Murali Balaraman, Business Development Manager

Murali Balaraman

Business Development Manager

Olive Country General Trading LLC

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Business Administration
Experience
27 years, 9 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :27 years, 9 Months

Business Development Manager at Olive Country General Trading LLC
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since February 2021

 Developing team structure for the business - Direct distribution model with management of Sales, trade marketing and merchandising team.
 Developing/Implementing route to market strategies from scratch for all channels - Modern Trade, Traditional Trade and Food Service
 Support development of annual operating plans and strategic plans by analyzing sales KPIs.
 Lead the initial training and development of the sales teams.
 Short and long term strategic planning, conceptualizing and constantly evolving the sales processes across all channels
 Acquisition of new brands with products that are essential in daily life for exclusive distribution rights.
 Negotiation of commercials, ATL & BTL budgets with new brands.

Sales Manager E-Commerce at MH Enterprises
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • April 2020 to January 2021

 Responsible for growing the Company’s business in UAE within the E-Commerce Channel (All
Categories)
 Brand Activations in B2B & B2C for both Horeca & Retail Products.
 Driving brand development and ensuring implementation of clear commercial strategic plans for e-Commerce sales to deliver growth and financial objectives.
 SOP implementation of Process integration with Sales, Finance & Logistics for efficient operations.
 Develop plans and strategies for business development and achieving the company’s sales objectives.

Business Development Manager at Citron.Life
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • January 2019 to March 2020

 Directly responsible for profitably growing the Company’s business in UAE & Expand to rest of GCC & Globally.
 Develop plans and strategies for business development and achieving the company’s sales objectives.
 Driving brand development and ensuring implementation of clear commercial strategic plans for e-Commerce and Offline sales to deliver growth and financial objectives.
 Manage key customer relationship, executing and closing strategic opportunities.
 Monitor customer, market and competitor activity.
 Strengthening the fundamentals across all functions, delivering profitable, consistent and sustainable growth through a highly engaged team- Sales, Marketing, Finance, Logistics & Supply Chain.
 Working closely with Executive Decision-Making team to formulate long/short term business growth, viable strategies and action plans.
 Preparing and presenting a monthly progress report on financial forecasts, risk strategies, feasibility analysis and other business KPI’s

Business Development Manager at Al Seer Trading Agencies
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • May 2012 to November 2018

 Served as second-in-command managing the distribution of Reckitt Benckiser Portfolio with 8
brands across 12 categories overseeing an annual turnover of about 370 Million AED across Dubai
& NE in modern and traditional trade across Dubai & NE
 Leading, coaching, training, motivating, evaluating/rewarding and appraising a sales team of 35.
 Negotiate and finalize Key Account Agreements with major retailers and foster relationships
through regular visits and calls.
 Ensure all brand activation executions in modern trade are in gold locations.
 Successfully launch NPDs in modern trade with additional visibility and ensure 100% distribution
across all trade channels.
 Ensured regular accompanied market visits with sales team refreshing and emphasizing on the
importance of POP, SOS, OSA & MSL-Compliance Hypers-100%, Super 90% & SSV 90%
 Ensure profitability of van sales maintained through coverage enhancement and route
optimization.
 Ensure that the van sales achieve the monthly coverage KPIs and with targeted drop size.
 Develop business in the traditional trade through coverage enhancement, new initiatives &
schemes.
 Contacting and networking with select customers for sales of short dated stocks.
 Monitor competition activities regularly and recommended solutions to principal including
planning and implementing promotions.
 Prudently manage trade spends to ensure spend within the allocated budgets.
 Monthly reconciliation of A&P spends with finance to ensure timely receivables
 Played an active part in forecasting with the supply chain to improve stock handling.
 Monthly business review presentation to the GM and CEO detailing budget Vs. achievement by
locations by brands and presenting FY outlook and way forward.
 Ensured timely collection of payments prior to the last working day of the month.

Sales Manager at Allied Foods & Trading L.L.C
  • May 2010 to April 2012

A division of Zainal Mohebi Group, it is one amongst the oldest operators in U.A.E established in 1931
with capabilities to cover all types of retail and institutional clients across U.A.E, Oman, Qatar & Iran.
Job Responsibilities:
• Assumed full accountability for developing the Division in U.A.E
• Managed, trained, motivated and retained a 25-member team (Sales Supervisors, Sales Executives &
Merchandisers) directly reporting to me.
• Sourcing of new market fit products.
• Monitor and ensure timely collections and constantly followed up on debtors.

Sales Manager at Al Seer Trading Agencies
  • Oman
  • April 2008 to April 2010

 Managed various agencies in Oman including Henkel Detergents (Persil, Lance, Dac Disinfectants), Henkel Cosmetics (Fa Body Care, Palatte Hair Care), Zetra, Clorox, Ferrero, KMM-Mr. Potato Crisps, Best Foods- (Mazola Edible oil & Mayonnaise) Al Foah Dates, United Biscuits-Mc-Vities and ITC Wills & Scissors Cigarettes.
 Reporting directly to the Business Head Oman with responsibility for team management, Monthly
Business Review, Stock Management, New Business, Forecast and Orders for all business MTD and YTD Review Agency wise A&P Budget Vs. Actual
 Maintained coordination with key retailers to negotiate Business Development Agreements

Key Account Executivre at Al Seer Trading Agencies
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • October 2005 to March 2008
Sales Executive at Gulfco- Gulf Trading & Refrigeration LLC
  • United Arab Emirates
  • October 2003 to September 2005
Sales Executive at Indian Express Newspapers (Bom) Ltd
  • India
  • November 2000 to August 2003
Sr. Executive at Al Jadeed Bakery LLC
  • United Arab Emirates
  • June 1999 to September 2000
Executive at Indian Express Newspapers (Bom) Ltd
  • India
  • August 1995 to July 1998

Education

Bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Business Administration
  • at Manipal University
  • January 1995

Specialties & Skills

Customer Relationship Management
Sales Team Management
Key Account Management
Business Development
MARKETING
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
REPORTS
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
ASSETS RECOVERY
BRAND MANAGEMENT

Languages

English
Expert
Hindi
Expert