Microsoft Office
FIKILE THELMAH MKHONTA
Sales And Marketing Specialist
Mbabane
Summary
Customer-oriented General Manager with 10 years of experience focused on increasing revenues and expanding margin. Adaptive and deadline-oriented consistently executes and completes multiple projects in high-stress environments. Meticulous leader and strategic planner with comprehensive managerial acumen, offering vision and motivational acumen.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work History
General Manager Travel Agency
Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation
Mbabane
05.2021 - Current
- Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
- Introduced new methods, practices, and systems to reduce turnaround time.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
- Maximized operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, and company procedures.
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning. Year 1 (2021/22) achieved over 100% revenue growth from SZL18.9m to SZL36.6M. Year 2 (2022/23) achieved SZL75.4M revenue.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Managed budget implementations, employee evaluations, and contract details.
- Successfully attained accreditation of the agency by International Air Transport Association (IATA)
- Analyzed market trends and competitor activities to create competitive advantages.
- Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
- Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
- Reported issues to higher management and the agency board of directors with great detail.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets. In two years managed to increase sales to other segments (sales to private companies and cash clients) by over SZL30M.
- Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Prepared and participated in international and regional trade show.
Sales and Marketing Manager
Fidelity Security Services Group Eswatini
Matsapha
03.2019 - 04.2021
- Liaised with group directors of sales and marketing to manage and deliver marketing and communications plans.
- Develop local sales and marketing strategies.
- Supervised sales and marketing activity mainly the tendering process for major accounts.
- Received and processed customer feedback, supporting customer journeys and adapting strategy to reflect ambitions.
- Built and led strong presentations to promote products and build brand recognition.
- Ran B2B and B2C advertising campaigns, managing budgets totaling SZL 70M and responsibly documenting expenditures.
- Networked with industry professionals from different companies outside the country and partner agencies to discover unprecedented marketing solutions.
- Cultivated and maintained strategic alliances with key partners and vendors.
- Created and expanded sales presentations to new and existing customers increasing net sales revenue SZL140M.
- Spearheaded successful branding initiatives, sales strategies and public relations approaches to underpin and enhance marketing campaign deployment.
- Directed sales support staff in administrative tasks to help sales reps close deals.
- Instructed sales staff on cross-selling and up-selling techniques resulting in increased net sales revenue by SZL 60M in sales of cash in transit and other services.
Sales and Marketing Manager
Select Financial Services
Manzini
07.2019 - 09.2019
- Developed sales promotions and marketing strategies including online marketing.
- Developed and introduced corporate social responsibility.
- Developed and introduced brand repositioning strategy.
- Forecasted sales and established processes to achieve sales objectives and related metrics.
- Cultivated and maintained strategic alliances with key partners and vendors e.g FSRA.
- Led crisis management team and provided quick turnaround solutions.
- Performed competitive analyses and adjusted sales and marketing strategies accordingly.
- Engaged in product training, demonstrations, consumer awareness, branding, and acquisition initiatives to raise awareness and revenues.
- Held one-on-one meetings with sales team members to identify selling hurdles and offered insight into best remedy.
- Resolved problems with high-profile customers to maintain relationships and increase return customer base.
- Built relationships with customers and community to establish long-term business growth.
Sales and Marketing Officer
Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation
Mbabane
05.2014 - 06.2019
- Developed value-added campaigns and executed technical solutions to streamline and improve marketing efficiencies.
- Created and implemented effective marketing and sales strategies to increase customer engagement and revenue.
- Identified weaknesses in existing marketing campaigns to develop pragmatic solutions within budgetary constraints.
- Sourced advertising opportunities to place adverts in press and social media.
- Evaluated and monitored promotional activities to confirm adequate return on promotional funds.
- Evaluated market data to develop and create business strategies and marketing plans.
- Cultivated and maintained strategic alliances with key partners and vendors.
- Analyzed sales and marketing data for improved strategies.
