching and developing luxury lines

Key Account Manager at McGregor Fashion Group
  • France
  • November 2005 to December 2007

In charge of the department stores business (27 shop in shops inside Galeries Lafayette and Printemps network). Scope of responsibilities covering budget planning, sales in showroom, retail staff management, product presentation, negotiation and installation of new points of sales

Store Manager at Milady
  • France
  • November 2004 to November 2005

Opening and promoting the concept store in Courchevel for the winter season and following up with the Parisian doors during the spring season

Flagship store Assistant Manager at Christian Dior Couture
  • Spain
  • November 2002 to November 2004

Learnt how to manage a flagship store (staff management, administrative front and back office, reorder process, CRM, incentives, event management)

Sales Assistant at Christian Dior Couture
  • France
  • October 2001 to October 2002

Worked with various teams in Paris malls (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Bon Marche) as a trainee to get the necessary knowledge on product and services before integrating a flagship store.

Education

Master's degree, Management, Economics, Marketing
  • at SKEMA Business School
  • May 2001
Bachelor's degree, Economics
  • at Universite Pierre Mendes France
  • May 1999
High school or equivalent, Economics
  • at Lycee du Mt Blanc
  • May 1996

Specialties & Skills

Financial Sales
Management Practices
Fashion Marketing
Retail Buying
Fashion Retail
Budgeting
Supply Chain
Visual Merchandising
Marketing Communications

Languages

French
Expert
English
Expert
Spanish
Expert
Italian
Beginner
Mandarin
Beginner