VISHAL BHATIA

A 30-year leader in the retail and wholesale of sporting goods, with more than 100 stores across 6 markets throughout the Middle East.

Responsibilities: Manage a team of 8 people handling the complete marketing function for more than 100 sports brands including Nike, Timberland, Columbia, The North Face, Babolat, to name a few.

Achievements:
Managed all marketing aspects required for the opening of 15 Sun and Sand Sports and Mono Brand stores, in the UAE, KSA and Bahrain.
Driving and developing a 8-person strong team
Developing tactical, strategic promotions and campaigns using all media vehicles including ATL & BTL mediums in different GCC markets
Received the Nike Global Distributor on the Year award 2011and 2012 CEE/MENA
Received the Timberland Global Distributor of the Year award 2011
Attained Super Brands status in 2009 for Sun and Sand Sports and Nike, UAE.
Received the Dubai Shopping Festival ‘Best Value Retailer’ Award /2010
Developed and led the implementation of annual marketing plans that resulted in consistent year-on-year sales increases.
Supported the exclusive acquisition of new sports brands including York Fitness, Under Armour, The North Face, Hurley, Arena, Babolat, Spalding adding to a portfolio of 100 + brands.
Successfully re-launched the Sun and Sand Sports website providing a more accurate and dynamic B to B and B to C experience
Launched the Sun and Sand Sports Facebook page, posting relevant information on our Brands, Events and Promotions on a daily basis. Achieving over 100, 000 ‘likes’ in 11 months.
Reporting on a quarterly basis to brand principles, relating monthly spends, change outs and campaigns.
Oversaw the launch of the new Sun and Sand Sports Factory Outlet, Active, Kids and Aqua store concepts across Dubai.
Produced and implemented Nike and Adidas strategic brand in-mall activations for the Football World Cup to encourage shoppers to interact with the product and ultimately drive footfall to our stores
Responsible for driving tactical and brand seasonal activations for Arena, Spalding, Vans and Columbia

Responsibilities: Managing the second biggest account in the business reporting directly to the Group Account Director and the General Manager.

Achievements: Managed Mashreq Bank through the line, one of the largest local banks in the Middle East. Successfully implemented simultaneous campaigns for different departments including: Banking, Credit Cards, Loans, Investment, SME Banking and Mashreq Millionaire.
-Brand alignment; launched the banks new Marketing identity/strategy. This included a new logo, Mascot and tagline.
-Executed a strategic UAE media plan to launch the Bank’s revised look and feel into the market
-Strategic opening of new branches across the UAE to grow the footprint

Achievements: Service end to end client needs with ATL/BTL, Brand development, Media Buying,
-Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank - Launched the high end Excellency Programme service for high net worth customers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
-Royal Sporting House - Aligning relevant Print, Radio and Programme sponsorships on GCC Satellite networks for Reebok, Billabong, Quiksilver and Bebe brands
-Was an integral part of the Marketing team that shot a brand print campaign for the Jumeirah Group - Madinat Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab that ran in local and global travel/holiday publications.
-Supervised the development of the Noodle House logo as well as launched an aggressive ATL and BTL campaign for its branches in Emirates Towers, Bur Juman and Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
-Developed FMCG launch experience in the GCC market through the re-launch of New Imperial Leather soap, part of PZ Cussons Middle East and Africa. This included producing a Television commercial running on GCC Satellite channels and an intense Radio campaign in English and Arabic in the UAE and Bahrain. Awareness for the soap increased by an average of 23%.