Area Director - Middle East & Turkey

Opportunity Overview

Step into the pivotal role of Area Director for the Middle East and Turkey region within our MEA cluster. Based in Dubai and reporting directly to the Managing Director MEA, you will lead regional teams in managing distributor partnerships, understanding market trends, and seizing growth opportunities. Your leadership will help sculpt the brand’s legacy and influence crucial decisions to enhance our presence and positioning in this dynamic market.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve critical financial goals including Net Sales Value, Gross Margin, Overheads, Profitability, ROI, and Value Share against budget targets.
• Foster and expand the on-trade community across the region.
• Establish and maintain strong, mutually advantageous relationships with distributors and both on-trade and off-trade customers.
• Develop, implement, and sustain Route to Market strategies with distributors and wholesalers to fulfill commercial objectives.
• Contribute insights to the Hub Integrated Annual Plan to ensure country plans are aligned with customer needs and channel strategies to optimize long-term company value.
• Manage the market value chain through regular updates from all stakeholders and ensure smooth supply chain operations with precise shipment forecasts.
• Maximize brand distribution and visibility across channels, including AVQPAP metrics.
• Oversee contract negotiations and management for distribution agreements.
• Monitor and report on market competition continuously.
• Execute brand plans effectively with distributors and local trade partners to cultivate sustainable brand equity.
• Create and implement strategies aligned with the #BEST10 initiative and regional commitments under Billion & Beyond.

Talent Development and Team Leadership

• Lead and nurture a vital team within the MEA cluster, including internal staff and distributor network teams, ensuring a culture of strong leadership and development.
• Equip distributors with necessary resources including P&L, customer marketing, and execution tools to meet performance benchmarks.
• Ensure full comprehension and adherence to company policies and culture among distributor teams.
• Inspire distributor teams to reach goals and celebrate successes collaboratively.
• Manage and oversee the Middle East & Turkey team comprising a Commercial Manager, Customer Marketing Manager, and their delegated teams.

Required Experience and Expertise

• At least 12 years of combined sales and marketing experience, preferably within FMCG or the Alcohol and Beverage sector.
• Specific expertise in distributor management is essential.
• Proven success in forming high-performance teams and achieving sales targets.
• Capacity to operate effectively under geopolitical pressures and cultural diversity internally and externally.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory; Arabic language skills are an advantage.
• Strong financial understanding and experience managing sales and P&L responsibilities.
• Comprehensive market management experience from end to end.
• Demonstrated team management and leadership capabilities.
• A degree specialized in sales or marketing.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

Personal Attributes

• Self-driven with an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Thrives in high-pressure environments and makes decisive business and personnel choices.
• Confident communicator, able to engage with senior executives effectively.
• Positive, passionate, and patient with excellent networking skills.
• Comfortable with numerical data analysis and capable of formulating marketing strategies accordingly.
• A team-oriented, transparent, and trustworthy professional.

Leadership Qualities

• Fosters a culture of belonging where individuals feel valued and appreciated.
• Highly self-aware with reflective practices and understanding of impacts on others.
• Possesses strong people agility, effectively navigating complex interpersonal dynamics to enhance team performance.
• Consistently delivers first-time results through inspirational leadership and presence.
• Exhibits mental agility enabling strategic thinking fused with execution and creative solutions.
• Open to change with a curious, experimental mindset focused on growth and learning.

Company Commitment

We embrace diversity and treat all employees fairly, rejecting any discrimination based on national origin, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected statuses. U.S. applicants retain rights under federal employment laws.

Perks and Benefits

• Attractive and competitive salary package.
• Generous paid time off including holidays, with additional days for volunteering and community involvement.
• Retirement and pension plans.
• Comprehensive medical, critical illness, and life insurance coverage.
• Employee assistance programs and family-friendly inclusive leave policies.
• Other location- and role-specific benefits which may be partially subsidized or dependent on employment terms.
• Incentive programs tied to individual and company performance.