Web Manager
Gallery One
Total years of experience :16 years, 1 Months
Ashraf has one ultimate goal in Gallery One - make it easy for the customer to do business with us.
Leading Gallery One’s web and digital efforts and playing the role of the digital customer advocate, Ashraf is generally found submerged in data and code. Armed with an obsession for privacy and security and while possessing a knack for e-commerce and google search, he spends every day working on delivering a customer online experience aligned with Gallery One brand promise.
Designation Chronology;
• Jul '11 - Apr '14: Senior Product Manager
• Aug '10 - July '11: Product Manager
• Jul '10 - Aug '10: Assistant Product Manager
Joined the company as Assistant Product Manager and worked up the hierarchy to merit promotion to the present position of Senior Product Manager.
Key Responsibilities:
• Overseeing the entire operations and performance of game product, brand, and division budgets, interpreting customers' requirements and conveying the same to teams to facilitate service actualization.
• Driving long-term strategic success by aligning every facet of product management from website development, game operations, sales, distribution, localization, and technical resources to organizational objectives and strategies.
• Played an instrumental role in developing market share and achieving goals envisaged by the business plan in line with regional marketing strategy and local insights across the MENA region.
• Evaluating overall results of plans in terms of turnover, profit and share of marketing, as well as maintaining robust relations with external agencies and local business groups to promote awareness of corporate entity.
• Implementing promotional strategies to drive business and establish future growth objectives by identifying primary thrust areas of business through market surveys and analysis.
• Spearheading market researches and managing project conceptualization and inception, especially with reference to development of key product assets such as in-game screenshots, event footage, visual renders, podcast, etc.
• Assuming responsibility for product promotion and brand proposition, performing content release planning and scheduling, localization strategy and concentrating on supplying value-based quality products through game performance monitoring and data analysis.
• Keeping abreast of industry trends and compliance with business practices regarding sales capture and reporting.
Joined the organization as IT manager, subsequently entrusted with admin and HR responsibilities due to excellent performance.
Key Responsibilities;
• Oversaw IT and administrative affairs, managed company assets efficiently and handled maintenance, repair, and replacement of equipment, machines, telephones and furniture.
• Provided strategic guidance on purchasing decisions, sourcing and negotiation of long term agreements with internal/external suppliers and ensured proper logistic support.
• Assisted with development and implementation of reporting procedures, oversaw the maintenance of department records/disposal and retention of the same according to retention schedules and policies.
• Managed, marshaled and augmented human and infrastructural resources for optimal deliverable efficacy and developed PR strategy of the company.
• Demonstrated thorough understanding of various areas of IT Management such as enterprise systems, information security, IT strategic planning and business on-line including Web 2.0 (social media marketing, SEO, SEM, etc) strategy & applications.
• Envisaged strategic, operational plans and optimized planning variables to achieve business goals by fostering the development of cutting edge IT initiatives including security aspects and system up-gradation in accordance with current hardware/software applications.
• Ensured the stability and efficiency of operations of the in-house information systems that support core organizational functions. Achieved the same by monitoring, maintaining and optimizing all networked software and associated operating systems.
• Ascertained active help-desk support, provided IT training and development, and managed the company website/website content in compliance with company's brand, policies and guidelines.
• Liaised with authorities for visit/employment visas, sponsorship transfers, follow-up of issuance, as well as renewal of commercial registrations, trademarks, licenses and permits.
Inducted as a translator and merited promotion as Senior IT & Translator in Oct 2008.
Key Responsibilities:
• Identified organizational requirements, while concurrently recommending IT infrastructure requirements and upgradations to ensure staff training needs post discussions with various department heads, as well as coordinated and administered training activities as per formulated plans.
• Participated in procurement and development of customized teaching aids such as training handbooks, demonstration models and ID layout for trainees.
• Coordinated effectively with various departments. Liaised and negotiated with vendors, suppliers and external outsourcing agents pertaining to pricing, deadlines, and timely execution of day-to-day operations.
• Monitored day-end system performance reports for anomalies and implemented immediate remedial measures.
• Performed regular system checks and preventive maintenance to ensure optimum system performance by visiting training sites, evaluating outsourced training programs and provided recommendations and feedback
• Worked extensively on various types of software and performed the necessary required configurations for all company computers (desktops and laptops) with weekly systems checks.
• Identified critical business issues and developed immediate/long term solutions including enhancements to existing core applications, new software packages and customer programs.
• Planned and devised ways for optimizing existent resources to improve throughputs; thus enhancing system performance parameters.
• Ensured that IT operation attends to all software/hardware maintenance requirements. Designed IT policy and strategy development of the organization.
• Provided translation services from English to Arabic and Vice-Versa for all training programs, events and correspondences.
• Developed specialist knowledge in translation within the context of the industry and applied the same to ensure accuracy of translations.