Firas Yahia, Director - Pharma & Cold Chain

Firas Yahia

Director - Pharma & Cold Chain

Naqel Express

Location
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
Education
Bachelor's degree, pharmacy
Experience
16 years, 10 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :16 years, 10 Months

Director - Pharma & Cold Chain at Naqel Express
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • My current job since April 2021

• Developed and implemented performance improvement strategies and plans to promote continuous improvement.
• Managed 6 divisions with total 340 employees.
• Drove year-over-year business growth by 37% while leading operations, strategic vision and long-range planning.
• Established and administered annual budget with controls to prevent overages, minimize burn rate and support sustainability objectives.
• Led change and transformation across business areas to deliver benefits and align company resources.

Business Development & commercial Manager at Naqel Express
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • August 2020 to March 2021

• Developed effective business plans to align strategic decisions with long-term objectives.
• Developed value-added solutions and approaches by leveraging trends in customer marketplaces and industries.
• Spearheaded successful business development initiatives aligned with company's strategy and core competencies.
• Assessed performance management structures and implemented enhancements to improve frameworks and strengthen results.
• Focused teams on developing innovative and cutting-edge approaches with effective resource allocation and strategic planning.
• Surpassed Company's target by 167%.
• Coordinated innovative strategies to accomplish marketing objectives and boost long-term profitability by introducing IT solution and customer portals.

Sales Manager at Naqel Express
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • December 2018 to July 2020

• Grew market penetration and sales figures by leveraging customer relationships and personally overseeing negotiations resulting in 220% achievement in the first year & 138% in the second year.
• Developed and implemented favorable pricing structures balancing firm objectives against customer targets.
• Strategized and implemented successful approaches to revitalize underperforming product lines and create profit-generating enterprises.
• Established relationships with key decision-makers within customer's organization to promote growth and retention.
• Exceeded targets by building, directing and motivating high-performing sales team.

Export Territory Manager at Avalon Pharma
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • December 2017 to December 2018

Along with the previous role and responsibilities as an associate Export manager, I oversee new market penetrations and company’s glob expansion.

Associate Export Manager at Avalon Pharmaceutical
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • January 2013 to December 2017

- Increased international sales by over 40%, by opening accounts in 6 new countries (UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon)
- Coordinated with agents with 14 countries to obtain forecasts for annual budgeting and managed logistics operations with the agents to deliver POs in time to achieve the forecast (Lebanon - 150%, Egypt 110%, Yemen 130%, Jordan 100%, Sudan 140%)
- Launched several OTC, hygienic, conventional and innovative pharmaceutical products (2 cardio-vascular, 1 pulmonology) to expand company’s international competitiveness
- Setup PMOs in different markets to encourage a disciplined execution of the daily activities and led the team with diagnostic tools (IMS and CRM) to set a focused vision of the objectives
- Participate in different international governmental and local tenders while using resources (previous and market data and through agent contacts) to quote and win while keeping the company’s growth profit at an approved percentage (SGH, SEHA UAE, Kuwait Gov./CMS tenders, Oman and Bahrain Int. Tenders, Jordan Gov. tenders)
- Proposed and introduced new agents in different international markets to partner with the company after a proper analysis of their profile and presentation to the stakeholders of the company (CEO, COO, and Financial Director)
- Directed over 70 SKUs successful submission in 13 different regulatory authorities to obtain the required registration certificates which contributed in the over achievements of the sales target
- Oriented the regulatory follow up and renewals of the company’s products in the international markets in accordance with the countries regulatory authority’s guidelines to maintain the growth of the company’s revenue

MOH medical Rep. at Avalon
  • Saudi Arabia - Jeddah
  • December 2011 to January 2013

- Responsible for western region including Northern and Southern part of the kingdom.
- Following up with KOLs to obtain the desired product enlisting in MOH directory to win the products in tenders and LPOs for governmental hospitals and successfully enrolling 4 products
- Close follow ups with division heads to insure the proper flow of the purchasing and ordering process
- Attained new product direct purchases
- Close follow ups with clients purchasing departments
- Follow up with prescribers and potential prescribers

General Manager at Remarkt-rom
  • Romania
  • August 2010 to September 2011

- Operating an independent branch for German headquarters retail company-Retex Group, with a selection of textile and Medical devices products
- Executing day to day business operation to yield the sales revenue
- Prospecting East European potential partners to further expand the operation to new countries to expand the company’s reach and revenue
- Launched several textile and medical devises products
- Recruiting and managing a successful entrepreneurial team (Med Reps, Sales reps, accounting and administrative staff) to achieve the set budget
- Training and coaching staff for a demand strategy
- Regular field visits and business negotiations in different countries and different industries
- Managing of warehouse and logistics operations (S&OP) over Germany, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria

Medical representative at Al Wafi Drug store
  • Jordan - Amman
  • August 2008 to August 2010

- The best achiever in the team
- Received several rewards for achievements and creativity
- Always maintaining a growth and over-achieving the target.

Pharmacist at Pharmacy (multiple)
  • Jordan - Amman
  • January 2007 to April 2008

In charge of Pharmacy sales, and HC provider for patients

Education

Bachelor's degree, pharmacy
  • at pharmaceutical company
  • June 2008

Pharmaceutical Degree

Specialties & Skills

Business Development
Sales and Marketing
Team Management
Management
keyboarding, communication, public speaking
Commercial skills
communicating skills
Team worker
Export Sales & Marketing
Adaptability
International Pharmaceutical Regulatory
Market research
Management
Forecast
Positivity
Business Development
Tenacity
Deadline success
logistics and supply chain management
Creativity

Languages

English
Native Speaker
Arabic
Native Speaker
French
Beginner
Romanian
Beginner

Memberships

Jordan Pharmacy Union
  • Member
  • June 2008
International Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Institute IPSCMI
  • Certified Supply Chain Manager- CISCM2161032916
  • August 2016

Training and Certifications

CSCM- Certified International Supply Chain Manager (Certificate)
Date Attended:
October 2016
Valid Until:
October 2020
Advanced documentary letters of credit (Training)
Training Institute:
Saudi Export Development Authority
Date Attended:
January 2017
SFDA Exporting permit guidelines for Drugs and foods (Training)
Training Institute:
Saudi Export Development Authority
Date Attended:
January 2017
Financing and insurance for Export (Training)
Training Institute:
Saudi Export Development Authority
Date Attended:
January 2017
How to Export (Training)
Training Institute:
Saudi Export Development Authority
Date Attended:
January 2017
High Impact communication & Interpersonal skills (Training)
Training Institute:
LEADACT International
Date Attended:
January 2013
Coaching (Training)
Training Institute:
In house- Avalon Pharma
Date Attended:
January 2014
Lean Six Sigma white belt (Certificate)
Date Attended:
August 2015
Market Research (Training)
Training Institute:
Saudi Export Development Authority
Date Attended:
January 2016
Documentary letters of credit (Training)
Training Institute:
Saudi Export Development Authority
Date Attended:
January 2016
High Impact Leadership (Training)
Training Institute:
LEADACT International
Date Attended:
January 2013
Pharmaceutical selling skills (Training)
Training Institute:
Lead 2 Act
Date Attended:
January 2012
Detailing and selling skills (Training)
Training Institute:
Winners Professional Courses
Date Attended:
January 2010
SWOT analysis (Training)
Training Institute:
Al Wafi Drug Store
Date Attended:
January 2010

Hobbies

  • Outdoors leisures and activities, learning more about business