Athar Shah, Mba Email & Phone Number

Guelph, On, Ca

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

I am currently employed at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), specifically within the Labour, Trade, and Economic Development Branch, Economic Development Division. In my role as the Sector Lead, I specialize in overseeing various sectors including Bakery, Cereal, Milling, Ingredients, and Edible Oils & Fats. My responsibilities involve guiding and managing activities within these sectors to foster growth, innovation, and overall development.

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Sector Specialization and Economic Contribution - Serving as a Sector Specialist in Bakery, Cereal, Ingredients, Edible Oils & Fats and Milling, contributing significantly to Ontario's economic development. - Facilitated projects resulting in over $2.5 billion in investment, aiding in the creation and retention of more than 3,000 jobs in Ontario.Project Leadership and Industry Collaboration - Collaborated with the Bakery Association of Canada in developing 'Bakex' (2016), a pioneering pilot project. - Fostered a collaborative export alliance among Ontario-based, medium-sized family bakeries, enhancing the Canadian baking industry’s global presence.Industry Knowledge and Relationship Management - Possess robust industry knowledge, particularly in Ontario Agri-Food processing. - Cultivated and maintained strong relationships with Ontario Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), ensuring sustained partnership and growth.Analytical and Strategic Expertise - Demonstrated strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, ensuring effective stakeholder management. - A history of successful collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders, facilitating joint initiatives and information sharing.Consultation and Problem-Solving Skills - Proficient in analyzing client needs and providing tailored solutions and options, showcasing enhanced consultation skills.Administrative and Project Management Proficiency - Exceptional in managing administrative and financial processes including contracts, business planning, procurement, budgets, product costing and resources, reflecting superior project management skills.

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Export Development Strategy Creation and Implementation - Orchestrated and successfully executed Ontario's inaugural Food and Beverage export development strategy, emphasizing value-added, further processed foods. Resulted in a surge in export sales to six Gulf Cooperative Council Countries (GCC), escalating from under $70 million in 2013-14 to over half a billion.Proficient in Economic Development and Trade Expertise - Possess a profound understanding of domestic and international trade policy environments, including WTO and NAFTA. Well-versed in Canadian, U.S., and international trade policies and practices.Problem-Solving and Analytical Prowess - Demonstrated exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills by promoting Ontario and its SMEs to international buyers. Conducted various successful marketing initiatives across diverse markets including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa.Leadership Abilities - A natural leader, adept at steering and cultivating high-performance teams, ensuring a collaborative work environment. Skilled at managing performance, developing staff, and providing extensive advice on a multitude of export practices and strategies.Rich Experience in Export Sales and Global Trade - Hands-on experience in export sales and global trade across a spectrum of emerging and developed countries. Possesses extensive knowledge and expertise in factors within Ontario affecting trade, coupled with several years of experience in international affairs, procurement principles, and practices.

900 Bay Street, Toronto

- Entrusted with a brief secondment to the Ontario Ministry of International Trade, tasked with the pivotal role of bolstering international trade by preparing Ontario’s Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) companies for export readiness.- Focused on imparting practical international business skills through meticulously designed comprehensive courses, ensuring flexibility and a self-paced learning environment conducive to optimal skill acquisition and retention.- Played an instrumental role in educating SMEs on a spectrum of crucial aspects such as export processes, market analysis, new product development, and navigating government regulations both within Canada and target markets.- Orchestrated and conducted a series of insightful courses and workshops, dedicated to the enhancement of SMEs' knowledge base, ensuring they are well-equipped with the necessary tools and insights for successful market navigation.- Introduced shorter, module-based training options, meticulously curated to facilitate the focused building of specific, market-essential skills, ensuring a more targeted approach to learning and skill development.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Export Development and Management - Entrusted with a robust US$50M portfolio, focusing on export development, marketing innovation, modifications, and market sourcing. Orchestrated the distribution of condiments and sauces to eminent airline and fast-food chains under the prestigious Herman and Cappana brands.Operational Leadership - Helmed the processing side of the company, leading six direct and managing 100 indirect reports, ensuring seamless operational efficiencies and productivity.Profitability Enhancement - Instrumental in augmenting company profitability from 7.5% to an impressive 36% over four years, leveraging robust export marketing programs, pioneering product launches, strategic modifications, and cost-optimization strategies.Export Sales Expansion - Forged and cultivated pivotal sales leads with key international accounts such as CEBAG (Netherlands), Les Fils De Chafic Halwany (Lebanon), Baumer Foods (USA), and Carrefour (France). This initiative bolstered export sales revenue, witnessing a surge of over $3.5 Million in 2006.Client Acquisition and Growth - Successfully attracted and secured renowned accounts like Quiznos, KFC, and Burger King, outperforming competitors and establishing ourselves as a preferred supplier.Contract Acquisition and Sales Upliftment - Triumphed in acquiring a coveted contract to supply exquisite sauces and spreads for Emirates Airlines, catalyzing an export sales increment by $1.5M in 2007.Relationship Building and Market Intelligence - Fostered and nurtured influential relationships with the Export Sales Team, enabling the gathering of valuable market intelligence, aiding in the meticulous planning and execution of local promotions.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Strategic Portfolio Management - Steered a robust US$66M portfolio across diverse product categories, penetrating 17 global markets and amplifying key brands such as Noor, Tiffany, and Hayat.Brand and Market Expansion - Catalyzed the Hayat brand’s growth through innovative marketing and network building, ensuring agile market penetration and brand evolution.Sales Strategy and Execution - Led transformative sales strategies, transitioning 300+ bakeries to high-protein flour and elevating overall product quality.Multinational Collaboration - Nurtured strategic partnerships with giants like Unilever and Kraft, catapulting export revenues by US$50M and bolstering production capacity by 35% in 2005.Export Sales Enhancement - Boosted export sales revenue by 19% in 2002, underscoring a commitment to analytical strategy and operational enhancement.Product Innovation - Championed tailored innovations for the fast-food sector, aligning offerings with industry trends and market necessities.Supplier Recognition - Earned distinguished "Approved Regional Supplier" accolades from elite fast-food chains, reflecting a consistent pursuit of quality and service excellence.Cultural Marketing Adaptation - Implemented multilingual marketing strategies, yielding a 20% increase in export sales in culturally diverse markets.Product Customization - Adapted products to resonate with regional preferences and seasonal demands, cultivating market relevance and consumer appeal.Wellness-Focused Product Development - Advocated for a wellness-centric product array, introducing healthier, consumer-focused options.Strategic Market Penetration - Executed a winning market entry strategy, unlocking US$5.2M in new business with a premier South African retailer in 2002.

Muscat, Sultanate Of Oman

- Managed and assumed full Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibility for a US$20M portfolio specializing in sauces and spreads, prominently featuring core brands such as Barka and Khaburah.- Revitalized company supply chain strategies to prioritize the delivery of smaller, fresher loads, enhancing overall product quality and customer satisfaction.- Successfully amplified company sales, achieving a substantial increase from US$300K to US$3M monthly, showcasing effective strategy and execution capabilities.- Orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the previously declining Barka brand, skillfully elevating its market share from 46% to a dominant 57%.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, International Business/Trade/Commerce

During my time as a graduate management student, I actively engaged in various academic research projects and publications. One notable.

Baba, Management, Graduated With Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: • Founded international business club and served as president • International Students Representative.

Ba, Economics, Political Science And English Literature