Ajay Gopalan
General Manager- Sales & Operations ( On Visit In UAE)
Warsan, Dubai
Summary
Customer-oriented General Manager with 26 years of experience focused on increasing revenues and expanding margin. Adaptive and deadline-oriented consistently executes and completes multiple projects in high-stress environments. Meticulous leader and strategic planner with comprehensive managerial acumen, offering vision and motivational acumen.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
5
5
Language
Work History
General Manager
Audi Madurai
Madurai
08.2018 - 10.2023
- Responsible for maintaining & improving market share of the Audi brand in the assigned markets comprising of 14 Districts in South Tamilnadu
- Set up pro-active responsiveness procedures to improve Lead Response System (LRS) which lead to consistent scores in LRS Audits and resulted in payback bonus for the company besides improving sales closures.
- Audi Madurai was selected as the best Customer Delight Partner Gold 2022 ; Best Audi Partner- Silver winner -Best Quality and Process partner 2019 & second runner up as Best Audi Partner 2019 & Customer Delight 2019 besides rated as the Best After Sales partner 2019 & 2021
- Asigned targets to the sales team and enabled consistent achievement of targets in line with the company guidelines with lowest attrition rates.Responsible for setting up targets for sales team & marketing goals in the region.
- Organised marketing events as a part of Audi's relationship building strategy in the assigned markets.
- Lead the team towards adoption of ‘phygital' concepts to counter the after effects of the pandemic.
- Responsible for new vehicle launches-New A6, Q8, A8, RSQ8, RS7, Q2, Q3 and A4 were launched in the market.
- Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
General Manager (Founder)
Autovista Fze
UAQ
07.2016 - 04.2018
- Conceptualized and founded Autovista Fze to focus on individual importers based in foreign countries
- Experienced in incorporation formalities, brand building, digital marketing, and social Media marketing
- Developed engaging, creative, innovative content for regularly scheduled social media posts, which enlightened audiences and promoted brand and market-focused messages
- Created Contents which included but not limited to campaign strategies, copywriting, illustration and graphic design using GIMP and Inkscape
- Audited and analysed social media presence using tracking systems to gather visitor data and engage with them to build further relationships
- Monitor competitor activity within social media space and gather competitor intelligence on product pricing and stock positions
- Prospecting for customers & suppliers for Automobiles, spare parts, Paper products, lighting products
- Built relationships with customers and the community to establish long-term business growth
- Designed & developed website for direct communication with end customers
- Present at Trade fairs such as Prolight 2016, INTERSEC 2017, Arab Health 2017,Paperworld MiddleEast 2017, Auto Mechanika 2017
Area Sales Manager
Autoredo Fze, JAFZA
Dubai
05.2014 - 07.2016
- Successfully negotiated and won a deal for supply of Ambulances and Riot control vehicles for the
- Govt of an East Asian county- one the biggest deals for Autoredo Fze
- Closed an average of 30-40 sales calls each quarter
- Responsible for identifying & developing B2B & B2C markets in Far East Asian countries and Africa
- Prospecting clients using internet & country visits
- Made multiple visits to Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and gathered valuable business and clients forthe company
- Gathering market intelligence and competitor pricing data to ensure better margins from sales
- Formulated Business Outreach Strategies with regard to the Appointment of dealers and agents in hostcountries
- Conceptualize Negotiate and Finalize vehicle accessory fitments with vendors
- Negotiate with shipping companies and freight forwarders to derive maximum benefit for company
- Used Social media marketing & internet tools in generating leads and converting them into profitablesales
- Minimize lead time by liasoning with foreign bankers on Letter of credit issues in host countries andsolve them
- Part of the team involved in successfully conceptualizing & re-branding of Demimpex to Autoredo
- Maintained knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchangesand security practices
- Promptly resolved all customer requests, questions and complaints
- Contacted customers by phone and email in response to inquiries.
Team leader
Saud Bahwan Group
11.2009 - 04.2014
- Dibba, Sultanate of Oman
- Part of the core management team of the company (export operations)
- Successfully lead a team to YOY sales growth & exceeded annual targets by 30% every year
- Achieved an average turnover of 14 million USD plus every month
- Successfully added up 6 new dealers and managed to increase sales of 12 dealers on a YOY basis
- Pro-active in Collecting market data and intelligence and compiled data for forecasting and placement of production orders resulting in better stock management and reduced idle stock
- Controlled and reduced employee attrition from the team by being a dedicated team leader
- Developed unique sales promotion packages to liquidate stocks
- Prepare Quarterly sales performance and forecasting details as power point presentations and present the same to higher management periodically.
