1. Syed Naved uz Zafar - Resume | 1
Syed Naved uz Zafar
Residence: House No. 3, Mulungushi Gardens, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.
Email: navedonline@gmail.com
Cell: + 233 244312226
Linkedin : gh.linkedin.com/in/navedzafar
Profile
A Developing Global Leader with hands on international experience in leading country organization as
well as commercial and operational teams in challenging multi-cultural environment with a proven
track record of delivering results.
Well acqauainted with simplifying processes and systems, change management and business
transformation in today’s fast paced and rapidly changing business landscape.
Objective
To be a part of leading and growing the profitability of an organization that
provides challenge, encourages advancement, and rewards achievement where I
can utilize my drive & energy, 19 years of experience with the Maersk Group,
skills and proven leadership abilities.
My personal vision is to create value in the economy and society that I live and
work and contribute towards the development of a sustainable and healthy
environment.
Academics
Masters in Commerce (M. Com.) 1996
Major in Finance – 1st
Division,
Faculty of Commerce & Business Administration
University of Karachi,
Karachi, Pakistan.
Maersk International Shipping Education (MISE) 1997-1998
Maersk Shipping Academy,
A.P. Moller – Maersk,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Employment History
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2011 – to date Maersk Ghana Limited Managing Director
2008 – 2011 Maersk Nigeria Limited General Manager Cluster Operations & EMR
2004 – 2008 Maersk Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited General Manager Operations
2002 – 2004 Maersk Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited Manager Customer Service & Documentation
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1999 – 2002 Maersk Deutschland GmbH Key Account Executive, IKEA & STI McDonalds
1998 – 1999 Maersk Line, Head Office Project Executive, Systems Integration
1997 – 1998 Maersk Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited Management Trainee
Current Responsibilities
Account for country’s business and financial result with P&L responsibility of USD 230 million per
annum.
Establish overall vision and strategy, business planning and budgeting.
Approve policies and procedures for the country that contribute to the overall corporate
business plan.
Set and monitors the performance for the unit against targets for various functions.
Lead, guide and develop a management team to ensure that the business unit achieves its
objectives.
Build relationships with local stakeholders, existing and potential clients, government and
institutional and business leaders.
Act as general representative for the company towards all external parties within the country.
Employment Experience
Dec 2011 to date
Maersk Ghana Limited
Managing Director
Leading Maersk Line’s 4th
largest country organization in Sub Saharan Africa in terms of volume with 56
employees and the responsibility to deliver:
Annual turnover of ≈ $200 million,
Import + Export Volume ≈ 100,000 TEUs (excluding Safmarine,)
Market share ≈ 30%,
3 weekly services across 2 ports of Tema and Takoradi with market leading operational reliability,
High level of customer satisfaction.
Some of the achievements 2011 – to date include:
Relentless stakeholder engagement in getting the Double Taxation Agreement between Denmark
and Ghana thereby achieving a saving of approx. USD 6 million for the company.
Doubling the export market share of cashew from 22% to 45% during 2015 season.
Successfully gained approx. 5-7% market share of the CIF exports of cocoa beans through
persistence follow up with Cocoa Marketing Company (government controlled entity responsible
for cocoa beans export out of Ghana) which was a historical no go area for Maersk Line.
Successful commercial acquisition of 5-7% market share of the CIF export of cocoa beans volume
through Executive Selling.
New customer acquisition and increased share of wallet of existing client base.
Highest NPS score throughout the cluster since last 8 quarters rescuing the overall cluster score.
Increased local income per FFE by 33% with increase in tariff every year.
Increase in Demurrage & Detention collection through reduction in waivers by 45%.
Reduced SG&A / agency cost by 38% over 3 years. 2011: $ 54/FFE 2015: $ 44/FFE
Increased productivity – 2011: 1,100 FFEs/FTE 2015: 1,387 FFEs/FTE.
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Smooth implementation of various global restructuring & offshoring projects in a difficult work
environment controlled by hostile employee unions.
Careful expansion of supplier network to safeguard handling of increased reefer volume.
On time and within budget relocation of agency office to a better premises in 2012.
No industrial action with firm and transparent salary negotiations with the employees union.
Employee engagement increased by 20% over the last 2 years. 2012: 54% 2014: 79%
Jun 2008 to Oct 2011
Maersk Nigeria Limited
General Manager, Central West Africa Cluster Operations
Heading the overall marine and inland operations for the Central West Africa Cluster which include
Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.
Specific area of responsibility included:
Execution of marine operations at the 7 different ports within the cluster including Apapa, Tincan
Island, Onne, Cotonou, Lome, Tema and Takoradi in active coordination with Africa Liner
Operations Cluster and the respective Country Operations team.
With high level coordination with Africa Liner Operations Cluster in Cape Town and Network &
Product Team in Copenhagen, develop and execute container terminal related strategies.
Ensure efficient, cost effective and reliable corridors for handling all landside operations within
the cluster including equipment flows and inter-modal operations.
Lead the cluster operations team in establishing and maintaining excellent stake holder relations
including terminal operators, off-dock owners, port authorities and various maritime agencies
operating within the cluster countries.
Overseeing the liner operations costs of approx USD 100 million with the aim to reduce the
variable unit cost by optimizing procurement and operational efficiencies.
Coach and develop local talent to take over higher responsibilities.
May 2004 to Jun 2008
Maersk Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited
General Manager, Operations &EMR
Being General Manager of Operations for Maersk Line in Pakistan means:
Responsible for executing the Area & Country operational strategy for both Maersk Line & Safmarine
across Pakistan. Responsible for ensuring lowest operational cost for the Line by identifying and driving
realization of saving opportunities in the areas of CY, CFS, Feedering, Positioning, Port Expenses and EMR.
