Wakira InvestmentsDirector Human Resources & Business Operations
Nov. 2016 - Oct. 2023United Arab EmiratesStart-up HR Framework and Organization designing – from project, pre-opening to opening Hired leadership team, facilitated the acquisition and integration of businesses when restaurants were taken over. Developed HR Policies and Systems. Created PMS mechanisms. Made the Grade structure for F&B based on the C&B Policy, the Parent Company developed with Hays group. Managed Restaurant Projects – Design, Construction, Approvals, Fit out, Hiring, Execution of Operations. Lead the team on ERP implementation (IT reported to me) HR / legal Due diligence during acquisition of Companies (legal matters were handled at my office) Managed downsizing and worked on different scenarios for business re-engineering. Managed HR & Operations of 13 acquired restaurants, 3 hotel-based F&B Operations, 1 e commerce tech start up. Co facilitated the integration with a holding company – Union Capital UAE for an IPO journey along with CEO Having a passion towards F&B business, I was also actively involved in decision making of menu, menu engineering, operational processes, people management, training and mystery shopping activities. - Operations Head - Oct 2017- Nov 18 - Revenues up by 24% from Oct 2017 to March 2018.
- Handled same role again in August 2021 – till Oct 2023 and brought the revenues up by 146% (August 21 – Oct 22) besides improving the customer review ratings in platforms like Zomato, Talabat, Google, Trip Advisor etc. - Courtyard by Marriott F&B business initiatives resulted in an EBITDA of 12 to 15% - Food cost on Gross Sales brought down to 28.5% from that of 32%