Johan Bahia
Snr Sales Director
Dubai
Summary
Results-oriented and targets-driven Sales Director and Development Manager with 20+ years of industry-recognized experience in fast-paced, dynamic payment solutions globally across Financial Services and Software Solutions sectors. Transferable expertise and a proven track record as a strategist who thrives and best utilizes available resources to obtain innovative and new business opportunities that deliver goal-surpassing results. Finely crafted ingenuity lies within corporate operations and technology sales strategy and steering, compliance, process management, budget management (up to $50 Million), project and change management in large-scale re-engineering of business processes and structures through focused business analyses. Renowned for business development strategies and policies, achieving objectives, increasing efficiency, improving quality while containing costs, marketing operations and sales excellence, commercial acumen and operations, and organizational effectiveness. Highly accomplished in supporting key steering processes within large-scale sales operations management ($30 Million sales contract), the development and deployment of project strategies, and staff development and utilization. Hard-working and motivated influencer with highly developed interpersonal and delegation skills, easily interfacing with partners towards the development of a mutual approach to working at their full capacity in reaching strategic objectives, such as taking underperforming regions to performing ones alongside new market entries. Strategic-thinking individual experienced in turning low-performing organizations into top revenue producers. Offering engaging and pleasant personality with expertise improving customer relationships.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Snr Director Middle East & Africa
Euronet Worldwide
1 2018 - Current
- Company Overview: Global solution provider for financial payment Software Company offering innovative products and services; responsible for directing all facets of Middle Eats & Africa operations, administration, sales operational management; secured $8 Million new business in the first year with additional revenue of $16 Million over 60 months.
- Leads a high-performing team sales team across Midde East and Africa
- Closing biggest deal in history of Euronet Worldwide
- Restructure of MEA operations
- Coaching members of team Complex Solution Selling
- Prepare and Present Sales Forecast to Executive Management
- Analyze Market Trends & Competitors to identify opportunities for growth across EMEA
- Higest performing Region across Software Division
- Global solution provider for financial payment Software Company offering innovative products and services; responsible for directing all facets of Middle Eats & Africa operations, administration, sales operational management; secured $8 Million new business in the first year with additional revenue of $6 Million over 60 months
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts on projects or business operations.
- Boosted client satisfaction rates through exceptional relationship management and prompt resolution of issues.
- Fostered culture of innovation, encouraging development of cutting-edge solutions.
- Secured lucrative partnerships to expand market reach, negotiating favorable terms.
- Led cross-functional teams to exceed benchmarks for SLA delivery, staying on top of challenging schedules with multiple competing timelines.
Sales Director and General Manager
BPC Banking Technologies
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Company Overview: Privately owned solution provider for financial payment Software Company offering innovative products and services; responsible for directing all facets of UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain and African operations, administration, sales operational management; secured $7 Million new business in the first year from $0.5 Million revenue base
- Leads a high-performing team of 9 dedicated staff members spanning from diverse business units that includes Pre-sales, Sales and Services
- Manages the region’s development through implementing strategies that maximise revenue through understanding banks strategic direction and growth planning, and tailoring BPC solution matching the banks requirements
- Identifies new opportunities through careful account planning workshops with sales and pre-sales teams
- Negotiates high-level multimillion-dollar contracts with banks, selling payment solutions in areas such as Retail, Mobile, Corporate, to CEO, COO, CIO, Head of Retail and Head of Operations
- Exceeds company financial and strategic objectives through decisive planning and execution
- Privately owned solution provider for financial payment Software Company offering innovative products and services; responsible for directing all facets of UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain and African operations, administration, sales operational management; secured $7 Million new business in the first year from $0.5 Million revenue base
