Chief Operating Office
Fathima Group
Total years of experience :39 years, 10 Months
Fathima Group is a highly diversified group with many verticals including supermarkets, department stores, cold stores, FMCG distribution, bakery, flour mills, industrial/institutional catering, facility management, water plant, electronics, Etisalat distribution/service franchise, restaurants, branded fashion retail, etc. The group runs 30 supermarkets including 4 in Oman and 5 in KSA. As COO I provide strategic planning, lead a team of managers, head the operations and work for future growth, both organic and inorganic.
Recently we opened our first high-end Casual Dining Restaurant - Manhattan Fish Market at Dubai Festival City Mall. The brand store was Identified, negotiated, planned and executed in my charge. Opened six high-end branded fashion stores as franchisee of Madura Fashion & Lifestyle, part of $ 45 B Aditya Birla Group, with brands such as Louis Philippe, Allen Solly, Peter England and People.
We also signed international franchise agreement with Continente Hypermarket from Portugal, part of $ 8 Billion Sonae Group. Visited Portugal to negotiate the franchise, nurtured the division in its initial stages, signed first store lease and appointed and worked closely with Continente management.
Last year we acquired SAP in our Group. In spite of high cost, I convinced management to go for SAP which is currently being implemented under my overall supervision/direction. When I joined, the group had only 2 CAs. I convinced management and now we have 10 CAs in charge of various divisions.
Was in charge of a major stake-sale exercise. Was part of big-4 audit firm financial due diligence process. Review of various financial and legal documents, liasing with 2 law firms, leading a team of CA and legal professionals to conclude the large financial deal under which a leading investment firm acquired stake in Fathima Group.
Achievements:
Improved GP margin by guiding and motivating buying team.
Introduced and led the implementation of SAP.
Signed franchise agreement with Sonae Group (Continente Hypermarket)
Identified, signed franchise and opened first class restaurant - Manhattan Fish Market.
Opened 6 high end branded fashion stores in 5 months under Aditya Birla retail franchise.
Streamlined system of internal control, internal audit, budgets and monthly financial statements. Developed a team of 10 CAs.
Executed a major stake sale to boost the financial position of the company.
This was a multinational group engaged mainly in shipping and logistics, As CEO, I had the full responsibility to plan, set up and launch the retail division of the company. This involves defining business strategy, identifying potential brands to bring to UAE, negotiating and finalising franchise arrangements with international brands, whet (with lawyers) franchise agreements/MOU, feasibility study, project report, leasing space in prominent malls, recruitment, buying, operations and marketing.
• Overall merchandise planning with retail mangers/buyers
• Product category planning and detailed Planogram by department, design, category, size, etc.
• Direct/supervise work of 8 buyers; approve their Purchase Orders, product selection.
• Set up the entire Purchase Budgeting process. OTB (Open to Buy) by divisions/depts.
• Buying Trips to China and Hong Kong.
• Initiated vendor evaluation process.
• Plan/execute Retail Strategy. Responsible for leading a team of retail managers, setting goals and targets, assessing performance, preparing appraisals and awarding increments.
• Formulate pricing/discounting policy, effect price revisions, monitor Gross Profit.
• Upgrade retail standards including store fittings, signage, lighting, visual merchandising, etc.
• Worked on many new stores: complete planning, layout, store fit-outs using Italian shop fittings, recruitment, merchandise selection, display through VMs and launch marketing.
• Staff recruitment including trips to India, Sri Lanka and Philippines.
• Direct and monitor the marketing function. Marketing Manager reported to me. Monitor competition and plan annual event/marketing calendar.
• Set up systems and procedures as part of internal controls.
• ERP software from Microsoft, design and implementation through a team of IT professionals.
• Financial budgets - through a team of finance and retail managers.
• Monthly MIS reports - analysis, review and initiate/execute action plan.
• Project feasibility, break-even point, capital expenditure planning, cash flows, forecasts, etc.
• Planning and control over logistics including new, modern warehousing facility at Jebel Ali.
• Organise Board Meetings and discuss business plan/strategy with directors.
• Authorised to sign LPOs. In Bahrain company I had authority to sign cheques.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Achieved 300% top line growth in 5 years and 550% in 7 years.
Received Superbrands Award for 2 successive years - 2010 and 2011.
Successfully revamped existing stores, upgraded new stores to international standards including visit to Venice, Italy to negotiate and buy shop-fitting equipment.
Led the company to No. 2 position in 6 years. The market leader had to change its strategy.
• Managed the Bahrain territory of Landmark Group for 8 years, first as Finance Manager and later as General Manager. Multiple concepts/stores.
• Retail management/marketing/general management - similar to Homes r Us above.
• Approve payments, sign cheques singly (within limit) and jointly with the Chairman.
• Organise Board Meetings and discuss business plan/strategy with the Board of Directors.
• Leased out 25 stores/ food outlets in Marina Mall. Liased with tenants/ Mall Manager.
• Managed HR and Personnel matters, recruitment, pay scales, disciplinary action and general supervision. (400 employees- there was no HR Mgr.)
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Launched one of the leading furniture and accessories stores in Bahrain, managed it and in 3 years achieved growth of 125%.
Fully planned and executed the first theme mall in Bahrain - Marina Mall - design, planning, construction, interiors, store allocations, leasing and the final launch.
Successfully executed various expansion projects in Bahrain: 2 new malls, 3 fashion stores and a themed Food Court. Upgraded 3 existing stores.
Turned around 3 concepts. (Sarah’s Secret, Lifestyle & Jungle Food Court)
Achieved 100% growth in turnover and 160% growth in net profit.
Al Jazira is a leading supermarket and trading company in Bahrain. The supermarkets cater to middle and upper-end customers, especially western expatriates.
• Designed and implemented MIS for both Distribution and Retail Divisions.
• Set up POS system for supermarkets and ordering/invoicing system for Distribution Division.
• Set up controls/reporting for 8 revenue and 2 cost centres and incentive scheme for salesmen.
• Inventory control, cash flows, new projects, budgets, margin analysis, management accounts.
• Planned/executed a modern supermarket and first Woolworths (South Africa) brand store in Gulf.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Negotiated franchise agreements with Woolworths/Truworths (first in Gulf) for fashion stores.
Visited Cape Town, South Africa for franchise deal and to review Woolworths systems and operations.
• Independent charge of around 45 clients. Carried out a number of Management Consultancy
Assignments including feasibility study for a five-star hotel, financial reviews, operational reviews
and a survey of commercial property market. (Details shown in attachment)
• Developed Accounting/ Management Information Systems for a number of clients.
• Project reports, cash flows, financial forecasts and staff organisation reviews.
• Independently managed bank, hotel, industrial, trading and other audits and a number of
management consultancy assignments.
• Internal Audits of various Companies including Taj Group and Rallis India.
• Carried out audit of banks and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation.
• Feasibility study for a 5-Star Deluxe hotel in Mumbai.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
I was made partner in the firm at the age of 31and I continued till I left for Bahrain.
Visited Sanaá, Yemen to carry out operations audit of Taj Sheba Hotel.
❖ FCA, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
❖ LL.B. from Government Law College, Bombay University
❖ B. Com. (Hons.) from Sydenham College, Bombay University