Talar Keshishian

Responsibilities:
• Lead the commercial planning team in setting action plans and strategies to maximize profitability through pricing, markdown/promotions, clearance for all of Azadea’s shops across the Middle East (550+ shops).
• Identify and mitigate business risks and opportunities to maximize sales, profitability and inventory turn objectives.
• Monitor and analyze historical data and current trends and allocate the corresponding budget and stock levels for each of Azadea’s shops.
• Set and benchmark the shops’ KPIs (Sales/SQM, UPT, Average Basket, Inventory Rotation, Like For Like…), analyze the data and implement corrective measures with brand managers and area managers.
• Ensure that the top down buying budgets are aligned with the bottom up budget.
• Design new planning tools to assist the commercial team in buying and the in season monitoring process.
• Recruit, train, motivate and evaluate the team to ensure that the department has the necessary skill base and that staff are optimally motivated and enabled to maximize their potential and contribution to the company.
• Prepare the annual budget and business plan of the department.

Responsibilities:
• Evaluate sales and inventory, recommend buying budgets for long lead time buying brands, and develop standard and ad hoc reports accordingly.
• Prepare the forecasted sales for all Azadea stores (550+ shops / 12 countries) on seasonal and section levels in accordance with the country managers and brand managers based on historical trends, country and brand performance and commercial market visits.
• Define, develop and implement necessary retail plans, policies and procedures in line with corporate commercial strategy in order to support the achievement of overall business objectives.
• Administer Retail Planning Software, as well as develop new analysis tools and business plans, in order to allow Managers to make informed decisions.
• Follow up with the Brand Management team by organizing, facilitating and documenting regular, weekly and monthly Sales- Inventory/ management meetings.
• Prepare necessary analysis and recommendations in order to allow management to make informed decisions.
• Carry out functional supervisory responsibilities that include planning and assigning tasks, setting deadlines, monitoring results and quality, providing training and relaying team's request to hierarchy.

Achievements:
• Delivered the Retail Planning course in Azadea’s Executive Retail Management Program (ERMP) for three consecutive years 2012, 2013 and 2014.
• Led and designed the implementation process of the Merchandise Financial Planning Retail Oracle software accompanied by training sessions.
• Set the ground for the budgeting process of the group’s commercial commitments in line with corporate policies.
• Led the commercial and retail integration of George and Gap into the group.
• Designed and launched the in season stock management tool to monitor stock commitments and allocate resources.
• Set the ground for KPI and performance analysis of a new brand to Azadea’s pool; Pronovias through store visit.

Responsibilities:
• Design automated business reports, performance analysis, business case calculations and recommendations in order to allow Senior Managers make informed decisions.
• Conduct field visits (Stores, Existing and Potential Malls, Market Landmarks) and provide constant analysis of a retail landscape.
• Follow up with the brand management team in order to evaluate inventory and analyze effectiveness of post-marketing campaigns.
• Evaluate Sales and Inventory performance, and develop standard and ad hoc reports accordingly.
• Provide clear information to internal customers on retail analysis issues in order to ensure that retail analysis reports are properly implemented.

Achievements:
•Retail visits to Azadea’s operating countries to assess the situation markets and get acquainted with the challenges of non-performing shops.
•Initiating the design of the change of season report to monitor stock healthiness and avoid risks.
•Restructured and enhanced the analytical reports in evaluating brand and markets by adding new KPIs.