Job responsibilities include:
Supervise efficient handling of all vessel operations in the ports for quick turnaround within
planned windows including but not limited to close liaison with the port authorities and terminal
operations management.
Plan country wide operations including equipment management, inter-modal, depot
management, reefer container handling, dry container repairs and maintenance within country
operational budget in line with the commercial requirements managing a throughput of over
200,000 moves per annum.
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Supervise preparation of operational budgets of approx USD 50 million per annum and closely
monitor liner cost development against the target. Take necessary actions in terms of efficiency
and procurement to improve the country liner costs in cooperation with the Area Line
Management in order to secure cost leadership.
Manage overall reefer handling and maintenance of Line’s assets including dry and reefer
containers, gensets, power-packs etc. while ensuring that all equipment damages are timely
repaired as per Container Maintenance and Repair Policy Manual.
Develop and manage relationship with Government functionaries including relevant ministries,
port officials, custom authorities, terminal operators, Lloyd’s Register, P&I representatives and
various external service providers to facilitate the Line’s operations while protecting A.P. Moller –
Maersk interests.
Oct 2002 to May 2004
Maersk Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited
Manager, Customer Service & Documentation
Overall responsible for the Customer Service & Documentation of Maersk Line ensuring quality, simplicity
and consistency in the interaction with customers.
Job responsibilities include:
Fast and error free production of bills of lading / delivery orders and its issuance to customers.
To ensure all requirements of Global Accounts relating to Customer Service are met and capture
general customer satisfaction / dissatisfaction with internal processes and if needed change
these to deliver best customer service possible.
Monitor Service Delivery measurements for the company and achieve the established targets.
Others – Data Quality, Global Customers’ reporting requirements including but not limited to 24
Hours Advance US Customs Manifest etc.
Jan 1997 to Oct 2002
Various Positions and Assignments in Maersk Line at Pakistan, Denmark, USA & Germany
Oct 2000 – Oct 2002: Account Executive, IKEA & McDonalds for Maersk Deutschland in Hamburg.
Mar 2000 – Sep 2000: Projects / Training & Development, Maersk Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited.
Dec 1999 – Feb 2000: Executive, Maersk Line & Sea Land systems integration war room for
Centre Systems, A.P. Moller - Maersk at Copenhagen and Charlotte, NC, USA.
Oct 1998 – Nov 1999: Executive Finance – Freight Control, Maersk Pakistan, Karachi.
Feb 1998 – Sep 1998: Executive Sales & Customer Service, Maersk Pakistan, Lahore (branch.)
Jan 1997 – Jan 1998: Executive Export Customer Service & Counter, Maersk Pakistan, Karachi.
Professional Courses & Training
Six Sigma Green Belt Foundation – US/Ghana 2016.
PRINCE2 Foundation course – UK/Ghana 2015.
Orchestrating Winning Performance – IMD, Lausanne 2015.
Leading Leaders training, Lagos 2010 and 2012.
Process Leadership workshop, Copenhagen 2010 – PMI, UK.
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MAGNUM 2007 – APM Terminals Management, The Hague (2 modules completed.)
Management Development Program 2005 – Lahore University of Management Sciences,
Lahore – Pakistan.
Essentials of Management Decisions 2005 – Management Centre Europe, Brussels.
Finance for Non-Finance Managers – LUMS, Pakistan & University of Stellenbosch SA.
Predictive Index Analysis PI Training 2004, Singapore.
Others: Train the trainer - Mentoring Skills - Behavior Based Interviewing etc.
Professional Accomplishments 1997 - 2011
Local planning and stakeholder management in terms of deepening of the Apapa Port channel
and draft at the container terminal for the deployment of the Maersk Line WAFMAX vessels in
CWA cluster in July 2011. With 249m LOA and 12m draft, WAFMAX vessels are the largest
container ships to call the West African coast.
Increased the staff Productivity level of the CWA Operations team by 35% and Nigeria Operations
in particular by 50% between 2010-2011 through streamlining of working processes, off shoring
and outsourcing.
Independent negotiation and conclusion of terminal contracts with Tincan Island based operators
opening a major trade corridor in a port which handles 50% of West Nigeria container business
thereby assisting Maersk Line to capture 12-18% market share from 2009 to 2011.
Held the No.1 spot for the best performing Operations team in the Africa Region in 2011. The
evaluation is based on leadership, schedule reliability, capacity optimization, lean equipment
stock, engagement, cost control, port productivity and procurement.
Planning & execution of MECL Deployment in Pakistan, a US East Coast Direct Service with the
biggest ever ships to call Pakistan – 2007 in active coordination with the Network group, Area /
Eastern Operations Centre, Port Authority and DPW container terminal.
Restructuring & Setup of EMR Function for Maersk Pakistan in line with global policies and
procedures – 2006 with direct impact on the handling of US Military carrier haulage to
Afghanistan – 2006.
Variable Operating Unit Cost Reduction by optimizing procurement & efficiency – 2005/ 2006/
2007
AE5 (Asia-Europe) Deployment as 1st
Major Mother Vessel Call by Maersk Pakistan - 2005
Successful back office Documentation processes off shored to Global Shared Service Centre in
Guangzhou, China - 2004
Spearheading Implementation of US Customs Advance Manifest Rule – 2003 with introduction of
night shift in the Maersk Line back office locally. A change management project.
Streamlining of IKEA Import Business Handling for Maersk Deutschland – 2002 ranging from
handling of trucking + rail transportation of shipment from Rotterdam and Bremerhaven to
Inland stores of IKEA all across Germany and Netherland.
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Personal
Date & Place of Birth: 26th
May, 1974 at Karachi, Pakistan.
Marital Status: Married to Zubaria Fatima Khan - 2003
Children: 2 daughters – Sehrene Zafar, 11 years & Shayrene Zafar, 10 years