Irfan Ahmad, Category Marketing Manager

Irfan Ahmad

Category Marketing Manager

Almarai

Location
Saudi Arabia
Education
Master's degree, Business Administration (MBA - Marketing)
Experience
23 years, 1 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :23 years, 1 Months

Category Marketing Manager at Almarai
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • My current job since March 2013

Marketing Head- Culinary Category Jun 2021 - Till Date
Key Responsibilities:
 Managing 1 Bn SAR Culinary Category including, EVAP Milk, Condensed Milk, Sterilized Cream, Cooking Cream, Whipping Cream, Butter, Butter Ghee, Honey and Olive Oil.
 Responsible for growing the categories and Increasing share in my respective categories.
Marketing Head- Long Life Dairy Sep 2019 - Jun 2021
Key Responsibilities:
 Managing 1 Bn SAR Long Life Milk portfolio for Almarai, including UHT & Powder Milk.
 Achieved ever highest volumes for both UHT and Milk Powder. Achieved Market leadership in Modern Trade from Nestle Nido.
Marketing Manager- Foods March 2013 - Sep 2019
Key Responsibilities:
 Handling a 500Million SAR portfolio in Foods business which includes Cheese, Butter, Creams & Ghee across Gulf countries.
 Handling marketing spend of 10Mn SAR annual. Responsible for delivering volume, revenue, gross margin for the assigned business.
 Achieved market leadership in Cheese Triangles and Tins categories vs entrenched International players like Kraft and BEL Group of France.

Marketing & Sales Manager at Tiffany Foods (IFFCO)
  • United Arab Emirates - Sharjah
  • August 2010 to July 2012

Key Responsibilities: \n Responsible for delivering the budgeted revenue number through existing and new business development. \n Developing new business channels and customers through Joint Business Planning (JBP) meetings \n Developing congenial relationship with existing customers. \n Ensuring that service level being provided to the customers is in line with customer expectation across supply chain. \n Ensuring desired communications on various brands is happening in all LOBs. \n Negotiating terms of trade with existing and new customers for monthly, quarterly & annual promotions. \n Allocating resources and funds for each channel & customer to optimize the results. \n Managing a Team of 90 people spanning across UAE in all channels of business. \n Planning and execution of in-store/out of home for paid and sponsored events. \n \nAchievements: \n \n Successfully negotiated annual agreements with major customers without any annual rebate increase for two consecutive years. \n Successfully negotiated with Adnoc, Epco, & Enoc for new pricing and revival of business. \n Achieved ever highest sales in confectionery for the company. \n Achieved highest volume for Tiffany Butter Cookies to cross Americana to become market leader.

Marketing Manager at Tiffany Foods (IFFCO)
  • United Arab Emirates - Sharjah
  • August 2010 to January 2011

Key Responsibilities:
 Developing & implementing integrated marketing & sales strategies consistent with goals & objectives of business.
 Evaluating the financial aspects of Marketing plans, such as pricing, budgets, expenditures, R&D, appropriations, return-on-investment & P&L projections.
 Overseeing & analyzing market research to determine consumer & competitor trends, demands & conditions & map accurate strategies corresponding to market demands.
 To establish Tiffany as a market leader in biscuits category.
 To bring new premium biscuits to improve CM.
 Managing creative, media buying and BTL agencies.
 Develop web sites for the sub-brands; plan and implement digital strategy for each sub-brand.
Achievements:
 Re-launched Tiffany Digestive as Tiffany Activ in UAE, as part of overall portfolio revamping strategy.
 Developed launch strategy for a premium variant for Tiffany Activ to challenge the category leader.

Marketing Manager at Asian Food Industries Limited
  • Pakistan
  • December 2005 to July 2010

Responsibilities:
 Developing & implementing integrated marketing & sales strategies consistent with goals & objectives of business.
 Responsible for the brand health of corporate brand, managing PR activities, copyright and trade mark registration.
 Evaluating the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research & development appropriations, return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
 Overseeing & analyzing market research to determine consumer & competitor trends, demands & conditions & map accurate strategies corresponding to market demands.
 Cascading marketing strategies to counter competitor activities by using market dynamics & developing regional marketing strategies.
 Spearheading promotional campaigns, merchandising launches & innovative event strategies to foster consumer loyalty.
 Representing in local and international trade fairs.
 Inspecting and refurbishing existing products to maintain constant sales and increase profit margin.
 Handling creative, media buying, BTL and out door agencies.
Key Achievements:
 Revamped five years old website for the Company.
 Represented company in trade fairs in local and international locations for development of business.
 Organized annual sales conferences for a team of 120 for four consecutive years
 Increased sales fivefold in four years, with increase in CM from15 to 25%
 Successfully established Tiger Bubble gum as lead company brand opposed to Ding Dong bubble through 360 degree marketing strategy.
 Effectively improved volume of Orange Candy by 10 times due to re-structuring.
 Tripled volumes for Amrood (Guava) Candy and amplified CM’s for brand from 20% to 35%.
 Doubled sales of Hard Candy (HBC) portfolio through re-engineering.

