Communication Manager
CCL Pharmaceuticals
Total years of experience :27 years, 7 Months
• Set up the corporate communications function at CCL Pharmaceuticals
• Develop and implement the communications strategy to support business objectives
• Effectively cascade these messages using a variety of channels to deliver impactful communications
• Manage engagement activities such as town halls, employee feedback forums and regular performance updates
• Measure the effectiveness of communications by managing and developing feedback channels, adopting the GMS communications measurement strategy
• Interact with all communication agencies to ensure that the strategy is implemented to drive business growth objectives in Pakistan and international operations
• Be the main point of contact for key communication, identifying communications and engagement priorities, to develop and deliver effective communications strategies and plans
• Interact closely with the digital communication agency to drive the consumer health and phara divisions’ goals
May 2010 to present
Communication Manager
Tetra Pak Pakistan (based in Lahore)
• Develop and implement public relations and communication plan for Tetra Pak in collaboration with Tetra Pak's communication agencies
• Manage internal and external perception management campaigns including external magazine, Spirit, internal e-newsletter News Flash and employee engagement events
• Contribute to the Greater Middle East team of editors in editing, proofreading and writing for the electronic quarterly e-newsletter of the Greater Middle East Cluster (GME) E-Newsletter): GME Spotlight
• Develop press releases and organise news conferences and briefings; arrange news media interviews to deliver key messages among relevant stakeholders
• Manage, supervise and coordinate with the digital agency for the maintenance of Tetra Pak's website, internal news portal, customer portal, Facebook fan page, and Twitter handle
• Serve as initial contact point among the communicators community of Tetra Pak in the Greater Middle East Cluster and outside • Offer support to all members of the management and factory management teams to become better communicators
• Drive and implement the brand and graphic standards across the whole organisation including events, building and work clothing branding
• Provide continued support to the organisational marketing and customer management initiatives through integrated PR activities
January 2007 to May 2010
Communication Manager
Tetra Pak Arabia (based in Jeddah)
❑ Transformed a loosely defined and almost rudimentary relationship with a PR agency and developed a comprehensive long-term strategic public relations programme supporting the strategic business objectives
❑ Established a comprehensive and insightful media monitoring and analysis programme, with daily media alerts through the Media Watch Middle East
❑ Transformed the once-a-year and infrequent tabloid Highlights into a professionally laid out, customer and employee newsletter, with regular frequency and wide-ranging distribution
❑ Drove graphic guidelines and corporate identity consistency with religious stringency across all markets in the wake of a major regional merger in the GCC and Yemen markets
❑ Created two new communication tools, News Flash (electronic newsletter for internal communication) and MD's Quarterly Update Frontline (electronic PDF newsletter) to drive corporate key messages strengthening internal communication
❑ Initiated a comprehensive media relations and image building programme including events such as World Milk Day, World Juice Day, World Environment Day, World Osteoporosis Day to raise Tetra Pak's corporate brand image
❑ Revamped and supervised the maintenance of Tetra Pak's corporate internal news portal for rapid information dissemination
❑ Edited, designed and distributed an electronic quarterly e-newsletter of the Greater Middle East Cluster (GME) E-Newsletter
September 2002 to December 2006
Communication & Environment Manager
Tetra Pak Pakistan (based in Lahore)
❑ Developed and implemented a communication plan for Tetra Pak in collaboration with Tetra Pak's PR agency
❑ Brought out corporate quarterly magazine Tetra Pak magazine and News Flash (electronic newsletter for internal communication)
❑ Wrote and sent out press releases and organised news conferences and briefings
❑ Arranged news media interviews with Tetra Pak staff
❑ Supervised and coordinated with the IT consultant for the maintenance of Tetra Pak's corporate internal news portal
❑ Provided continued support to the organisational marketing and customer management initiatives through integrated PR activities
❑ Launched a major countrywide recycling awareness campaign, Proud Pakistanis Recycle to drive the collection and recycling of Tetra Pak used beverage cartons
❑ Designed and implemented the environmental activities with focus on recycling of beverage cartons, doing research such as waste value chain analysis
December 1998 to August 2002
Communication Manager
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Lahore
❑ Edited member publications such as, quarterly magazine, Natura, monthly newsletter Panda Post and Annual Report of WWF - Pakistan
❑ Managed online content and developed WWF's website: www.wwfpak.org
❑ Responded to news media enquiries and developing strong working relationship with the news media
❑ Identified and arranged capacity development opportunities including project visits for the Forum of Environmental Journalists members
❑ Wrote press releases and organised news conferences and briefings for WWF
❑ Arranged news media interviews with WWF staff and project executants
❑ Served as initial contact point for press officers of WWF International/National Organisations/Programme Offices on assigned issues
❑ Translated press materials from English to Urdu where appropriate
❑ Provided story ideas to newsmen in coordination with other divisions such as Conservation, Environmental Pollution Unit and Marketing and Fundraising
1995 to 1998
Concept writer
Lowe and Rauf Advertising, Lahore
❑ Wrote creative copy for press advertisements and concepts for TV commercials for integrated communication (press and electronic) commercial campaigns including product launches and newspaper supplements
❑ Developed creative work-plans based on advertising briefs for a diverse variety of clients like Nestlé Milkpak, Rose Petal Tissues, ICI Paints, Tetra Pak, Dane Foods and Smiths Chips
❑ Played a significant role for identification of consumer needs with reference to brand development, conducting research, sitting through focus group sessions
THE MUSLIM
1992 to 1995: Sub Editor / Reporter
Daily The Muslim, Islamabad
❑ Worked as news reporter, doing all sorts of journalistic work linked to editing, reporting and feature writing on social and cultural issues in a daily newspaper and its weekly magazine
❑ Assisted the Editor of The Friday magazine in covering social and cultural events including dramatic and musical performances, art shows and painting exhibitions
❑ Wrote weekly columns on intellectual reflections and ran news stories as Reporter Cultural News for the City Desk of the daily local edition