General Manager
Al Suwaidi Services Company
Total years of experience :38 years, 11 Months
2009 - now General Manager Al Suwaidi Services Company (SSC) Al Khobar, KSA
2 years 80 Million meals per annum - 50.000 bed spaces - over 200 locations - soft + hard FM
Headhunted to lead one of the privately owned main players in catering, accommodation management and facilities management solutions in Saudi Arabia employing app. 2.000 people of 24 nationalities working throughout KSA serving a predominately blue-chip clientele.
Achieved significant improvements in sales, profit and cash flow by embarking on a performance improvement program at all levels
Secured and mobilised various large contracts all over Saudi Arabia
Received the MD award in recognition of outstanding contribution to the organisation
Launched a major change management program to ensure sustainable growth and competitive advantage by realigning the company + implementing a market facing strategy
Evaluated, selected and appointed the top management team stabilising the business
Implemented ISO 9001:2000 + ISO 2200 and OSHAS 18001 and reduced incidents and risks significantly and created high level of HSEQ awareness throughout the company
Initiated the “preferred employer” program including a talent board, succession planning, reward and recognition schemes and internal SLAs
Redefined the offering and value proposition and in process of re-launching the brand as an IFM solutions provider and developed “best in class partnerships” with suppliers, clients
SPECIALITIES
General Management, Business Development, Sales, Client Retention (CRM), Turn around, Acquisitions, government liason, JVs, emerging markets, Remote sites, Strategy, M+A, Steering Group, Planning and Implementation, Multi functional, Financial analysis, target achievement, Building top team, ISO, HACCP, Restructuring, B2B, B2C, Change, Blue chip, Negotiation, Recruitment, training, coaching, mentoring
2006 - 2009 Owner / Consultant European Consultants F.Z.E. Dubai, U.A.E.
3 years Incorporated a U.A.E. based company providing Catering, FM and related consultancy
Catering, Accommodation Management
o Strategic Marketing advice to Catering / FM service providers, addressing significant workforce issues in a socially responsible and sustainable manner
Prefabricated Buildings and Design and Build solutions
o Defined market entry strategy & formed UAE based JV for an Italian market leader of prefab building solutions for large scale workforce accommodation
o Brokered acquisition of a FM Oil and Gas service and provider of contract management solutions in Magadin, Sakhalin and Far East Mongolia
Property Development
For one of Dubai’s developers, with ₤2.8billion mixed use projects under development
o Developed a sustainable FM strategy and integrated service delivery model
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Mergers
• Emerging Markets
• Joint Ventures
• Government Liason
• Facilities Management
• Hospitality
• Business Strategy
• Marketing Strategy
• Value Proposition Development
• Sales Management
• Major Accounts
• Turnaround Strategies
• Turnaround Experience
• Global Leadership
• Catering
• Food Service
• Global Business Development
• Team Leadership
• Cross-functional Team Leadership
• Matrix Management
• International Leadership
• Board Experience
• Multilingual
• Family Business
• Financial Planning
• Profit & Loss Management
• Coaching
• Account Growth
• Sales Pipeline Management
• Government Liaision
• EMEA
• MENA
• Americas
• Public-private Partnerships
2004 - 2005 Business Development / Key Account Director - CAMEA Region UAE
2 years In charge of every aspect of Business Development: marketing and strategic sales planning, recruitment, training and management of multifunctional teams, leading the sales process of major accounts and opening new countries for the Group (finding of reliable partners, evaluation of their real power and capacity, negotiation, financial analysis and development of prospects and growth plans).
Achieved 37% annual growth for 2004-05; amounting to ₤ 250 million annualised revenue
Defined and directed the implementation of sales and marketing strategies; assuring a consistent approach to sales the market in line with growth targets.