Corporate Marketing Manager at Qarshi Industries (Pvt.) Ltd.
  • Pakistan
  • May 2003 to December 2005

Highlights:
 Achieved market leadership by enhancing Jam-e-Shirin sales and surpassing competition.
 Augmented torpid sales by re-launching Johar Joshanda (JS) in new packaging to compete against counterfeit JJ.
 Successfully organized national launch conference for JJ for stake holders from across Pakistan.
 Produced Special Supplement, press release & briefing for major newspapers on ISO 17025 certification for Qarshi Research International Pvt. Ltd from Norway.
 Negotiated with Parks and Horticulture Authority Lahore for combined development of a Park with Qarshi donating money and providing technical services.
 Corporate Sponsorship of World Squash Championship held in Lahore.
 Produced press ads for various publication for corporate brand building & revamped Qarshi’s website.
 Organized monthly sales conference for 130 people for two years.
 Managed two creative, one media buying & one out door agencies.
 Oversaw publication of monthly magazine on health with a circulation of 100, 000.
 Developed Brand book with usage guidelines for logo.

Responsibilities:
• Spearheaded a team of marketing professionals to expand and execute comprehensive marketing strategies.
• Handled several marketing projects, researches, and activities; produced well written and appealing publications to maintain sales.
• Adhered to project deadlines and oversaw budgets in accordance with corporate objectives.
• Maintained and executed communication procedures and strategies with agencies in compliance with corporate requirements to increase advertisements.
• Initiated price changes according to product consumption and market needs.
• Corresponded with customers and gathered feedback to ensure loyalty and client satisfaction.
• Implemented marketing schemes such as initiating new and existent product development, maintained corporate communications, and organized events to improve sales.

Area Sales Manager at Unilever Bestfoods Pakistan
  • Pakistan
  • April 2002 to May 2003

Highlight:
• Member of Karachi team, revitalized sales from Average of Rs.15 M to Rs.45M per month.

Responsibilities:
• Accountable for achieving high sales volume and NPS (Net Proceeds from Sales) target set by company.
• Managed product and ensured full coverage of product in market; located and positioned product in market to attract targeted customers.
• Implemented trade-marketing strategies, promotions and launches to augment sales profit.
• Examined and tracked competitors activities effectively to counter competitor activities using market strategies
• Invested time in market to extend trade associations and to comprehend market procedures.
• Handled sales team through consistent monitoring, evaluations and rewards.

Marketing Executive-CNG at Pakistan State Oil
  • Pakistan
  • September 2000 to April 2002

Highlights:
• Representative of PSO in Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) for price rationalization of Motor Gasoline, Diesel and CNG.

Responsibilities:
• Assumed responsibilities and duties of marketing manager in marketing, sales, advertising and promoting CNG oil, and positioning and situation of CNG stations.
• Directed promotional campaigns and marketing launches to market CNG fuel to augment PSO CNG sales and profit.
• Coordinated with brand management department to allocate and establish suitable stations around the country to launch, promote, and position CNG oil in outlets.
• Conducted feasibility studies of CNG to determine factors affecting market growth, impact on other markets, Moga's sales and government revenues.
• Administrated and analyzed market research to recognize price change influence of gasoline on CNG demand and to determine the price of various grade fuels.

Other Relevant Workshops /Trainings:
• Brand Sense: Smashing Your Brand.
• Managing Retail Channels
• Marketing Strategy & Sales growth.
• Winning Mind Share Workshop on Brand Management & Product Positioning.

Education

Master's degree, Business Administration (MBA - Marketing)
  • at Lahore University Of Management Sciences
  • June 2000

Specialties & Skills

New Product development
Brand Building
Marketing Strategy
Market Research
Strategic Marketing & Business Development, Brand Management,Market Research, Competitor Analysis,
Outlet Development, Product Positioning & Marketing Campaigns,Product Launches, Setting Sales Target
Product Development, Budgeting, Strong Leadership, Team Building, Creative Problem Solving
Analytical Thinking, Communication Skills,MS-Office, Access Statistical Package, Internet Usage

Languages

English
Expert
Arabic
Beginner
Urdu
Expert