Wesly Santhanam
Dubai,UAE
Summary
Dynamic Business Unit Head with 12+ years of progressive experience in global freight forwarding and supply chain management across UAE, KSA, and India. Specialist in greenfield branch launches, P&L management, and navigating GCC/UAE customs regulations to optimize operations and sustain business growth.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Branch Head - Operations & Business Development
SEDRES MARITIME AND LOGISTICS AND LLC
Abu Dhabi
2024.05 - Current
- Greenfield Branch Launch: Established and executed UAE branch from ground up, turning a new market entry into an operational logistics hub.
- P&L & Financial Governance: Held full P&L accountability, managing budgets and cost-control measures to hit corporate profit targets .
- Multimodal Operations: Directed global air, ocean, and land freight forwarding, including cross-border trucking, hazardous cargo, and Project Cargo/OOG moves .
- 3PL & E-Commerce Warehousing: Managed workflows across 5 strategic warehouses, optimizing inventory flow, storage, and pick-and-pack last-mile fulfillment .
- Regional Coordination: Partnered with KSA leadership to execute synchronized shipments, Door-to-Door (D2D) logistics, and IOR/EOR protocols .
- Regulatory Compliance: Maintained 100% compliance with UAE FTA, Dubai Customs, Abu Dhabi Ports, Saudi ZATCA, and Mawani regulations .
- Commercial Growth: Drove business development, client onboarding, tender responses, and CRM initiatives to maximize retention and revenue .
Operations and Business Development Manager
LP LOGISTICS PLUS LLC
Dubai
2018.03 - 2024.05
- Rapid Career Progression: Earned multiple promotions from Executive level up to Operations & Business Development Manager based on exceptional performance and operational leadership.
- Operational Execution: Managed day-to-day freight forwarding, warehousing, and supply chain operations, ensuring seamless end-to-end cargo logistics and customer satisfaction.
- Commercial Growth: Actively engaged in B2B sales, client meetings, competitive pricing strategies, and account management to expand company's UAE market footprint.
Customer Service Head & Inside Sales Freight forwarding
TRANSWORLD GLOBAL LOGISTICS PVT LTD
Chennai, India
2017.02 - 2018.02
- Led customer service team and spearheaded inside sales strategies to drive freight forwarding volume across ocean and air sectors.
- Optimized carrier pricing and built strong corporate client relationships to improve response times and booking conversions
Customer Service & Operations Specialist
UNITED ARAB SHIPPING COMPANY PVT LTD
Chennai, India
2015.01 - 2017.01
- Managed key customer service workflows and shipping operations, earning UASC Supervisory Excellence Award in 2017 .
- Process Optimization: Successfully migrated critical UASC UAE documentation process to Shared Services Centre (SSC) in Chennai, streamlining regional operations.
Customer Service - Import and Export Documentation
CMA CGM SHARED SERVICES CENTER
Chennai, India
2013.01 - 2015.12
- Processed high-volume import and export documentation to ensure compliance with global maritime standards, facilitating smooth international transactions.
- Recognised for outstanding dedication with Milestone Award (2014), Tenacious Commitment Award (2015), and Super User Award (2015) from Paris HQ Office.
Education
MBA - Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Madras University
Chennai 2011.01 - 2013.01
B.Sc - Physics
Loyola College
Chennai 2008.01 - 2011.01
Skills
- Freight & Logistics Operations
- Financial & Commercial Acumen
- Compliance & Documentation
- Budget management
- Stakeholder management
- Strategic thinking
- Leadership & People Management
- Critical thinking capabilities
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Effective communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Accountability in tasks
Accomplishments
- Super User Award (CMA CGM HQ) – Received global recognition from corporate headquarters for system expertise and process efficiency (2015).
- Supervisory Excellence Award (UASC) – Awarded for leadership and outstanding operational oversight (2017).
- Tenacious Commitment Award (CMA CGM) – Awarded for driving continuous improvement across shipping documentation targets (2015).
- Milestone Award (CMA CGM) – Earned for key operational achievements and service accuracy (2014).
- Star of Loyola (Loyola College) – Awarded prestigious college honor for outstanding leadership and institutional contribution (2010)
Timeline
Branch Head - Operations & Business Development
SEDRES MARITIME AND LOGISTICS AND LLC
2024.05 - Current
Operations and Business Development Manager
LP LOGISTICS PLUS LLC
2018.03 - 2024.05
Customer Service Head & Inside Sales Freight forwarding
TRANSWORLD GLOBAL LOGISTICS PVT LTD
2017.02 - 2018.02
Customer Service & Operations Specialist
UNITED ARAB SHIPPING COMPANY PVT LTD
2015.01 - 2017.01
Customer Service - Import and Export Documentation
CMA CGM SHARED SERVICES CENTER
2013.01 - 2015.12
MBA - Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Madras University
2011.01 - 2013.01
B.Sc - Physics
Loyola College
2008.01 - 2011.01