Willy Kimani Email & Phone Number

At JAZA, we want to offer the best quality and value to our customers. We have started a movement bridging MT and GT!

Nairobi, Ke

Presently, I engage my services as the Chief Commercial Officer at Naivas Limited where I bear full charge and responsibility for ensuring the customer-facing elements of the business are at the centre of the organization strategy and aligned to the overall commercial objectives of the company.Key Contributions:◻ Presiding over the development and implementation of the company's top-line strategy and optimizing a clear path for company-wide organic and inorganic growth.◻ Spearheading enterprise-wide business development opportunities by originating and managing business development opportunities that are consistent with the company’s strategy for revenue growth.◻ Delivering strategic leadership for defining customer product requirements, improving the visual standards of the products as per the merchandising guidelines of the business, and optimizing the product range.◻ Steering the development of the company’s marketing strategy with key emphasis on increasing market penetration, boosting sales growth and bolstering market share growth.◻ Defining the annual marketing plans per region and per store and orchestrating the pricing strategy of the organisation.◻ Developing and monitoring the quality customer service metrics and ensuring customer service excellence is maintained across every customer interaction point.◻ Optimally managing the Reward Card Program and liaising with operations to ensure customer experience processes are integrated in every interaction between customers, the stores and the overall layout and facility standards.◻ Providing value leadership within new store's committee on expansion needs and delivering market insights on new locations, customer preference and demographic scope for new store locations.◻ Maintaining Top to Top supplier Relationship in conjunction with the commercial buyers to ensure best terms and supply chain picture of success.

As a Chief Operating Officer, I established efficient workflow processes, monitored daily productivity and implemented modifications aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of personnel within the organization.Key Contributions:◻ Streamlined company operations, defined workplans and spearheaded the adoption of the escrow payment which kept the company afloat for a better part of the survival struggle.◻ Liaised with the CEO to drive the complete overhaul of the Corporate Governance structure and created the investment pack for potential financial partners in the quest for a merger and/or acquisition.◻ Instituted SOPs for enhanced business controls and service consistency to cure a long legacy of employee-related shrinkage. In the same breath introduced a new loss control team that helped to reduce stock loss to below 0.5%.◻ Created and implemented new store designs and in-store layouts and re-merchandised the flagship store Sarit Centre and Koinange stores, which boosted customer satisfaction levels and impacted improved sales.My Accomplishments:🏆 Streamlined operations through efficient labour arrangements and resource utilisation contributing to improved operating margins by 30%.🏆 Drove increased revenue growth through the introduction of a revolutionary concept, which included the set of up of a Fresh Departments of Hot Deli in at least 4 sites that progressively serve as the premier earners of the stores.

Nairobi, Ke

In this capacity, I served as the most senior non-family member leading a team of 50 senior and branch managers. Key Contributions:◻ Successfully rebranded the supermarket chain, repositioning it from a Tier 3 to a Key Account, and oversaw the branch expansion from an existing store network of 9 to 36 stores.◻ Pioneered the growth of non-sales revenue from 0.6% of sales to 1.95% of turnover and created a Corporate Sales function that contributed to 1% of sales.◻ Initiated & spearheaded the development of a Transformational seven (7) year strategy with the assistance of external consultants.◻ Introduced and managed the Naivas Private Label contributing to four (4) categories which became market leaders within the first quarter of launch.My Accomplishments:🏆 Increased Gross Margins from 11.3%to 17% within three years through Strategic Supplier management, Innovative Category management and Optimization of Operations particularly through the introduction of key departments and business lines.🏆 Evolved the Loyalty and Reward program at Naivas from a shared platform with a competitor in 2011 and 2014; and successfully introduced the first Visa-branded reward card system in Kenya. (Loyalty program membership stands at 780,000).

During my tenure, I developed cutting-edge strategies and implementation plans aimed at increasing market penetration within the firm’s 46 stores across the country.Key achievements:◻ Championed for the rebranding Tusker Mattress to Tuskys hence creating a robust digital presence and increasing the company sales by 30%.◻ Introduced the technology platform to move from an insecure and ancient DOS based system to a Windows platform that allowed for flexibility and system optimisation. ◻ Led the Strategy team in formulating a 10-year Strategic Plan for the company and was instrumental in the follow up to the implementation. ◻ Outlined the Operations, Marketing, Purchasing and IT manual that improved company productivity and facilitated the seamless flow of operations within the company.◻ Authorized the successful completion of the first hyper supermarket; Tuskys Hyper at T-Mall. ◻ Introduced the Express Store concept after a US market visit and thereby introducing the ‘Chap Chap’ concept that today caters for 25% of Tuskys branch network ◻ Drove profit margins by 15.9% through the introduction of the first in-store Hot Food Deli, Milk Machines and Bakery. Introduced Shop in Shop concept to add to the non-sales revenue.◻ Pioneered the Loyalty and Reward Program in 2008.◻ Introduced Joint Business Planning with suppliers, strengthening supplier support and contributing to improved margins.◻ Pioneered in store branding concepts and concept designs g. Furniture, HotJunctions, focus points etc.

A sister company of Tusker Mattresses Limited designed to fill in the gap of affordable middle to upper class clothing needs. We visited similar stores in New York where we mapped out the expected layouts, growth and substance. Key Contributions:◻ Oversaw the development and execution of the Enkarasha concept including defining Standard Operating Procedures, store design and implementing an appropriate IT platform.◻ Defined and introduced the brand and brand name Enkarasha. ◻ Led the opening of four (4) Kenyan stores and oversaw operations and branding of each store. ◻ Authorized the Technical and Operations turnkey project team in opening Enkarasha Uganda. ◻ Led the marketing department in creating Above-The-Line, ATL and Below-The-Line, BTL marketing campaigns including fashion events. ◻ Positioned the store as the preferred store for VIP dressing by State House, Kenya.

The company employed more than 850 people at any given time. Joined the company as a trade supervisor, was promoted to the post of the General Manager in 18 months while still at University. Key Contributions:◻ Part of the team that introduced outsourced staff management and successfully pitched for third party casual staff for Uchumi Supermarket Ltd. ◻ Pitched and won several Below the Line Marketing contracts for the company notably Airtel then Kencell ,Unilever Kenya Ltd and Johnson Wax Ltd. ◻ Launched new products for key companies notably EABL then KBL.◻ Penetrated previously untapped sales pipelines through effectively mapping out trade routes and promotions.

Ba, Economics, Sociology

Kenya Certificate Of Secondary Education