IMRAN SHAIKH

Associate Director – Partnerships & Sales (GCC)

Profile summary

Career highlights

Key skills

Professional experience

• •Lead the GCC Partnerships & Sales team and own the regional growth strategy.
• •Acquire new enterprise customers and expand strategic partnerships across the region.
• •Manage key accounts including ENOC Yes Rewards, ADCB Touch Points, and Aafaq Islamic Finance.
• •Lead commercial proposals, RFPs, negotiations, and contract execution.
• •Drive merchant-funded rewards, points exchange, loyalty, and AI engagement solutions.
• •Own the sales pipeline, forecasting, and quarterly revenue targets.
• •Major projects & clients: City Bus Kuwait Loyalty RFP; ENOC merchant expansion; ADCB Touch Points merchant onboarding; Shukran & GEMS Points Exchange.

• •Administered a global rewards marketplace platform powering loyalty programs across the Middle East and Asia for regional banking partners.
• •Form and manage strategic partnerships with local and international vendors across Gift Cards, Flights, Hotels, Merchandise, Experiences, Airport Lounges, Airtime/Mobile Top-Up, Car Rental, Sports & Event Tickets, and e-SIM categories, enabling seamless redemption of bank loyalty points.
• •Manage the global gift card catalogue, live across 130+ countries on the marketplace, overseeing distributor relationships and coverage with leading global distributors including Blackhawk Network, Tillo, Neo Currency, Merit Incentives, and others.
• •Negotiate and manage gift card distribution margins and rebate structures with global distributors, reviewing distributor performance, brand mix, and country-level availability to maximize net revenue.
• •Generated USD 578K in net revenue in 2025 across all marketplace categories through vendor negotiations, catalogue optimization, and partnership growth strategies.
• •Design and execute sourcing strategies and procurement plans aligned with corporate and client objectives.
• •Manage end-to-end contract lifecycle, including review, negotiation, and compliance with legal and corporate policy standards.
• •Build and nurture relationships with banking partners and vendors to enhance brand reputation and drive marketplace growth.

• •Led a team of 6 Merchant Loans Executives, driving growth of the bank's assets portfolio revenue.
• •Analysed bank statements to determine average income and assess merchant loan eligibility using the DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) method.
• •Onboarded new merchant clients onto the bank's loan portfolio and identified high-potential merchants through transaction pattern analysis.
• •Delivered policy training to the team on regulatory and procedural amendments, ensuring consistent achievement of monthly targets.

• •Coordinated with corporates globally to manage RT-PCR testing requirements for UAE travel, handling end-to-end operations for screening projects at Dubai International Airport (Terminals 1, 2 & 3).
• •Supervised registration and RT-PCR testing for First Class, Business Class, Economy, diplomats, and foreign delegates arriving at Dubai Airport.
• •Recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation (2021–2022) for frontline contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• •Delivered complete business banking solutions to SME clients, including Conventional and Islamic Business Loans, POS loans, Trade Working Capital, Asset-Backed Finance, and CASA accounts.
• •Partnered with large corporates across the UAE to build profitable relationships, preparing Business Visit Reports (BVRs) and Statements of Accounts (SOAs) to justify credit and asset lending.
• •Prepared and reviewed KYC documentation for mainland, free zone, and multi-layer companies, including remediation and re-profiling for compliance and AML review.

• •Managed an SME portfolio (AED 50–100 million) of 600+ existing customers, cross-selling business banking products including CASA, Trade Working Capital, Forex, POS machines, Cash Management, Overdrafts, and Bonds & Guarantees.
• •Prepared and performed KYC for new and existing clients across mainland, free zone, and multi-layer company structures, including profile remediation and re-profiling for compliance review.
• •Conducted surprise client visits for AML/EDD compliance (Call Reports, RM Visit Reports, ECDD) and processed credit applications and trade limits under 100% cash collateral for Trade Guarantees, Performance Bonds, and Tender Bonds via ECAMS.
• •Marketed the Business Banking Proposal to drive cross-sell of Forex, Trade Finance, and Liability-based accounts across the UAE market.

• •Managed client relationships through regular client visits to build rapport and enhance sales opportunities.
• •Prepared corporate presentations for deals and addressed client issues promptly to enhance business productivity.

• •Supported the Head of Marketing & Strategy on Bollywood-sector client accounts and event sponsorships.

• •Handled Travelocity travel reservations and trained new agents on sales and process quality.

• •Managed corporate salary transfer relationships and presented banking solutions to corporate clients.

• •Led advertising campaigns, market research, and dealer relationship management.

Education

Business Management (Special)

• Certified by Microsoft

Certifications