Open To Work
SHADI ALI
Dubai
Work Preference
Summary
Accomplished International Trade Manager and Global Operations Executive with 17+ years of progressive leadership across FMCG, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors in MENA, Africa, and Asia. Combines deep expertise in GMP-compliant facility management, HACCP system implementation, and food/pharmaceutical safety governance with a proven track record in international trade compliance, global supply chain management, and multi-market expansion. Managed $3M+ trade portfolios across 12 international markets, driving up to 150% market share growth. Hands-on experience overseeing GMP-certified production and warehouse facilities, managing HACCP plans, Critical Control Points (CCPs), and regulatory audit readiness across GCC and international markets. Skilled at aligning facility operations with ESMA, SFDA, ISO 22000, and WHO GMP standards, and translating compliance requirements into scalable operational frameworks. Fluent in Arabic, English, Russian, and Malay - enabling effective engagement across regulatory bodies, trade partners, and facility teams.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director - International Trade & Operations
Herbal Zone International
Dubai, UAE
01.2018 - 03.2025
- Led international trade operations, regulatory compliance, supply chain management, and multi-country market expansion across GCC, Africa, and Asia for a healthcare and wellness product company.
- Directed end-to-end international trade lifecycle for managing import/export compliance, customs documentation, in-country regulatory submissions, and trade partner onboarding.
- Oversaw GMP-compliant facility operations across production, warehousing, and distribution - ensuring adherence to WHO GMP, ESMA, and SFDA standards across all operational sites.
- Designed and implemented HACCP plans across product lines, identifying Critical Control Points (CCPs), establishing monitoring protocols, and preparing full corrective action procedures.
- Led regulatory audit readiness programmes, coordinating internal facility inspections and successfully passing third-party GMP audits across GCC and African markets.
- Managed pharmaceutical-grade facility transitions requiring upgraded SOPs, equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), and documentation systems aligned with international GMP requirements.
- Spearheaded multinational trade partnership negotiations, structuring distribution agreements that generated a 300% increase in annual revenue.
- Expanded international trade and distribution footprint by entering 12 new countries through strategic distributor agreements, trade licence acquisitions, and regional partnership frameworks.
- Implemented SAP and Odoo ERP systems, creating an integrated platform for supply chain visibility, trade documentation control, and customs compliance tracking across all markets.
- Managed full P&L, annual trade budgets of $3M+, and KPIs across multi-country operations - presenting strategic reports and growth recommendations to board-level stakeholders.
- Developed and enforced international compliance programs covering trade regulations, import/export standards, product labelling, and GCC regulatory frameworks.
- Led cross-functional teams of 15+ professionals across marketing, regulatory affairs, supply chain, and sales.
- Delivered full brand transformation into the pharmaceutical-grade segment, requiring new trade certifications, regulatory filings, and market-specific import approvals across 12 markets.
- GCC Market Expansion Programme - 12 Countries | $2.8M Budget | 2019-2023
- Orchestrated phased trade entry across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
- Negotiated country-specific distribution agreements, managed customs clearance strategies, and secured trade licences across all 12 markets.
- Delivered 300% distribution growth and 150% market share increase over the 4-year programme.
- ERP Trade Systems Implementation - SAP + Odoo | Pan-Regional | 2020-2021
- Led full SAP and Odoo ERP implementation across all trade and supply chain functions - procurement, customs documentation, inventory, and regulatory reporting.
- Reduced order processing time by 35% and eliminated manual trade documentation errors across cross-border shipments.
- Pharmaceutical-Grade Brand Transformation - Full Regulatory Repositioning | 2022-2024
- Managed end-to-end regulatory reclassification across 8 markets, including new trade certifications, import approvals, and compliance filings.
- Drove 45% revenue uplift through expanded B2B trade agreements resulting from upgraded product classification.
- GMP Facility Compliance & HACCP Implementation Programme - Multi-Site | GCC & Africa | 2019-2024
- Established GMP-compliant facility management frameworks across production and warehouse operations in 6 markets, aligning with WHO GMP, ESMA, and SFDA regulatory requirements.
- Designed and rolled out HACCP systems across all product categories - defining hazard analyses, CCP matrices, monitoring schedules, and corrective action logs.
- Introduced facility SOPs covering personnel hygiene, contamination control, equipment calibration, batch documentation, and traceability protocols.
- Coordinated and passed multiple third-party GMP regulatory audits with zero critical non-conformances - sustaining market authorisation across all active territories.
- Reduced product quality incidents by 40% following implementation of structured CCP monitoring and in-process quality checks across all facility operations.
Operations & Development Manager
Greencore
MENA Region
03.2012 - 12.2017
- Managed multi-market FMCG trade operations, international supply chain optimisation, and strategic distributor partnerships with $3M+ annual budgets across MENA.
- Led multi-market international trade delivery across a broad FMCG portfolio - coordinating procurement, logistics, customs clearance, and distribution across MENA and Africa.
- Reduced operational and supply chain costs by 20% through process optimisation, vendor renegotiation, and logistics route restructuring.
- Optimised cross-border supply chain workflows, reducing trade lead times by 30% and significantly improving distributor satisfaction scores.
- Grew regional market share by 150% through geographic expansion, multi-channel trade development, and entry into 6 new markets.