Sales Director and General Manager
ACI Worldwide (EMEA)
06.2013 - 01.2016
- Company Overview: Largest payment solution provider for financial and retail Software Company offering products and services; responsible for Middle East & Africa operations, administration, sales operational management; secured $41 Million new business year-on-year (YOY) yearly sales plan
- Lead a dedicated team of 13 staff members from diverse business units, i.e
- Account Managers, Pre-sales, Customer Management and Admin, and Services
- Managed the sales and region development by implementing strategies to exploited revenue opportunities through understanding banks strategic direction and growth plan, tailored ACI solution matching of the banks requirements
- Led the company’s business in the Middle East with responsibility for ACI Bahrain, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, and customers located in 10+ countries
- Developed and maintained long-lasting executive relationships across the region
- Provided focused leadership and guidance to sales teams, sales management, services and customer support organisations
- Identified and exploited new opportunities through careful account planning workshops
- Championed and drove change in major markets and sales strategy implementation
- Demanded value-added customer focused sales strategies, solutions, proposals and presentations
- Utilised assertiveness with a strategic and systematic sales and services leadership approach
- Accountable for recruitment, development and utilisation; maintained a high performing sales and services team culture with a player ethos
- Recognised for the following achievements: New business contribution $36.7+ Million; 2015 Target $47 Million - $38 Million; 2014 Target $45 Million - $39 Million; 2013 Target $19.9 Million - $31.1 Million (156%)
- Largest payment solution provider for financial and retail Software Company offering products and services; responsible for Middle East & Africa operations, administration, sales operational management; secured $41 Million new business year-on-year (YOY) yearly sales plan
Country Manager
ACI Worldwide (EMEA)
01.2010 - 06.2013
- Acted as the Senior Account Manager; New Business Development and Services Manager; ownership for all facets of Saudi and Bahrain operations, administration, sales operational management; secured $30 Million new business in the first three years from a $3 Million revenue base
- Lead a dedicated and focused team of 3 staff members from diverse business units that includes Pre-sales, Customer Management and Admin, and Services
Sales Director
ACE Software
01.2008 - 12.2010
- Company Overview: Mid-sized payment solution Software Company financial and commercial; responsible for directing and developing the market for the company in the Middle East; set up office, customer service, operations, project management and governance; managed to close $1-Million in initial start-up period
- Sold high-value solutions, i.e
- Emirates-NBD: $335K License; $100K Services (Compliance Solution OFAC Guard)
- Head of Compliance, VP IT Applications; ADCB: $300K License; $150K Services (PELICAN for Payments); Head of Operations, COO, Head of IT Development; NBAD: $150k + License; $100k Services; sold to: GM and Chief Audit, and Compliance Officer
- Mid-sized payment solution Software Company financial and commercial; responsible for directing and developing the market for the company in the Middle East; set up office, customer service, operations, project management and governance; managed to close $1-Million in initial start-up period
Account Director (EMEA)
Oracle
01.2007 - 12.2008
- Company Overview: Mid-sized Fraud and Business Rules Software Company Financial & Commercial; worked alongside the EMEA Managing Director to build business plan (New Business Development) agreed target market, development of value proposition for new market entry
- Sold enterprise solutions to: Rabobank - €350K Online Fraud Application/ €200K services; British American Tobacco (BAT) £200K BRMS software/ £1 Million services; ZADCO - $200K GRC software/ $100K services; Medco $180K BRMS software; sold to CIO, Business Development Managers and Head of IT
- Overall performance FY08/09 - £3 Million – target £1.5 Million and FY07/08 - £1.25 Million – target £1.2 Million; clients included Citi Group, ABN AMRO, Lloyds TSB, PwC, Centraal Bureau Statistiek, Ministry of Education (Netherlands), Royal Mail, Bank of New York, HSBC and Medco
- Mid-sized Fraud and Business Rules Software Company Financial & Commercial; worked alongside the EMEA Managing Director to build business plan (New Business Development) agreed target market, development of value proposition for new market entry
Sales Director (Middle East)
Meridea Ltd.
