Brand Manager

Kendo Brands, Inc.

Position SummaryThe Brand Manager drives Kendo's commercial, marketing, and operational success in Africa and new markets via the distributor model. Overseeing brand strategy, marketing, sales, education, and supply chain, they ensure distributor partnerships deliver growth. The role requires strategic thinking and a commercial mindset to maximize revenue, brand awareness, and engagement through effective distributor management. Working with internal teams, the Manager tailors the global brand vision to local markets, negotiates contracts, supports new market launches, and executes impactful marketing strategies to optimize market share.Reporting to: Senior Director, Brand and Marketing MEATRLocation: Dubai, UAEJob ResponsibilitiesMarketing and Brand StrategySet up the yearly strategic plan and budgets for the brand in coordination with Business Unit leaders and brand owners, specifically tailored for the distributor markets. Develop, implement, and pilot 360 launch and marketing plans in collaboration with the distribution partner's team (Media, PR, influencers, Merchandising, in-store animation, CRM, training, sampling ...) and in accordance with defined budgets and the brand strategy. Build the assortment by offering recommendations based on market knowledge and analysis specific to African markets and new distributor markets. Analyze performance and adapt actions as necessary, providing feedback and guidance to distributors to optimize results. Use marketing KPIs to set realistic but ambitious targets for the brand and activities, and suggest optimizations on actions and levers within the distributor framework. Lead innovative social campaigns/activations that drive brand loyalty and advocacy in the designated markets, working closely with distributors for execution. Advocate for share of voice for the brand on retailer platforms and provide relevant and compelling content, ensuring alignment with the global brand message. Fuel brand strategy by conducting market, trend, and competition analyses specific to the African and new distributor markets. Communicate and deploy identified business opportunities to distributors, providing the necessary support and resources for execution. Maintain a healthy assortment and work closely with distributors and internal planning teams. Monitor and follow up on expenses, ensuring budgets are respected across all distributor-led initiatives. Contract Negotiation: Lead contract negotiations with distributors, ensuring favorable terms and alignment with Kendo s strategic objectives. Account Management, Operations, and ActivationDrive short and long-term strategies across the African and new markets to meet brand objectives, partnering with cross-functional partners with the respective distributor to successfully execute. Build best-in-class partnerships with distributors to effectively maximize and deliver on sales goals. Build strong and effective relationships with internal teams to bring to life 360 activations (Inventory Planning, Marketing, Education, Creative, & Operations), ensuring seamless execution within the distributor's network. Monitor and direct daily operations to ensure that goals and objectives are met : sales targets, margin, and profit, and take corrective action when necessary, working closely with the distributors. Be a brand advocate: effectively story tell and sell the product pipeline to distributors and their teams. Financial and P&L ManagementOwn the Brand P&L in Africa and new markets, ensuring profitable growth and financial efficiency. Drive sell-out and revenue targets, ensuring alignment with brand objectives and maximizing return on investment. Develop and manage the annual budget, optimizing marketing spend, retail investments, and operational costs to achieve profitability. Monitor and analyze financial performance, including sales forecasts, margins, and cost structures, identifying opportunities for growth and efficiency. Ensure budget discipline, tracking expenses and ensuring all initiatives deliver measurable business impact. Partner with Finance and senior leadership to build accurate financial reports and strategic forecasts that support decision-making. ProfileBachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field. 6-8 years of brand marketing experience with a strong focus on the distributor model. Previous experience working with distributors in Africa and opening new markets in North Africa, Indian Ocean. Proven success in managing and growing brands in diverse markets. Solid understanding of brand building, marketing strategies, and retail operations within a distributor framework. Excellent analytical, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills are essential. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to work independently and collaboratively.Additional InformationOTHER RESPONSIBILITIESPresentation, Reporting, & AnalysisProvide weekly sales recaps, ad-hoc reporting, and analysis as needed. Identify beauty market opportunities and drive business growth. Analyze brand performance, marketing effectiveness, and cost efficiencyMonitor and analyze market trends and competitor activities; provide action plans and follow up on implementationAnalyze profitability of the store/brands and monitor market share. Review monthly reports on customer & sales analysis, shopper insights, traffic in store, and store KPI, and prepare action plans accordingly.