Senior Event and Project Manager
Audi Middle East
Total years of experience :20 years, 2 Months
Consultant
Pitch management, budgeting & cost control, guest logistics, event pre-production / onsite management/post-production for brand activations, product launches, roadshows, drive events and conferences.
Key Projects:
• Spearheaded the successful launch event for a new product line of Audi Sport models, facilitating test drives for 120 VIP and Media guests.
• Launched a new product reveal in a creative brand immersive space hosting 80 guests, including members of the Royal Family, VIPs, and regional press and media members.
• Organized and managed the Audi Middle East lounge showcasing a new product initiative, hosting 110 guests, including Audi Sport customers, influencers, and journalists.
• Implemented a highly efficient roadshow program for a new product launch in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Oman, including cost and logistics management.
Developed the brand experiential strategy and brand awareness in the GCC. Raised customer acquisition, nurtured partner relationships, and capitalized on customer engagement opportunities. Managed budgets up to USD 10M for over 30 projects of various sizes and complexity per year across the GCC.
Key Responsibilities:
• Developed event strategies and concepts, creating compelling customer experiences within integrated marketing campaigns.
• Identifying and negotiating sponsorship opportunities with industry partners and developing thought leadership and regional brand activation opportunities.
• Management of agency brief, pitches, concept development, pre-production, onsite logistics, such as staffing, technical, content, venue support, registration, handling of speakers and VIPs, and post-event follow-up.
• Working closely with marketing teams and the dealer network to ensure the successful deployment of event support assets, such as email campaigns, landing pages, promotional campaign creation and activation material design.
Key Accomplishments:
•Awarded five Best Practice Awards by Audi HQ for the conception, development, and execution of benchmark product launch events.
•Utilized experiential marketing techniques to increase brand awareness and lead generation by 10% annually.
•Developed and launched the Audi Innovation Awards, a design and innovation platform resulting in a 2% increase in brand awareness.
•Increased sales conversions, brand awareness and new participation from 5% to 20% by initiating, managing and leveraging the Audi driving experience.
•Reduced sponsorship budget by 15%, leveraging existing sponsorships whilst maintaining high event standards.
Assuring the highest quality forecast is transmitted weekly and monthly in alignment with key stakeholders by working collaboratively with marketing, commercial, supply and operation teams.
Key Responsibilities:
•Effectively managed product catalogues, focusing on product launch, discontinuation, and renovation.
•Prepared monthly forecast updates for the Business Planning Meetings, focusing on forecast changes, performance flags, and key decisions.
•Maximized service levels and reduced errors and omissions by ensuring the highest level of forecasting and procurement accuracy.
•Spearheaded ad hoc projects to help drive excellence in forecasting and collaboration with key stakeholders.
Assuring the highest quality forecast is transmitted weekly and monthly in alignment with key stakeholders by working collaboratively with marketing, commercial, supply and operation teams.
Key Responsibilities:
• Effectively managed product catalogues, focusing on product launch, discontinuation, and renovation.
• Prepared monthly forecast updates for the Business Planning Meetings, focusing on forecast changes, performance flags, and key decisions.
• Maximized service levels and reduced errors and omissions by ensuring the highest level of forecasting and procurement accuracy.
• Spearheaded ad hoc projects to help drive excellence in forecasting and collaboration with key stakeholders.
Place purchase orders with suppliers to fulfil customer orders and maintain stock levels on top selling devices. Responsible for sourcing and/or negotiate best market price for product and ensure it arrives at the right cost and at the right time. Quickly resolving discrepancies at each stage in the order cycle to make certain customers committed delivery dates are met while keeping inventory costs to a minimum.
Key Responsibilities:
• Solid negotiations with suppliers on both price and inventory issues.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of product, market and customers.
• Building strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Analyze inventory levels based on previous day's activity to identify and action necessary adjustments (purchase re-schedule of backlog).
• Pipeline management.
• Quotations for multiple projects.
• Review entire inventory monthly checking stock levels and integrity of data.
• Review supplier inventory position on strategic basis.
• Reduce excess inventory by negotiation of special vendor returns and working closely with marketing to generate incremental sales e.g., investigation of customer historical sales.