Re-branded the Catering brand “Eurest Support Services” to the Facilities Management brand “ESS”; consequently producing marketing / communication material in 4 languages
Selected and appointed a multinational team to manage a centralised bid support centre
Managed various blue chip key accounts with full P+L responsibility
Proactively marketed the organisation and new innovations on seminars (internal and external), conferences and regular Oil and Gas, Mining and Construction tradeshows
Conceptualised and presented board level white papers for innovative growth strategies
2002 - 2004 CEO for Angola Luanda, Angola
2 years Catering, FM and accommodation business with US$90 million annual sales and 1200 employees with blue chip clients in the Oil and Gas Industry (Chevron, Exxon Mobile, Total, Schlumberger)> the nature of the business encompassed complex logistics in remote locations
Improved top line sales by 50% in 18 months and net profit by 20%; successfully directing the turnaround of Compass Group’s loss making subsidiaries in Angola
Via a newly formed local JV with SONANGOL, re-branded the organisation, implemented marketing, sales and operational strategies aimed at Oil & Gas and Construction clientele
Restructured the organisation to meet the market requirements
Received Compass Group’s “Business Challenge of the year Award ” for 2003
2000 - 2002 Business Development and Key Account Director - LATAM Chile
2 years In charge of the Development and part of the Operational Management of the remote site business in Latin America; grew sales by 44% and profit by 40% through dynamic operational management and strong Business Development Initiatives
Led business development for LATAM at regional board level and sold a US $400 million five year regional multi service contract to BHP Billiton (Chile, Peru and Colombia)
Focused eight country teams on organic growth by proactively defining market entry strategies, generating sales leads and focusing on CRM to increase retention and growth
Directly managed Compass Group’s Oil and Gas business in Brazil (Macae)
1997 - 2000 Business Development Director for Global FM brand (ESS) UK
4 years Led the rollout of agreed plans within the country operating companies, ensuring targets are met whilst redeveloping and launching the Facilities Management brand. Developed and marketed ‘best practice models’ capturing brand, product and service innovations and proactively strengthened the brand profile globally, acting as the catalyst, driving highest standards
Played a pivotal role in winning the industry’s largest support services contract to Chevron (US $1 Bn sales for 10 years) in Nigeria, Angola, Kazakhstan and other countries
Led country level Business Development via hands-on business visits to all continents; influencing local and regional leadership to ensure consistency in terms of business development; evaluating, appointing and training teams to meet growth and profit targets
Established and directed a sales / marketing support centre in the UK facilitating 37% annual growth over eight years (‘97-‘05) globally
Grew Compass Group’s African coverage from seven African countries to 15 in three market segments (On / Offshore Oil & Gas, Defence, Remote sites) for Europe and Africa
1993 - 1997 Fedics Group South Africa PTY Ltd (renamed Tsebo Outsourcing Group)
4 years Tsebo Outsourcing Group is South Africa’s leading hospitality and FM service company with three primary operating divisions, Fedics(Pty) Ltd, Drake & Scull FM (SA) and Invalu (Pty) Ltd
Country Managing Director Maputo, Mozambique
Partnered the Mozambican Government (Ministry of Transport) through a pioneering joint venture, effectively re-establishing the Food Service and FM industry in post-colonial Mozambique by privatising the national airline’s service division
Analysed the market, trends; conceptualised the brand and led all marketing, sales, operations
Simultaneously: Sales / Marketing Representative - School of Business Leadership (SBL)
The track record of SBL spans four decades of producing some of the top business leaders and policy makers in South Africa and on the African continent
Orchestrated the successful entry of South Africa’s leading Graduate school for business leaders “School of Business Leadership” (SBL) into Mozambique
Marketed and directed senior level seminars and coordinated long-term graduate and postgraduate programs in the Private and Public sector over a five year period
1991 - 1993 Natal Ocean Trawling South Africa Maputo, Mozambique
2 years Natal Ocean Trawling (N.O.T.) is a regional leader in fishing, processing, and marketing of crustaceans for export. In Mozambique it had a 25 vessel fleet and exported 5, 000 tons a year
General Manager Sales and Marketing
Successfully managed the international Sales and Marketing division, achieving the Group’s best financial and operational performance in 1992
In partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, led Privatisation processes of various companies requiring extensive private / public sector liaison and change management
Assured continuous support to Artisan Fishery, partnering with local fishermen and SMEs
Managed various public and private sector contracts // regions in Namibia
Thesis: Managing a turnaround in multi cultural settings