Brand Director

Job description / Role

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview of the role
The Brand Director is responsible to ensure the team deliver on budgeted net sales, gross margin, net profit and the Customer Service Index (CSI) in UAE whilst developing and executing the brand and product strategy for growth in the UAE. They will have focus on the entire customer journey enabling the different functions to deliver a first-class customer experience and maintain a collaborative relationship with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

What you will do

- Achieve the budgeted target on Vehicle Net Sales, Service Revenue, Gross Margins and Net profit by maximizing the Channel Management/Revenue and optimizing key business Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)
- Strategic development of the brand delivering the vision for the future that provides sustainable growth, as well as overseeing and enhancing the overall performance with direct responsibility for Sales, After Sales, Marketing, Planning, Pricing, and Performance
- Establish the best interest of principal and owner by regular and proactive contact with senior representatives. Also seek through close relationships a "favored franchise" status to the benefit of shareholders
- Promote innovation & collaboration with Al Futtaim Group divisions (Sales, Service, F&I (Finance & Insurance), Used Car, Engagement Centre) to enhance customer experience and optimize Value Chain of Sales, including parts and service and leverage Group investments in technology to drive efficient sales
- Responsible for Stock Provision Management, requiring close coordination with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Operations for Marketing & Customer Relationship management
- Work with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) teams, Principal, and Al Futtaim Group teams, to deliver a first-class customer experience through rigorous focus on the customer journey, business processes, technology and continuous improvement
- Create a culture of the OEM way of working throughout the organization embedding OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) business practices as a way of doing business whilst also leveraging the Al Futtaim and Trading Enterprises cultural strengths
- Drive a Talent Development system that creates professionals recruited correctly and future orientated, developed by education, coaching and performance management, and engaged through succession planning and a sense of purpose and meaning for developing the brand

Requirements

Required skills to be successful

- Master's Degree or equivalent in Business or Engineering
- Experience in strategic planning and execution with full P&L responsibility. Understanding of market segmentation and product marketing as well as service and parts operations. Knowledge of contracting, negotiating, and change management
- Ideally has GCC experience and has worked for some time in an Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) but mostly with Retail Automotive/Dealership experience
- Ideally has experience working with an Asian mass market automotive brand

About the team
The role will report to the Regional Managing Director and with 12 direct reportees.

What equips you for the role

- Strong strategic mindset with ability to act with agility
- Leadership and ability to drive through complex solutions
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate and interact with officials at all levels and to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
- Professional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills able to convey new knowledge and new concepts
- Ability to develop and deliver presentations
- Ability to motivate teams with good team building skills
- Negotiation skills
- Innovative problem solving skills
- Competent to analyze market information
- Ability to analyze and interpret financial data
- Confidence in own decision making
- Planning, organizing and ability to balance multiple demands and simultaneously manage several projects
- Target oriented and drive to exceed demanding challenges

About Al-Futtaim Automotive
A major division of the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group of companies, Al-Futtaim Automotive is an industry leader with presence in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Our core business activities at Al-Futtaim Automotive include distribution, manufacturing, leasing and aftersales, and we are firmly established as the regional representative of some of the world's most iconic automotive brands: Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Volvo and RAM.

We are driven by a customer-centric approach, constantly pushing the boundaries on innovation, quality standards, and value-added service across our vast universe of customers - right from motoring enthusiasts to fleet operators to contractors. Our mission is to become the leader in custom-made mobility solutions by delivering nothing less than world-class omni-channel experiences.

We channel our local expertise and global trust to deliver one of the most comprehensive portfolios of mobility products and solutions, from passenger cars to SUVs, electric vehicles to high-performance motorbikes, commercial vehicles to industrial & construction equipment.
What keeps the company moving forward is a 9000-member strong team, with inspiring possibilities for growth, throughout the career path. This is Al-Futtaim Automotive and we empower talent to move forward.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.