- Negotiated long-term distribution contracts, expanding product availability by 200% across MENA markets.
- Prepared and delivered monthly and quarterly strategic trade performance reports to regional directors and group leadership.
- MENA Trade Expansion Initiative - 6 New Markets | $3M Budget | 2014-2016
- Structured market entry frameworks for Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Ethiopia - including customs compliance, local trade licensing, and distributor onboarding.
- Achieved 150% market share growth and 200% distribution coverage expansion within 24 months.
- Supply Chain Optimisation Programme - Cost Reduction | 2013-2014
- Redesigned international logistics and customs clearance workflows, reducing lead times by 30% and supply chain costs by 20%.
- Renegotiated 14 vendor and freight contracts, generating $420K in annualised savings.
- B2B E-Commerce Trade Platform - Digital Trade Channel | 2016-2017
- Delivered end-to-end B2B trade portal enabling 24/7 order management, trade documentation access, and real-time stock visibility for 80+ active accounts.
- Reduced order processing costs by 18% and increased online trade order volume by 55% within 12 months.
Business Development Manager
Cargiel
Asia / MENA
06.2008 - 02.2012
- Drove international market expansion, trade marketing, distributor network development, and supply chain management across Asia and MENA.
- Executed product rollout and trade marketing campaigns across 8 regional markets - managing end-to-end project timelines from procurement through customs clearance to final distribution.
- Led international market expansion projects increasing total revenue by 82% over 3 years through structured trade partnerships and new market entry strategies.
- Reduced international supply chain and logistics costs by 22% through vendor negotiation, freight consolidation, and customs process improvements.
- Built and scaled cross-regional distributor networks across Asia and MENA, establishing long-term exclusive trade agreements supporting sustained market growth.
- Developed go-to-market strategies for 6 new product lines including trade compliance planning, import documentation, and regulatory approval tracking.
Education
MBA - Strategic Marketing, International Business Strategy, Global Marketing Management, Trade Finance, Corporate Governance, Strategic Management
Curtin University
BSc - Economics & Management Information Systems, International Trade Economics, Supply Chain Systems, Business Information Management, Operations Research, Global Commerce
IIUM University
Skills
- GMP & Food Safety
- GMP Facility Management
- HACCP System Design & Implementation
- Critical Control Points (CCPs)
- ISO 22000
- Food Safety Management Systems
- Regulatory Audit Readiness
- SOP Development
- Equipment Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Batch Documentation & Traceability
- Trade & Compliance
- Global Trade Regulations
- Import/Export Compliance
- Customs Documentation
- Trade Licensing
- Incoterms
- Letters of Credit
- Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
- Tariff Classification
- SABER
- GCC Regulatory Standards
- Supply Chain
- End-to-End Supply Chain Management
- Cross-Border Logistics
- Freight Forwarding
- Warehouse Management
- Demand Planning
- Inventory Control
- Lead Time Reduction
- Vendor Management
- ERP & Technology
- SAP (Supply Chain & Trade Modules)
- Odoo ERP
- MS Project
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
- Power BI
- Adobe Creative Suite
- B2B E-Commerce Platforms
- Strategy & Reporting
- Strategic Trade Reporting
- Growth Recommendations
- P&L Management
- Budget & Cost Control
- KPI Development
- Risk Management
- Market Analysis
- Go-to-Market Execution
- Sectors
- FMCG
- Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
- Consumer Goods
- Wellness & Nutraceuticals
- Retail & Distribution
Languages
Arabic
English
Russian
Malay
Technical Skills
GMP Facility Management (WHO GMP, SFDA, ESMA), HACCP System Design & Implementation, Critical Control Points (CCPs), ISO 22000, Food Safety Management Systems, Regulatory Audit Readiness, SOP Development, Equipment Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), Batch Documentation & Traceability, Global Trade Regulations, Import/Export Compliance, Customs Documentation, Trade Licensing, Incoterms, Letters of Credit, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Tariff Classification, SABER, ESMA, GCC Regulatory Standards, End-to-End Supply Chain Management, Cross-Border Logistics, Freight Forwarding, Warehouse Management, Demand Planning, Inventory Control, Lead Time Reduction, Vendor Management, SAP (Supply Chain & Trade Modules), Odoo ERP, MS Project, Microsoft Excel (Advanced), Power BI, Adobe Creative Suite, B2B E-Commerce Platforms, Strategic Trade Reporting, Growth Recommendations, P&L Management, Budget & Cost Control, KPI Development, Risk Management, Market Analysis, Go-to-Market Execution, FMCG, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Goods, Wellness & Nutraceuticals, Retail & Distribution
Professional Highlights
17+, 12, $3M+, 300%, 150%, 20+
Timeline
Executive Director - International Trade & Operations
Herbal Zone International
01.2018 - 03.2025
Operations & Development Manager
Greencore
03.2012 - 12.2017
Business Development Manager
Cargiel
06.2008 - 02.2012
BSc - Economics & Management Information Systems, International Trade Economics, Supply Chain Systems, Business Information Management, Operations Research, Global Commerce
IIUM University
MBA - Strategic Marketing, International Business Strategy, Global Marketing Management, Trade Finance, Corporate Governance, Strategic Management
Curtin University