David P. Email & Phone Number

Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland

Building profitable business in the markets of West, Central and Southern Africa by servicing long-term customers and developing new business opportunities in the automotive refinish business.

Geneva Area, Switzerland

Consultant on international trade issues with particular emphasis on sustainable, traceable and legal biotrade from developing countries. Recent clients have included the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) where I engaged with private sector stakeholders from the luxury goods sector in protecting their supply chains.

Yverdon-Les-Bains, Switzerland

Developed and implemented the international business development strategy for the range of small flexible solar chargers used in outdoor, marine and small off-grid applications.Revised pricing policy to ensure products could compete effectively with competition and increased profit margin.Responsible for ensuring total customer satisfaction.

Geneva Area, Switzerland

Co-founder of cigarette sales and marketing company, manufacturing and marketing in-house brands to targeted markets and supplying ad hoc private label business.Collaborated with design studios to develop attractive new and original packaging designs for brands.Negotiated with contract manufacturing companies to develop and price new blends for the brands.Developed cost effective promotional items to assist with market introductions and organised promotional events to… Show more Co-founder of cigarette sales and marketing company, manufacturing and marketing in-house brands to targeted markets and supplying ad hoc private label business.Collaborated with design studios to develop attractive new and original packaging designs for brands.Negotiated with contract manufacturing companies to develop and price new blends for the brands.Developed cost effective promotional items to assist with market introductions and organised promotional events to increase brand visibility.Contacted importers/distributors and negotiated contracts with them to penetrate markets for our in-house cigarette brands.Worked with forwarding agents and shipping companies to achieve the best possible pricing for shipping of containers.Overall responsibility for directing and training independent in-market sales teams (150 sales personnel) to encourage, inform and ensure loyalty to the brands.Made regular market visits to assess progress, meet importers/distributors, encourage sales teams, gather market information from the public, wholesalers and retailers on sales and competitor activity.Contacted duty free and travel retail operations to ensure placement for brands.Responsible for P&L and provided regular sales and marketing updates for investors and yearly sales and marketing plan and budget. Show less

Geneva Area, Switzerland

Responsible for the sales and marketing of company brands in Sub-Sahara Africa with full P&L responsibility.Developed high visibility, cost effective promotions for premium brands in targeted market. Organised joint promotions with companies marketing complementary products to increase market penetration.Project leader in developing the first structured company travel retail strategy in Africa aimed at maximizing distribution and show casing all company brands in all travel… Show more Responsible for the sales and marketing of company brands in Sub-Sahara Africa with full P&L responsibility.Developed high visibility, cost effective promotions for premium brands in targeted market. Organised joint promotions with companies marketing complementary products to increase market penetration.Project leader in developing the first structured company travel retail strategy in Africa aimed at maximizing distribution and show casing all company brands in all travel retail outlets. High quality sales promotions, staff training and regular sales calls ensured that travel retail store personnel increased their knowledge of the product and developed a strong link with the brands resulting in increased high margin sales. Project rolled out to other European travel retail operations.Established sales hub in Horn of Africa to ensure rapid shipment to local markets and avoid out-of stock situations.Responsible for the gathering of competitor activity throughout the region. Show less

Kinshasa/Bunia

Negotiated commercial contracts with planters and farmers to ensure green coffee supplies at most attractive prices.

Kinshasa/Goma/Butembo/Beni - Douala

Responsibility for the buying, selling and processing of green coffee. Annual volumes shipped from Cameroon increased from 800MT to 3000MT.Increased green coffee purchasing in DRC by 230% from 500-1150MT p.a.Ensured the smooth running of the coffee cleaning machinery in the factory, including the installation and repair of machinery and the purchase of new machinery to improve the quality of exportable coffee.

Paris Area, France

Wrote and edited technical manuals for both software and hardware products.

Bachelor’S Degree, Politics & International Relations, 2.1 (Honours)

Business Within A European Context