Michael Gillies, Sales & Marketing Director

Michael Gillies

Sales & Marketing Director

Blue Cacti

Location
United Arab Emirates
Education
Bachelor's degree, History
Experience
23 years, 8 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :23 years, 8 Months

Sales & Marketing Director at Blue Cacti
  • Qatar - Doha
  • My current job since February 2014

Blue Cacti use creative brand marketing to promote partner firms and institutions to target audiences.
Audiences range from foreign dignitaries to members of general public. Promotion of brands utilising various channels, including event experiences, digital and social media and on ground campaigns.


• Set up new business from scratch. Responsible for recruitment and training a team of 30.
• Wrote strategy and implemented business plan.
• Executed sales plan and met targets
• Successful engagement with a range of clients such as
MacDonalds, Coca Cola, Nestle, QNB & Qatar Airways.
• Government clients included Ministry of Culture, Katara and the QFA
• Responsibilities include writing proposals, setting costs and budgets for the individual accounts, organising projects and day to day management of the accounts
• Dealing at CEO & Director level setting out customer proposition and act as main contact for the client
• Provide analysis and insight to monitor client performance and suggest changes in strategy.
• I have become a valuable resource for all of my clients and a trusted sounding board.

Sales Director at Castle Fine Art
  • United Kingdom - London
  • February 2011 to December 2013

Castle Fine Art is part of the international business Halcyon Group. In the UK forms part of a chain of 50 high-end Art Galleries. Selling original Art Work and high quality prints from famous artists direct to institutions and members of the public.


• Headhunted from previous role due to expertise
• Set up new business from scratch, including choosing site, design of gallery, recruited staff and implemented strategy.
• Set new business targets and exceeded expectation every month.
• Took branch from start up to 3rd position consistently month by month after 6 months tenure
• Responsible for budgets, stock control and pricing
• Mentored staff and oversight of new recruit becoming Top Sales Person out 320 people
• Delivered service excellence to clients
• Voted Branch of the Year 2012 and 2013
• Interaction with high profile personalities including Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), Bob Dylan, Stan Lee (creator of Marvel Comics) forming strong bonds.

Sales Director at J'Adore Art
  • United Kingdom - London
  • January 2010 to January 2011

• Initially employed as Sales Assistant and subsequently promoted to Sales Director
• Produced circa £500k turnover in contemporary art gallery.
• Managing all aspects of sales turning loss making proposition into profit.
• Interfaced daily with Artists, clients and suppliers, responsible for product buying, visual merchandising and gallery displays

Residential Care Worker at Turnaround
  • United Kingdom - Manchester
  • January 2009 to December 2010

• Monitored the provision of care to vulnerable children within this Government-funded crisis intervention center; promoted positive change with a nurturing environment - showcasing empathy, coupled with a sense of tact and diplomacy.
• Working on a 1 to 1 basis with children

Various at Early Career Summary
  • United Kingdom - Manchester
  • August 2000 to September 2009

• Cemented an appreciation of the importance of first class customer service, alongside energy, drive and enthusiasm while adopting a collaborative approach within multifaceted teams in a variety of retail management and sales roles (2005-2009) - gaining invaluable exposure to the management operations in high-end / luxury products at Selfridges and Co, Manchester (2007-2008)
• Personal shopper for VIP clients including celebrities and sports personalities, such as Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Wayne Rooney & Steven Gerard.

Education

Bachelor's degree, History
  • at Manchester Metropolitan University
  • May 2009
Bachelor's degree, Events Management
  • at Manchester Metropolitan University
  • May 2006
Diploma, AVCE Leisure & Recreation
  • at Ridge Danyer's College
  • May 2005
High school or equivalent, 10 GCSE Grade A-C
  • at Chapel-en-le-frith High School
  • May 2000

Specialties & Skills

Innovative Thinking
People Management
Big Picture Thinking
Deal Maker
People Management
BUYING/PROCUREMENT
CLIENTS
INCLUDING ACCOUNTS
MARKETING
SALES MANAGER
STAFFING
TRAINING

Languages

English
Expert