Experience

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  Southern Foods Catering Service

  • UAE

  • General Manager - Operations & Development

    • Sep 2015 - Present
    • UAE

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  North Degrees

  • Erbil, Iraq

  • Catering Division Manager

    • Aug 2014 - Apr 2015
    • Erbil, Iraq

    When I took on the role, in September 2014, I was made aware the business was unprofitable, however I was assured there was investor support through to the end of 2015, to turn things round.The original intention, in 2011, had been to create a central production unit producing Nitrogen flushed “ready meals”, market research was poor, inadequate, or non-existent, as after the constructing, very badly and over 18 months of a $2 million facility, there was no market for such products.To try to recover some of the investment, in early 2014 the CEO attempted to redirect efforts towards regular catering and support services contracting, after six months he looked for a professional manager.Unfortunately the CEO overestimated the investors faith in the project, and at the end of Q1 2015 they pulled the plug, principally because both the IS threat, and low oil price, meant the oil majors had basically pulled out of Kurdistan, and as a consequence the general economy was in a downward spiral.

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  Mohammed Jalal Catering

  • Manama, Bahrain

  • General Manager

    • Aug 2011 - Jun 2014
    • Manama, Bahrain

    I was recruited in August, six months after the major outbreak of civil unrest February / March the same year.The majority of businesses on the island were adversely affected by these problems, Mohammed Jalal Catering was no exception.MJC seeks to be active in contract catering, kitchen design and equipment sale, and import and wholesale of foods and food disposables all were badly hit.Operations were stabilised, all efforts were put in to retaining existing contracts in a market that had suddenly become hugely competitive and awash with new entrants looking to buy market share.The central kitchen which was a complete liability was closed - against the promise of a new facility.Major turn around point was securing a new contract with the ministry of the interior for the Safra special forces camp which was successfully bid during the second half of 2012 and mobilised on the first of January 2013.Two other previously lost contracts with American Mission Hospital and Garmco were successfully returned to MJC portfolio.Total deployed staffing increases from 150 to 300 and profitability between 2011 and 2013 increased by a factor of six.

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  Sodexo Gabon

  • Gamba, Gabon.

  • Project Director

    • Apr 2010 - Aug 2011
    • Gamba, Gabon.

    Recruited from outside the Sodexo organisation to bring fresh approach to the management of the Shell Gamba integrated facilities management contract, that had been owned by Sodexo for basically thirty plus years, but which in 2010 was in perilous danger of being lost.Against probably all expectations after 14 months of remedial efforts a new three year contract was awarded to Sodexo.Sodexo then lost the contract after two of the three years secured.

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  Rezayat Projects

  • Shuwaik, Kuwait.

  • Deputy General Manager

    • 2003 - 2010
    • Shuwaik, Kuwait.

    Recruited in 2003 as a project manager, working in Iraq - firstly at Umm Qasser port, then KBR B sites at Ramadi and Faluja, then for 21 months at Daura power plant in support of Bechtel Iraq reconstruction works.Returned to Kuwait and promotion as DGM, running labour and other supply operations in support of firstly KBR LOGCAP 3 then DyneCorp LOGCAP 4

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  Taylors International Services.

  • Kome, Chad

  • Site Manager

    • 2002 - 2002
    • Kome, Chad

    Another Exxon Mobil remote site operation, I was recruited to try to repeat my success with Courdeau in Nigeria with Taylors in Chad.Unfortunately it was only to quickly apparent the contract was in the medium term going to be well beyond saving.

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  Courdeau Catering Nigeria Ltd.

  • Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

  • General Manager

    • 1997 - 2002
    • Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

    Recruited following award to the company of a major offshore life support contract by Exxon Mobil, specifically to upgrade CCNL's organization and operating standards to a level Exxon Mobil would be comfortable with.Additionally contracts were secured with Agip, Shell Petroleum Development Company, and Total Fina Elf.CCNL became the major supplier of offshore and swamp life support and camp management based in Port Harcourt.

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  Saudi Arabian Morrison

  • Eastern province Saudi Arabia, Kuwait.

  • Operations Manager

    • 1991 - 1996
    • Eastern province Saudi Arabia, Kuwait.

    Responsible for on and off shore oil and gas support contracts.After liberation of Kuwait spent time there supporting Kuwait Santa Fe as the oilfields were recovered and production recommenced.

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  Biman Bangladesh Airlines

  • Zia International Airport, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

  • General Manager Biman Flight Catering Center

    • 1990 - 1990
    • Zia International Airport, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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  Malawi Catering Services

  • Kamuzu International Airport, Lilongwe, Malawi.

  • Catering Manager

    • 1986 - 1990
    • Kamuzu International Airport, Lilongwe, Malawi.

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  Arabian Food Supplies - AFS / Spinneys

  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

  • Food Services Manager

    • 1984 - 1986
    • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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  Trusthouse Forte Airport Services

  • Heathrow, Birmingham, Stansted, Airports

  • Graduate Trainee - Deputy Unit Manager

    • 1980 - 1984
    • Heathrow, Birmingham, Stansted, Airports