- Directed sales and marketing management staff in successful use and development of business plans and strategies.
- New product development to increase sales revenue.
- Analyzed and forecasted monthly sales data of existing marketed companies within designated area.
- Managed production of leaflets, posters and newsletters.
- Developed positive, performance-based internal sales and marketing culture to include mentoring staff.
- Suggested innovative ideas to increase sales and improve customer experience.
- Achieved sales goals and service targets by cultivating and securing new customer relationships.
- Resolved problems with high-profile customers to maintain relationships and increase return customer base.
- Built relationships with customers and community to establish long-term business growth.
- developed and introduced CSI to improve brand visibility and perception.
- Maintained financial controls, planned business operations and control expenses while identifying and pursuing opportunities to grow business operations and boost profits.
- Liaised with sales, marketing, and management teams to develop solutions and accomplish shared objectives.
- Managed accounts to retain existing relationships and grow share of business.
- Prepared and supervised corporation's participation on local trade shows.
Business Development Manager
FSE&CC Now Business Eswatini
Emafini, Mbabane
08.2010 - 04.2014
- Identified and pursued valuable business opportunities to generate new company revenue and improve bottom line profit.
- Generated new business with marketing initiatives and strategic plans.
- Negotiated and closed long-term agreements with new clients in assigned territory.
- Reached out to potential customers via telephone, email, and in-person inquiries.
- Established relationships with key decision-makers within customer's organization to promote growth and retention.
- Performed client research and identified opportunities for account growth, account penetration and market expansion.
- Compiled product and customer data to generate informed profit projections.
- Scheduled and implemented product promotions in accordance with available inventory and staff resources.
- Developed new proposals, contracts and procedures to draw in more clients and streamline work operations.
- Represented company and promoted products at conferences and industry events.
- Kept meticulous client notes and updated account information in company databases.
- Developed process to analyze customer feedback to incorporate insights into product development strategies.
- Established key performance indicators to track and analyze business progress and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Demonstrated products to show potential customers benefits and advantages and encourage purchases.
- Engaged in product training, demonstrations, consumer awareness, branding, and acquisition initiatives to raise awareness and revenues.
- Collaborated with upper management to implement continuous improvements and exceed team goals.
- Built relationships with customers and community to establish long-term business growth.
- Organized promotional events and interacted with business community to increase sales volume.
- Facilitated the establishment of Eswatini Women in Business Forum.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce Marketing
University of Swaziland
Eswatini 08.2005 - 05.2010
Accounting Technician
Association of Accounting Technicians
Swaziland 01.2003 - 12.2004
Skills
Performance improvement
Accomplishments
- Marketing - Implemented marketing strategies which resulted in over 40% growth of customer base in two years.
- Achieved 95% accuracy in sales revenue recording by introducing Quicktrav (Quick Software package) for recording sales data.
- Collaborated with team of 4 consultants and 1 finance personnel to achieve sales growth from SZL18.9M to SZL 75.4M in two years in an industry highly affected by strict covid 19 restrictions.
- Achieved quick turnaround time through developing and introducing SOPs to guide daily activities.
- Successful developed an insurance product which sold to both business and personal customers achieving a remarkable sales growth of SZL4.2M in 6months.
Software
Quick Software Accounting Packages
Amadeus
Timeline
General Manager Travel Agency
Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation
05.2021 - Current
Sales and Marketing Manager
Select Financial Services
07.2019 - 09.2019
Sales and Marketing Manager
Fidelity Security Services Group Eswatini
03.2019 - 04.2021
Sales and Marketing Officer
Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation
05.2014 - 06.2019
Business Development Manager
FSE&CC Now Business Eswatini
08.2010 - 04.2014
Bachelor of Commerce Marketing
University of Swaziland
08.2005 - 05.2010
Accounting Technician
Association of Accounting Technicians
01.2003 - 12.2004
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