Houssam Talhouk

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AS PARKWEST MARKETING MANAGER  Develop and implement market intelligence, in store marketing, trade research and planning, and consumer activation  Responsible for creating and analyzing brand performance reports in different markets and enforcing corrective actions  Developing and executing brand marketing strategies  Budget management: develop recommend annual optimal marketing budget  Campaign and promotional planning and execution (trade and end users)  Review pricing and introduce offers when required and maintain profitability  Responsible for expanding customer base and geographic presence to insure the growth of the brand
 Organize weekly team meetings and discuss opportunities, threats, market intelligence, and take actions accordingly  Deliver field force training and monitor execution and identify possible improvement  Cycle planning management (organizing, management, and follow up)  Insure monthly and annual targets and are met while maintaining set profit margins KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PARKWEST MARKETING MANAGER • Created the marketing department from scratch • Introduced data collection and system analysis for both cigarettes and molasses divisions • Penetrated the molasses 2 apples market (after being dominated by competition for more than 60 years) with marketing activities for the companies most recent SKU which is currently growing • Grabbed market share from direct competitor and increased brand’s market share since 2016 to date • Increased brand availability and intorduced awareness at horeca through marketing activations • Assisted in the introduction of the cigarette brand to foreign markets

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AS SALES MANAGER FOR BENTLEY AND BUGATTI  Overseeing the sales team of 2 salesmen, 1 administrator, and one showroom manager and monitoring the prospective activities while reporting to the Director of Automotive  Working directly with the regional office in Dubai and the manufacturer in Crew to set dealership objectives, targets, and marketing events  Responsible for budgeting and developing the annual sales plan for new and pre-owned cars, and ordering the new cars and determining their options using Bentley’s Internal Communication System  Analysing local and regional market trends and utilizing market intelligence to develop appropriate action plans  Assigning monthly, quarterly, and yearly targets and commission schemes for the sales team  Meeting prospects and helping the sales team with deal closing when managerial support is required  Insuring correct implementation of Bentley CI
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS SALES MANAGER FOR BENTLEY AND BUGATTI  insured highest level of prebooking for new models (Bugatti Chirion, and Bentley Bentayga)  Improved sales executive deliveries by more than 50% within 4 months  Achieved annual sales target for new and used cars

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AS ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER  Handpicked to play a critical role in revitalizing the accessories division after a period of long-term underperformance, reporting to the director of the division and contributing to the development and execution of sales strategies.  Procurement of automotive accessories parts for dealership vehicles (Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Honda) and insured all showroom display vehicles are fit with the required OEM accessories  Oversaw all aspects of recruitment, selection, and development of new employees.  Ensured compliance with the assigned sales budget within all related business divisions, including showrooms, retail stores, service centers, and fleet management.  Conducted regular training sessions to enhance product knowledge and disseminate sales techniques and provided direct support to the ordering and R&D teams by delivering insight into sales performance and industry trends.  Orchestrated new product arrivals, price changes, and promotional events, working directly with showroom supervisors, managers, R&D, and installation teams to complete preparations.  Supported customers with after-sales service, managing warranty claims and returns and routinely going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure total customer satisfaction.  Devised and deployed promotions and advertising to create a positive image for the product through a combined approach blending visual merchandising, traditional, and online marketing approaches.  Reviewed sales plans to ensure ongoing alignment with monthly and annual targets and objectives while examining pricing to source opportunities for improving gross margins while minimizing cost and improving overall efficiency across the accessories division.  Identified and capitalized on new business opportunities through regular contact with prospective customers and the ordering team, as well as gathering comprehensive business intelligence to develop revenue generating solutions.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER • Successfully increased sales by 41% in 2014 for the paint protection and window film category while maintaining excellent margins. • Increased year to date sales in 2014 by 14% while maintaining excellent margins. • Collaborated with the marketing department to maximize the strength of Al Ghanim’s best-in-class leather upholstery offering by focusing advertising, POS materials, and sales force training to emphasize the new product, increasing sales by 22% sales in 2014. • Introduced a brand new line of motorcycle accessories, including body, paint, paint protection, and high quality aftermarket custom art outsourced to high profile international artists. • Underwent training for LEAN Six Sigma Green Belt and took the lead in rolling out operational excellence initiatives resulting in a 50% reduction in operational waste. • Led the launch of a new Kromozone Retail and Installation facility from project inception to opening day, as well as diversifying product offerings in the paint protection and window film categories by engaging with untapped channels.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AS RETAIL SALES SPECIALIST  Oversaw a team of 6 sales personnel and 1 administrator in the battery department as well as 2 salespeople in the AC Delco parts branch while reporting directly to the Lubricants, Tires, and Batteries divisional manager.  Sold and delivered directly to individual and commercial customers, including puncture shops, parts stores, commercial dealerships, cooperatives, and wholesalers on a cash or credit basis.  Administered the setup and launch of a new parts retail brand, coordinating all supporting activities of a branch-level team of 3.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS RETAIL SALES SPECIALIST  Achieved the highest ever monthly total sales per unit at 42.5K batteries within three months of tenure and posted the company’s highest annual total year to-date at 192K against previous year’s month to date sales of 174k Dinars.  Introduced a first time battery end consumer and retailer campaign (scratch and win/ raffle draw)  Drove a 6% increase in the retail client account base and increased AC Delco battery market share in Kuwait from 35% to 40% between 2012 and 2013 while successfully meeting annual budget.  Introduced a new major wholesaler leading to a 9% contribution of total annual sales

Recruited by this luxury automotive dealership as sales executive tasked with driving sales. Assisted the marketing department in planning and executing promotional events and represented the dealership in various media channels, including a televised interview at the 2010 Qatar Motor Show. Maintained consistent profitability and routinely delivered on targets.