ROLE OVERVIEW

This is an exciting and challenging senior role within a successful Lebanese Group.

Based in Beirut, the COO Distribution will manage the distribution operations in the Levant. This includes FMCG, Pharmaceuticals, Perfumes & Cosmetics and manufacturing.

The COO Distribution will be expected to bring in significant business opportunities (new sectors & brands, acquisition of smaller players) while conducting in parallel a deep review of the current distribution operations to identify inefficiencies and leverage synergies within departments, and restructure the Distribution operation. He/she will be fully accountable for his operations’ revenue growth, cost control, and monthly/quarterly/annual financial performance management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

I. Transform the Distribution Business in line with company’s vision:

1. Conduct comprehensive & deep review including benchmarking against competition to identify inefficiencies & opportunities and share best practices within:

a. The day-to-day distribution operation - this entails reviewing the infrastructure, logistics schemes, internal service agreements, and the related processes & procedures.

b. Distribution Business Units strategies - this involves assessing go to market & channel strategies, identifying & leveraging synergies within departments, but also objectively evaluating each Business Unit’s growth potential, and reallocating financial & human resource as a result.

2. Develop a strategy and comprehensive 3-year business plan for distribution with ambitious KPIs to grow the operation. The plan should build on the deep review conclusions and recommendations and include details in terms of setting priorities, talent management, financial targets, resources allocation, organizational restructuring, introducing state of the art technology if commercially viable, and monitoring & evaluating results.

3. Implement successfully and constantly evaluate the proposed strategy and plan.

II. Lead Business Development and expand distribution

1. Bring new business opportunities in Lebanon and the remaining Levant countries that will add value to our current business portfolio (either existing distribution networks or new ones).

2. Assess & engage in partnerships, J/V and/or acquisition that would create a strategic advance and contribute significantly to the group growth.

III. Financial accountability

1. Manage company operations to meet budget and other financial goals. Direct short and long term planning and budget development to support strategic business goals.

2. Ensure effective planning and fiscal management via monthly sales data & trend analysis and forecasts review. Suggest and introduce appropriate technology for automating data collection.

3. Be accountable for the overall P&L and deliverables of each distribution business unit.

4. Ensure the team’s full commitment and accountability towards achieving their KPIs.

5. Oversee and lead negotiations with suppliers regarding A&P investment strategies and budgets.

6. Make key decisions about stock to optimize inventory levels maximize profitability.

IV. Develop the organization

1. Build a class A team - managing, motivating, coaching, and developing your teams via ongoing feedback. Encourage best in class and creative media campaigns from a marketing perspective. 2. Promote a culture of customer excellence via leveraging customer feedback, first within the distribution operation, but also within the rest of organization via sharing & reapplying best practices.

3. Reinforce internal communication and coordination between departments & functions.

4. Maintain and share internally insightful market intelligence reports via awareness of market trends, understanding of upcoming customer initiatives and monitoring regional competition.