Susheel Kumar Variyath
Entrepreneur and Innovator with 10 years of experience in the toy industry. Retail industry strategist with extensive experience in turning distribution ventures in the UAE into successes.
Raised in a family-run toy distribution business, I have a proven track record in launching in-house brands, driving market expansion, and delivering innovative, customer-centric solutions through an ability for transforming ideas into profitable play. Passion for delivering the best customer experience in retail and niche sourcing.
Experience
Business Development Manager
Kunooz International FZC
Dubai, UAE
Distributor and trader of retail toys Managing an 15 member Sales, Warehouse and Back Office team
- Raised company turnover from AED 7.5Mn to 8.5Mn by creating a 1-yr strategic turnaround plan which included effective inventory management, realignment of product to customer focus and market expansion.
- Improved revenues and market position through in house label creation, new market segment expansion, creation of premium brand categories, targeted market analysis and improving client partnerships.
- Spiked existing sales by 15% through optimized product offerings by implementing data-driven strategies.
- 2026 Yearly budget prepared with a 12% YOY realistic growth targeted.
Sales & Procurement Manager
Little Brown Trading LLC
Dubai, UAE
Distributor and trader of retail toys & garments, Provider of advertising solutions Managed an 8 member Sales, Warehouse and Back Office team
- Transformed subsidiary’s profitability from 250k to 900k by creating a 3-yr strategic turnaround plan which included portfolio diversification, realignment of product focus and market expansion.
- Scaled revenues by 3x through in house label creation, expansion into new market segments through innovative branding solutions, targeted market analysis and improving client partnerships.
- Boosted existing sales by 20% through optimized product offerings by implementing data-driven strategies.
Sales & Procurement Specialist
Protocol Systems FZC
Sharjah, UAE
System integrator of IP telephony and IT solutions Managed a 5-member Sales, Support and Logistics team
- Oversaw procurement, sales operations and designed tailored solutions for Avaya brand of Unified Communications solutions and top IT hardware brands like HP, DELL, CISCO, APC etc.
- Enhanced CRM by restructuring GM's and Sales Managers' databases, contributing to a $600K revenue increase through upselling, cross-selling and new businesses.
- Delivered min $100k in monthly business value through streamlined workflow management, enhancing client infrastructure and improving supplier relationships.
Sales & Inventory Planner
We Trade International FZC
Sharjah, UAE
Distributor & general trader of retail toys and water filtration systems Co-ordinated with a 10 member Sales, Back office and Warehouse team
- Strategically managed toy inventory planning, ensuring optimal stock levels, achieving a 10% reduction in holding costs, and partnered with new brands, increasing annual revenue from $550k to $800K
- Developed and executed marketing campaigns, boosting brand visibility and increasing product adoption by 12% year over year
Education
IMD Business School
MBA
Consultant – Go to Market strategy for Swiss luxury tech startup Ferronato IMD Venture Award– Shortlisted for my road safety app startup QIADA Consultant – Smart city strategy for Government of Bahrain
Amrita School of Engineering
B.Tech.
Final year project published in IEEE. Python Workshop, Coding Workshop in C, C++
Skills
trade marketingTrade Business development
SKILLS & OTHER INFORMATION
Languages
Malayalam(native), English(fluent), Tamil(fluent), Hindi(fluent), French(B1).
Certifications
Applied responsible investment (PRI,2024). Building winning VC portfolios (IMD,2024)
Interests
Previously freelance product promotor, merchandiser and mystery shopper. 3D puzzle builder, piano player & vocalist (Silver medallist MBA Tournament - IMD band), Improv theatre enthusiast.