Alexandre Marais

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.