AREA MANAGER WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA (h/f)

Michael Page Africa

Our client is a World leading Wines and Spirits Company with assets worldwide. Considering the development of its operations in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Company is looking to recruit its Area Manager West and Central Africa.

In close collaboration with the Area Director based in Scotland, the Area Manager is a critical driver of the Sub-Saharan Africa growth strategy. Responsible for the P&L in a number of significant markets in West and Central Africa*, you will be responsible for interpreting global brand strategies and, subsequently, shaping local strategies for the development of sustainable business growth in the Area. Country by country, you will recommend Brand priorities, levels of investment, as well as volume and profit goals.
You will be leading the budget process for the Area, by influencing distributors and importers to prepare sales and marketing plans (commercial, financial, marketing, PR...).

You will be the main interlocutor with the Regional Distributors. Indeed, you will be in charge for encouraging distributors to tailor global Brand plans to local consumer needs and Brand objectives. In addition, you will be responsible for gaining superior market shares amongst distribution network, as well as motivating distributors' management and sales forces in order to favor your brands vs other partner brands.

You will identify new opportunities for business development and build business cases to exploit these.

You will influence and indirectly manage other general support teams in Head Quarters (Finance, Global Brands Teams) to optimize market performance/direction and reporting.

For this position, you must be graduate / post graduate in sales and marketing, with a proven track record of success at senior sales levels within the FMCG sector (at least 4-5 years). You must demonstrate a strong commercial acumen and drive for results, with a clear strategic thinking. You show a strong marketing and brand building expertise with excellent negotiation and leadership skills. You have good planning, organizational and reporting capabilities. You have a good understanding of distribution landscape/route to market and of the competitive environment. You have a proven ability to motivate and energize field sales teams (directly and indirectly).
You must be available more than 50% of your time to travel in the Area. You speak English fluently. French, Spanish and/or Portuguese are a plus. Local dialects a distinct advantage. A good knowledge of premium spirits is a distinct advantage including experience of the on-trade and retail environment.

*Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Central Africa Republic, Sao Tome & Principe
What's on offer

Attractive package + in kind benefits + bonus
Michael Page Contact

Your application will be sent to Wladimir Topaloff

Reference : QWTD591927

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