Shahzadah Ejaz

Freight Forwarding Business Development | Team Building | Strategic Planning  | TLM

Accomplished leader with over two decades of success in developing strategic plans and directing overseas teams to steer freight forwarding, custom clearance, and transportation operations while spearheading strategic initiatives to elevate market share and expand organisational business across Gulf countries, UK, USA, and Pakistan. Successful in establishing an optimal NVOCC to increase sales volume, profit margin, and win rate on selected trade lanes for all products (air, ocean, consolidation, CBH, projects). Known for developing import department for an industry leading company along with a history of overseeing air and ocean freight as well as managing consolidation business coming from Europe, China, and India. Expertise in administering P&L aspects, generating sales forecasts, conducting pricing negotiations, as well as building global agent networks and partnerships. Recognised for restructuring operations, creating trade routes/lanes, managing new product/service development while increasing customer base and retaining dissatisfied clients by enhancing service standards. Strong problem-solver and critical thinker with an ability to provide leadership for bringing operational changes, building teams, and devising strategies that drive bottom-line impact within fast-paced and ever-growing freight forwarding organisation. Multilingual with proficiency in English and Urdu languages with a basic understanding of Arabic. 

z Business Development Manager                                                                                         Feb 2016-Present

Implement effective plans to spearhead business development initiatives for an international freight forwarding company with offices in KSA, UAE, and Oman. Build relationships with global logistics partners to expand organisational business across international markets. Devise marketing strategies to promote organisational services to a diverse customer audience. Conduct comprehensive market research to identify ongoing trends, customer demands, and competitors’ landscape while creating plans accordingly to drive bottom-line results. 

• Increased the current customer base and won back dissatisfied or lost accounts in collaboration with sales team. 
• Consistently achieved business development objectives by propelling revenue and sales growth.
• Generated sales forecasts and project reports to facilitate senior leadership with informed decision-making.  

z Regional Manager Freight Division                                                                                   Feb 2014-Jul 2015

Saudi Joint Stock Company with paid up capital of SAR, 361 Millions, +1000 Manpower in the Kingdom, having own fleet of +900 Vehicles, own Warehouses and Yards where I was given special assignment to add value as Freight Forwarding Segment to a running and specific Transportation Company.

• Got the opportunities to come up as per required expectations in terms of arranging shipments from Ex-works locations from Europe, USA and Far East to Saudi with Breakbulk and Containerised moves and also managed outsourcing CBH services for Clearance
• Successfully managed, finalised and signed Transportation arrangements contracts between LSC and KAP- King Abdullah Port Authority from KAP to Jeddah on regular rental basis which made LSC the first Transportation Partner for King Abdullah Port.
• Got the opportunities to participate Online Training Sessions conducted by A. P. Mollar- Maersk for Live Auction for Saudi Trucking, Depot Services in Saudi Arabia, E-Auction etc. 
• Later on got promotion as “Regional Manager Freight & Transportation”.

z Resident Director                                                                                                               Mar 2012-Dec 2013

Build and direct teams to run and streamline overall operations of the company while implementing robust strategies to monitor and boost sales performance across global markets. Manage P&L, administer budgets while spearheading strategic initiatives to grow business across local and international markets. Oversee development of products and services that gain market share and earn significant revenue for the company.

• Fostered relationships with one of the top-10 freight forwarders of the world (Geodis Wilson) to grow organisational business.
• Led development through own offices and networks, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE, KSA, Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, and Hong Kong. 
• Negotiated and arranged effective outsource services of custom clearance and transportation to save organisational cost.
• Transformed company to a profitable business within short period by increasing customer base without having sufficient funds.
• Provided guidance to overcome cash flow problems and funds shortages. 
• Hired, mentored, and developed team members to establish a highly productive and performance-driven work culture.

z Head of the Department, International Freight Forwarding, Customs Clearance, Transportation                                                                                                                                                   May 2009-Sep 2011

Conceptualised strategic plans and effectively managed resources to oversee global freight forwarding and customer clearance functions. Drove operations across the departments by building collaboration with multidisciplinary stakeholders and external partners. Provided insights and guidance during international pricing negotiation. 

• Directed a large team of 43 members to drive operations across multiple departments, including freight forwarding (air and ocean), warehousing at Tusdeer (de-consolidation), custom clearance, and transportation. 
• Developed freight forwarding business through specific routes and commodities. 
• Managed country-wide branches network while restructuring operations and departments to achieve service excellence.
• Raised awareness of customers regarding organisational services by conducting meetings at multinational companies.

zGeneral Manager, International Business Affairs/Development | Head of Import Department | Executive Director                                                                                                                                      Feb 2000-Apr 2009

Delivered strategic leadership to establish and steer import department for a leading freight forwarder and NVOCC operator. Provided direction to develop trade routes and boost sales/business growth. Created plans and led teams for overseeing air/ocean freight, consolidation, and de-consolidation operations. Managed overall P&L aspects while overseeing product/service development processes. Created and tracked KPIs to monitor or evaluate overall sales/business performance. 

• Increased sales volume, profit margin, and win rate on selected trade lanes for all products (air, ocean, consolidation, CBH, projects) by establishing an optimal NVOCC.
• Elevated market shares and expanded organisational business within Far East, Gulf, UK, USA, and Pakistan (trade routes/lane) by directing overseas agents/NVOCC.

z Dedicated Business Development Manager for DCL- Direct Container Line, Inc., & & Head of Import Department.                                                                                                                               Jan 1998-Jan 2000

Performed as a Dedicated Manager for DCL- Direct Container Line, Inc.- USA to maximize market shares from USA to Pakistan, and with very limited span of time frame achieved lion’s shares from the market where the competition was only with Sealand & APL while no any Freight Forwarding Company could  come closer to us and beat us. The given task was Trade Route Development (USA, UAE, Singapore & USA).

Master in International Relations | University of Karachi, Pakistan

Diploma in Supply Chain Management | Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Pakistan- CILT

Graduation in Commerce | University of Karachi, Pakistan