Experience

Umer Group of Companies
• Pakistan
• Textile Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Director Marketing - North America

  • Mar 2023 - Present


Al-Karam Textile Mills Pvt. Ltd.

• Pakistan
• Textile Manufacturing
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Director of Operations

  • Jul 2019 - Aug 2021

  - Developed the operational understanding in production and supply chain to tag it successfullywith Quality Management System and KPI.- Actively involved with the core committee to develop a strategy for the company withrespect to the management's vision for 5-10 years.- Align the customer goals/expectations with operations specifically inclined from processing tostitching. To decipher the objectives to each reporting department based on their needs.- Develop an annual operating plan for all the reporting production units that supports theCompany's long term operations strategy.- Analyzing & aligning the production capacities with business plan.- Work with Operational Costing division (Central) to ensure effective financial management- To ensure that production targets are achieved within the forecasted budget and timeline.- Monthly Performance Meetings - To evaluate the results of overall operations regularly- Assisting the MD and Marketing on all major customer projects from the inception phase.- Assist the MD in developing and overseeing the long-term business strategies- Profitability - Responsible for Profit & Loss of the company- Enforce quality control and tracking programs to meet quality objectives- Analyze & Ensure production and quality control to detect root cause and correct problems- Ensure co-ordination between relevant departments including procurement, distribution andmanagement- Crisis Management and ensure Business Continuity- Maximize the efficient use of the Company's human, material and financial resources- Develop Systems and processes that track and optimize productivity and standards, metricsand performance targets to ensure effective return on assets- Evaluate the performance of senior executives of the company Ensuring the work environmentis compliant to Health & Safety/Regulatory in all departments.- Planning the outsource and in-house capacity potential for different categories. Show less

• Senior General Manager Marketing - Sales & Marketing

  • Mar 2013 - Jun 2019

  - Developed complete understanding of the manufacturing process of the mill.- Overlooked the business in US market for Sales and Marketing.- Working closely with customers and internal stakeholders on demand and trend forecasting forefficient capacity planning.- Worked with Brands, Retailers and Importers in the US market to build the business with astrategic approach.- Helping improve the product development life cycle in the mill based on customer'sexpectations.- Working with the team on developing strategies and pricing modules for customer based ontheir product assortment and retail segment.- Trouble shooting on all production issues to ensure timely shipments. Developing businessstrategy with customer specific needs and detailed competitive study of their assortments- Putting production capacities and limitations on priority to contribute overcome executionconcerns and maintaining economy of scales and suitable profit margins for the company.- Lead role in negotiating prices with all customers and maintaining the P&L of all accounts.- Well connected in the local and international market of buyers and suppliers of textile product.- Developed and restructured a team of dynamic individuals having a strong sense ofresponsibility, performance and accountability.- Responsible for developing strategic relationship with all customers with a view to achieve longterm business growth and profitability- Involved in brand development strategies for the company in USA.- Developed and monitored the complete LDP and US Warehousing setup from the mill.- Responsible to spear head the Fair Trade Factory certification project for the company makingit the only certified mill in Pakistan.- Developed KPIs, Appraising Formats and its monitoring tools to improve the performance of mydepartment. Show less



Li & Fung Limited

• United Kingdom
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Merchandise Manager

  • Apr 2012 - Mar 2013

  - Addressed the primary challenge of business execution of the current business with the vendor matrix. - Successfully took over the business in 01 month and started developing and executing brand new and current business with the Kohl’s Private brands and NY brands. - Developed the APT9 brand for the first time in the product assortment by introducing Modal Jersey and an Open Stock program. - Aligning strategies and contingency plans according to the Kohls business directions for Pakistan. - Streamlined the PD segment with private brands and exclusive brands in an independent way that helped secure great deal of trust with the customers. - Helped grow the business by 25% in less than a year with the continuous support of the team and business partners in Kohl’s. - One of the key successes was the trouble shooting attention given to each program and different teams in NY and Milwaukee (USA). - Kept developing fashion bedding to enter the exclusive brands like SVVW and Jenifer Lopez that were later added in product assortment. - Introduced the risk assessment plan strategy for each program placement for a smooth execution and planning. - Developed a strong relationship with the Quality Control team to ensure quality parameters of the product. - Vendor training and development for both private and exclusive brands. Show less



JCPenney

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Merchandise Manager (Soft Home/Woven Apparel)

  • May 2011 - Mar 2012

  - Developing and executing the sourcing strategy for multiple countries of origins under Pakistan IBO. - Aligning strategies and contingency plans according to the evolving JCP vision to become the most preferred shopping destination in America. - Introduced the risk assessment plan strategy for each program placement for a smooth execution and planning. - Successfully developed a strong working and cooperative relationship with the Quality team to control and manage production issues pro-actively. - Effective counseling & training of the suppliers to stand strong and flexible during the most challenging times in the Pakistan textile industry and evolving JCPenney strategy. - Motivating the team members with every possible opportunity of training, travelling and recognition. Show less

• Merchandise Manager (Soft Home/Woven Apparel)

