Highlights:

Skills:business development, buyer, procurement, brand manager, marketing, trader, Marketing, trading

International Business Development Manager 07/2010 - current
Middle East Grain Co., Alexandria, Alexandria Egypt
Industry: Agriculture Commodities
Middle East Grains is one of the leading soft commodities trading houses in Egypt and the middle east, the company is owned and operated by a dedicated team since 20 years ago with extensive experience in soft commodities trading, the company’s core business is trading Agricultural commodities (grains, sugar coffee) and food aid items to UN aid agencies & NGOs focusing mainly on Egypt, MENA and EU markets
- Product/Market Research : product & market development, Competitiveness (origins & technology), etc.. - Planning : Innovative Short term and mid/long term strategies and plans (annual and 3 years plan) according to situation on hand . - Budgeting : translating plan into solid figures highlighting financial resources and ROI of each product. - Purchasing : managing all steps of procurement locally & internationally of diverse types of goods (Green Coffee beans, food aid items, hygienic parcels, milk powder, electric transformers, sleeping mats, etc…) incl. sourcing, negotiations, contracting, execution of contract within a specified time frame/work program. - Monitoring/replenishment of inventory vs. sales via reordering point system. - Maintain close contact with logistics/execution departments and receiving clients at the respective sites to monitor adherence to plan and update progress or introduce amendments/extensions if required. - Trading & Sales development : trading & physical sales of green coffee, preparation of offers for Food Aid tenders for UN & NGOs during the past 7 years through in depth study of tender documents & preparing an identical purchase contract copy to suppliers in order to insure risk mitigation on our company’s side thus Increasing turnover of existing markets both horizontally or vertically. - Team management : guiding and supervision to junior team members. - Reporting for team members & top management on suppliers, clients and service providers performance evaluation.--
Business Development Manager 04/2006 - 06/2010
Egyptian Traders Co., Alexandria, Alexandria Egypt
Industry: Agriculture Commodity Trading
Egyptian Traders Company (ETC) headquartered in Alexandria Egypt and involved in the trade business since 1992. Today, ETC consists of over 100 employees and is distinguished for being a leading trading house within its sphere of business specialized in rice, wheat, and sesame seeds, alongside to trading coffee, sorghum, wheat flour, urea, bitumen and cement.
In consistency with co. strategic goals of capitalizing on new opportunities via expanding into new markets, I am assigned to lead a unit targeting supply the UN agencies & NGOs with food aid products like wheat, rice, wheat flour, veg. oil, sugar and dairy products namely FCMP & SMP and spotting/pursuing new business opportunities within Egypt and internationally. Principle Areas of responsibility : - Market Researching : Products, market size, Competitive Environment, etc.. - Planning : Short term (launches/product intro., promotions) and long term plans (annual and 3 years plan). - Budgeting : translating plan into solid figures highlighting financial resources and ROI of each product. - Purchasing : locally & internationally. - International trade : trading off Egyptian shores. - Marketing management : marketing and promoting traded products. - Trading & Sales development.: Opening up new markets (Aid tenders for new products) & Increasing turnover of existing markets (food aid tenders).--
Marketing & Sales Manager 10/2003 - 12/2005
Sara KSA, Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia
Industry: Wholesale & Distribution
As a Distributor for many multi-national companies Sara is a leading player in almost every category of personal care, supplying all trade sectors with a wide range of brands (Sensodyne, Parodontax, Arm & Hammer, Carex, Bac, Palmers, Jergens) Realizing the potential of Luxury Retail and Accessories distribution in the GCC markets Sara Corporation advanced into a strategic alliance with well asserted leader of luxury retail in U.A.E & Qatar to give birth to a giant retailer in the Saudi market namely : “Paris Gallery KSA” and relevant distribution business unit “Sara Time Wear”