01.2006 - 12.2007
- Company Overview: Mobile Banking Solutions acquired by Logica CMG; EMEA Senior Sales Executive selling Mobile Banking (Java, SMS, Web), Payment and 2FA solutions to tier 1, 2 and 3 banks
- Sold direct to banks principally driving new business the role involved building relationships at senior executive level (Head of Retail Banking, COO, Head of IT, Head of Innovation, and Head of Marketing)
- Sold the concept of the emerging trends of mobile business in the Middle East, Europe and UK
- Sold Enterprise Solutions to clients such as Rabobank - €150K 2FA Software/ €80K services; Citibank Germany/London - €1 Million software/ €500K services; FY06/07 - £1.8 Million – Target £1 Million (180%)
- Mobile Banking Solutions acquired by Logica CMG; EMEA Senior Sales Executive selling Mobile Banking (Java, SMS, Web), Payment and 2FA solutions to tier 1, 2 and 3 banks
Account Director (UK)
Seagull Software Plc.
01.2004 - 12.2006
- Company Overview: Enterprise mainframe web services, SOA and legacy integration solutions and consultancy; sold solutions such as the following: Milton Keynes Council: £350K software/ £200K services upgraded to Enterprise License additional £250K; Inland Revenue £400K software; LB Ealing £180K software/ £50k services
- Overall performance FY05/06 £1.5 Million target £1.2 Million and FY04/05 £800K target £750K
- Enterprise mainframe web services, SOA and legacy integration solutions and consultancy; sold solutions such as the following: Milton Keynes Council: £350K software/ £200K services upgraded to Enterprise License additional £250K; Inland Revenue £400K software; LB Ealing £180K software/ £50k services
Head of Public Sector Integration Division (UK)
NDL-Metascybe
01.2000 - 12.2004
- Company Overview: Enterprise mainframe web services, SOA and legacy integration solutions and consultancy; headed up the Public Sector Integration Division of a company specialising in connectivity and integration software
- Overall performance included FY00/01 £625K target £450K
- FY01/02 £676 target £650K (Two graduates recruited into personal team and attention had to be diverted to training); FY02/03 £800K target £655K; FY03/05 £1.2 Million target £1 Million
- Enterprise mainframe web services, SOA and legacy integration solutions and consultancy; headed up the Public Sector Integration Division of a company specialising in connectivity and integration software
Education
BA (Hons) 2:2 - Business Studies (Sandwich Course)
Teesside University
01.1993 - 01.1999
A Levels - Mathematics (Pure and Statistics), Economics and Geography
Stoke Park School
GCSEs - English and Mathematics
Stoke Park School
Skills
New Business Sales
Global Transactional Banking Solutions
Metrics Management (KPIs)
Contract Negotiations
Team Leadership and Development
Cross-functional Team Engagement
Strong Relationship Builder
Sales Management
Budget Planning & Controlling
Cross Border Solutions
Organisational Excellence
Consumer Insights
Market Intelligence
Client Relationship Management
Programme & Project Management
Opening New Markets
Account Management
Demand Planning & Forecasting
Training & Development
Stakeholder Management
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Team Management
People Management
Operations Management
Business Development
References
Available on Request
Personal Information
Nationality: UK National
Timeline
Sales Director and General Manager
BPC Banking Technologies
01.2016 - 12.2017
Sales Director and General Manager
ACI Worldwide (EMEA)
06.2013 - 01.2016
Country Manager
ACI Worldwide (EMEA)
01.2010 - 06.2013
Sales Director
ACE Software
01.2008 - 12.2010
Account Director (EMEA)
Oracle
01.2007 - 12.2008
Sales Director (Middle East)
Meridea Ltd.
01.2006 - 12.2007
Account Director (UK)
Seagull Software Plc.
01.2004 - 12.2006
Head of Public Sector Integration Division (UK)
NDL-Metascybe
01.2000 - 12.2004
BA (Hons) 2:2 - Business Studies (Sandwich Course)
Teesside University
01.1993 - 01.1999
A Levels - Mathematics (Pure and Statistics), Economics and Geography
Stoke Park School
GCSEs - English and Mathematics
Stoke Park School
Snr Director Middle East & Africa
Euronet Worldwide
1 2018 - Current