Sr. Sales Executive
Saud Bahwan Group
02.2003 - 11.2009
- Salalah, Sultanate of Oman
- Dedicated Team Player involved in Sales, Marketing & Administration of the branch
- Gained solid knowledge about customers' accounts, products and services, business landscape andcompetitor offerings
- Trained & Lead the branch sales team in Product Knowledge, Conducting road shows, customermeets, exhibitions and brand building activities
- Arranged auto finance, trade-in and trade-out of used vehicles, logistics, Collected Competitorintelligence, etc
- Excellent Communication Skills and a Positive Outlook
- Always Friendly, Helpful and positive attitude
- Highest Level of Integrity & loyalty to the company and appreciated by top management
- Had Professional Customer Interactions providing recommendations to customers based on theirneeds and requirements
- Experienced in preparing Tender bids.
Sales Consultant
Saud Bahwan Group
AL Kamil
08.2000 - 08.2002
- Daewoo Division –, Sultanate of Oman
- Showroom based selling of Daewoo Vehicles, Eicher & Samsung Trucks
- Gained Arabic language knowledge through hands-on interaction with customers in the market.
Sales Executive
Mahindra Holidays & Resorts Ltd
08.1998 - 08.2000
- Promoted Direct selling of Holiday club memberships, conducted Lead generation activities (LGA),member meets, group presentations and took part in exhibitions
- Got increments twice in recognition of sales performance
- Won sales contests etc
- Achieved targets consistently when the time share industry was witnessing large scalebankruptcy and closures resulting in huge lack of confidence from the public at large.
Asst. Sales Officer
Punwire Mobile Communications Ltd
Ranipet
04.1997 - 08.1998
- Part of the core team involved in launching Paging services in North Arcot District, Tamil Nadu, India
- Appointed and Managed dealers and sub dealers for direct selling of paging services
- Conducted group meets to educate the public on the emerging concept of paging services.
Education
MBA - Marketing Management and International Marketing
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
01.2000 - 06.2005
B. Com - Commerce, Accountancy and Economics
St. Joseph's College
Cuddalore, India 06.1994 - 04.1997
Skills
Sales expertise
Problem solving skills
Verbal and written communication
Deadline-oriented
Direct Selling
Channel Sales,Dealer Management
Ability to read, prepare and interpret reports,
Financial Management, Result Focussed, Customer oriented, Customer Service,
Performance improvement
Exceptional interpersonal communication
Relationship building
Graphic design using GIMP, Photoshop, Inkscape, Scribus and Blender
Social Media Marketing, Digital Marketing, Digital Campaigns,
MS-Office, AS-400, SAP, Salesforce, CRM and CMS systems
Marketing Strategy
Budgeting
Product Planning
Strong communication and negotiation skills,
Market Trend Analysis
Decision making
Volume management
Start-up
Network Development
Sales Process
Business Development
Optimization
Market monitoring
Business administration and entrepreneurial experience
Winding up, Liquidation
Planning and Organising
Accomplishments
- Product training- Casio Bharti Communications Sales training program by Motorola in association with Team Productivity Council, India.
- Advanced Closers Workshop by Shari Levitin Group, U.S.A in association with Resorts Condominium International and recognised by AIRDA (All India Resort Developers Association).
- Audi,Toyota, Kia, Daewoo product training programs & other personal development programs by in- house training dept
- NISM-Series-V-A: Mutual Fund Distributors Certification Examination, National Institute of Securities Markets.
Additional Information
Valid UAE & Oman Driving Licence, Covid vaccinated
Timeline
General Manager
Audi Madurai
08.2018 - 10.2023
General Manager (Founder)
Autovista Fze
07.2016 - 04.2018
Area Sales Manager
Autoredo Fze, JAFZA
05.2014 - 07.2016
Team leader
Saud Bahwan Group
11.2009 - 04.2014
Sr. Sales Executive
Saud Bahwan Group
02.2003 - 11.2009
Sales Consultant
Saud Bahwan Group
08.2000 - 08.2002
MBA - Marketing Management and International Marketing
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
01.2000 - 06.2005
Sales Executive
Mahindra Holidays & Resorts Ltd
08.1998 - 08.2000
Asst. Sales Officer
Punwire Mobile Communications Ltd
04.1997 - 08.1998
B. Com - Commerce, Accountancy and Economics
St. Joseph's College
06.1994 - 04.1997