Principle Areas of responsibility : Planning, Budgeting, buying, marketing management, Sales development as follows : a) Develop and implement short and medium term purchasing and marketing plans which include : ? product launch plans ? Introducing simple in door market research schemes ? Pricing decisions (retail, discounts, allowances, financing) ? Location decisions (assortment, position within store to assure flow) ? Promotion decisions (coordination with designing agencies, Introducing sales incentive concept, media selection, message review to suit local constraints, planning and execution of seasonal & tactical promotions). b) Maintain continuous on line contact with brand suppliers providing them with details on brand performance ,new launches , sales and competitive activities. c) Design , implement and control Brand marketing support plans, including advertising ,media planning, merchandising activities , whole sale & retail pricing policy. d) Brand Purchasing function including reordering ,price negotiations , scheduling and follow up of deliveries, and coordination and control of inventory considering adherence to strategic objectives and annual tactical goals; annual sales programs & forecast in relation to budgets e) Develop Launch plans for new products/line extensions including : coordination of functions as: Forecasting , purchasing ,marketing, distribution, sales, merchandising activities as they relate to the introduction of these products into the market. f) Training , Leading, Motivating sales & merchandising staff on Brand aspects, key selling points & ideal merchandising. g) Keep track of information about the market trends and new local & international launches through Personal visits to the international and domestic fairs and markets , following relevant Industry periodicals, and internet.--
Brand Manager 08/1999 - 08/2003
Hussien Bakry Gazzaz & Co., Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia
Industry: Retail Brand Management
Gazzaz is considered as the largest distributor & retailer of luxury goods (Accessories , Perfumes & Cosmetics) in Saudi Arabia with a chain of 28 luxurious showrooms & a wide distribution channels. I became responsible for the division of Men’s Accessories which included : Writing Instruments, Time pieces, Cufflinks Plus other In-house brands developed in Europe and the Far East.
Planning, Budgeting, buying, marketing, Sales development as follows : a) Develop and implement short and medium term purchasing and marketing plans which include an analysis of objectives and goals; strategies and programs ;annual sales programs; annual sales forecast in relation to budgets and recommended actions. b) Maintain continuous on line contact with brand suppliers providing them with details on brand performance ,new launches , sales and competitive activities. c) Design , implement and control Brand marketing support plans, including creative advertising ,media planning, merchandising activities , whole sale & retail pricing policy. d) Handling and providing continual guidance and direction to the top management in purchasing function including reordering ,price negotiations , scheduling and follow up of deliveries, and coordination and control of inventory. e) Develop specific plans for new products/line extensions. Included in this responsibility is the coordination of all Gazzaz functions such as: forecasting , purchasing ,distribution, sales and merchandising activities as they relate to the introduction of these products into the sales system. f) Training ,Leading & Motivating a professional sales & merchandising staff, including program developing and training sessions for showroom & wholesale personnel on Brand aspects, key selling points & merchandising. g) Develop with the advertising dept. all sales presentations, brochures and bulletins for specific or general field sales use. h) Develop special promotional programs such as G.W.P., special discounts, joint promotions, etc. i) Keep track of information about the fashion trends and new launches through Personal visits to the international and domestic fairs, following relevant Industry periodicals, contacting commercial attaches of different countries, internet.--
Brand Manager 01/1998 - 07/1999
Dreem SAE, Alexandria, Alexandria Egypt
Industry: FMCG
Worked as a Brand manager in marketing department handling products of FMCG Powder Mixes (jelly , cream caramel , baking powder and vanilla): After an intensive 8 weeks On job training : “Brand Management” by Mr. Harold Handley (Ex-Executive V.P. Marketing of Kraft Int'l, Ex-Senior V.P of Beatrice Foods Co., Ex-Senior V.P of McCormick & Co.) I was able to successfully carry out principle Areas of responsibility.
- Developing and implementing annual marketing plan including analysis of local market environment and competition, strategies and programs - Monthly analysis of the product sales by major geographic areas - Monitoring performance Vs. plan - Design, implement, control and follow up promotional Campaign plans including advertising, merchandising sales, activities - Conducting necessary market research in cooperation with research agency .--

Faculty of Commerce - English Dept. 09/1992 - 07/1996
Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major:Business Administration
1992-1996 Faculty of Commerce English Dept Alexandria BS’c. Business Administration

Ahmed Farouk Business Development Procurement Buyer Brand Marketing Manager