  • May 2008 - May 2011

  - Driven the direct business for Soft Home from $9.0 million to $50 million even with the elimination of one supplier from the matrix in 2009. - Extensive working with Sourcing, buying, Planning & Allocation teams, Product Development and design departments to successfully execute the seasonal business replenishment. - Effective planning of merchandize flow to meet the sales of major replenishment programs at stores. - Developed inventory monitoring and control systems to ensure fluent replenishment of both seasonal and year round programs. - Work closely with logistics and supply chain management to maintain the on-time and fill rate merchandise. - Practicing most efficient costing parameters that have saved $1 Million on one sheet program to the buyer. - Developed the formats to monitor forecasting, sales and net needs on each program from the country of origin to ensure maintaining of sufficient shelf stock. - Successful implementation of the Cycle Time Reduction development in the Soft Home and Hard Home area. - Inclusion of the Decorative bedding product sourcing for JCP Private brands after two years of continuous effort. - Completely took over the Home business from the Turkey IBO in less than three weeks for suppliers in Turkey, Egypt, Portugal and Liechtenstein. - Effectively executing production from multi country of origin - Attended the special Textile Academy session in Cotton Incorporated USA on JCP’s nomination and performed exceptionally. - Efficiently handled all CTR design meetings with vendor and JCP designers for the region twice. - Maintained business growth despite political/law and order instability in the country with successful execution of the vendors. - Monitoring business procedures, on-time deliveries, fill rate, vendor growth, ELC/ALC ratios with respect to product sales and gross margins. - Managing team budget, training and providing equal opportunities of growth and success to the potential team members. Show less

• Senior Merchandiser (Soft Home/Woven Apparel)

  • Mar 2006 - May 2008

  - Successful execution of the newly implemented DTS shipment model for JCP largest replenishment program in the history. - Production management of the replenishment programs with the vendor to keep the sales, stocks and margins per plan. - Responsible for developing new opportunities for Soft Home and Woven Apparel business. - Addition of a new vendor in the matrix for non denim apparel during strict supplier consolidation policy. - Increase by 50% for home and woven apparel business. - Maintaining the On-time delivery at 95%+ and fill-rate at 100% for all replenishment and flow orders in the department. - Trouble shooting and managing production issues on the latest performance based sheets. - Training and development of all vendors to implement the procedures and policies of the company in the business. - Training the team to Soft Home/Apparel norms and leading them to adopt proactive approach in executing the business. - Implemented new procedures to keep the control production issues and have proactive trouble shooting. - Effectively handled the launch of American Living sheet program by Polo Ralph Lauren exclusively designed for JCP. Show less



Target

• Mexico
• Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Market Representative

  • May 2005 - Feb 2006

  - Drive auction events and negotiation on traditional events with respect to vendor capacity and performance. - Single handedly manage the largest vendor account of TSS/AMC Karachi from the department in terms of USD volume and Shipment ratios. - Specialized extensive works on the Target Corp. Bedding category in strong coordination with vendor partners. - Tuning up the vendors for absorbing more flexibility for Target and ensuring to proof the flexibility worthwhile for both the buyer and vendor. - Monitoring sales report of vendors analyzing the overall buying trend at Target - Executing the top branded value added products of Target from Pakistan with maximum proficiency and effectiveness. E.g. Field Crest Luxury and Classic - Pilot preference for any change to drive in the office in terms of Target/AMC policies and interpersonal development for the entire office. - Proactive measures to work out huge contingency plans well before time with all vendors. - Believe in team work with in office and vendor partners to perform and stand prominent as a strong team player. - Daily tracking and preparing Action Plans for smooth order execution with each office department and with the vendor to achieve huge targets assigned for the future. - Managing multiple assignments & priorities efficiently & delegate when necessary. Show less

• Assistant Market Representative

  • Sep 2003 - Apr 2005

  - Responsible for taking care of the entire execution cycle of each program placed with my vendors. - Specialized extensive works on the Target Corp. Bedding category in strong coordination with vendor partners. - Executing orders with the vendor partners with 100% proficiency and on-time shipments throughout all these years. - Training vendors on Target Corp./AMC policies to handle each and every order placed. - Developed strong understanding with effective implementation towards AMC systems and Merchandising procedures. - Integral part of negotiating program awardment and handling auctions as Business Management representative for Yunus Textiles. - Developing effective Time and Action plans with the vendor and keeping strong follow up to execute the orders smoothly and flawlessly. - Interacting independently & as a team member with all organizational levels. - Initiating communications & establish successfully relationship with clients & co-workers - Efficiently handled Mervyn's and Marshall Fields orders from our office that included the most expensive value added product for Mervyn's. Show less



Artistic Denim Mills Ltd,

• Textile Manufacturing
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Merchandiser

  • Jun 2002 - May 2003

  - Extensive knowledge and work experience with the order procedures of Wal-Mart (USA, Germany). - Effectively designed and implemented the Wal-Mart Germany program for the company. - Worked independently with Haband Clothing for different garment styles in both Denim and Twills, including other clients ASDA, American Trouser, Crest Uniforms, BARCO and Bugle Boy. - Single handedly managed end-to-end procurement & purchase of trims and accessories of each order within deadline henceforth supporting the manufacturing floor for timely deliveries. - Gained extensive work experience in the sampling department concerning product development for numerous foreign buyers in Denim and Twills. - Responsible for the overall correspondence with all buyer/client portfolio of the company resulting in better understanding and building trust for a long-term relationship. Show less