Rajesh Rajan has over 18 years of experience in retail sales and management within the wine and spirits industry. He has extensive knowledge of wines from major producing regions around the world. Rajan seeks to develop relationships and provide consultative selling. He is currently the Liquor Retail Manager for Lynk Afrique in Douala, Cameroon, where he leads daily operations and inventory management to optimize sales and profitability.

1. RA J E S H RA J A N
VIBER & WHATSAPP: 00237-672199948
RAJESHJOYRAJAN@YAHOO.COM • SKYPE: RAJESHJOY28
Passionate, genuine and articulate professional with more than 18 years of international experience in the retail field of
wines and spirits. Outstanding consultative selling abilities and excellent interpersonal skills. Consistent history of talent
in developing and building relationships with internal and external customers. A credible leader with integrity and the
ability to generate trust and build alliances with teams. Applies well-developed interpersonal understanding that facilitates
success within varied cultures and geographies. Catered to an international clientele from Europe, Asia, Africa and the
Americas. Fluent in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Arabic and speaks basic French.
C O R E C O M P E T E N C I E S
Retail Liquor Sales
Consultative Selling
Marketing & Promotions
Merchandising Strategies
Customer Service
People Management
Budgeting & Expense Control
Competitive Analysis, Positioning & Pricing
E X P E R I E N C E H I G H L I G H T S
Wine Industry Knowledge & Experience
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of wine and spirits including major wine regions, varietals, production and
wine service developed through hands on retail, marketing and management experience as well as international
certifications. Likewise developed knowledge of single malt, blended whiskeys, beers and spirits.
• Continuously studies wine industry trends on a global scale and provided strategies to align with those trends.
Analysed competition on a consistent basis and implemented activities to increase organisational competitiveness.
• Visited the following wine producing countries and regions upon the invitation of major companies
France:
o Maison Sichel Bordeaux Wine House. Visited the regions and wineries of Château Margaux, Château
d'Angludet, Château Palmer, Chateau Palmer Alter Ego de Palmer, Chateau Angelus St. Emillion, Bordeaux and
Bordeaux Superior villages
o Represented Truebell Marketing Sharjah UAE in the 2011 Sud de France Wine Fair in Montpellier, France
Italy
o Attended the 2011 Economic Wine and Food Festival in Abruzzo, Italy as company representative and
visited Pulgia, Italy
New Zealand & Australia :
o Pernod Ricard. Visited the company’s flagship wineries in Brancotte Estates and Lindauer Winery in Blenheim,
Marlbourgh New Zealand Jacobs Creek Winery, Barossa Valley and the Wyndham Estates Winery Hunter Valley

2. South Africa:
o Distell Group. Visited Stellenbosch, Cape Town and the Nederburg, Fleur du Cap and Drostdy Hof Durbanville
Hills wineries as well as the DGB Wineries in Johannesburg.
Marketing & Sales
• Developed marketing and promotional initiatives for the Barracuda Beach Resort Retail Shop’s Wine and Spirit
Section.
• Developed integrated sales and marketing strategy for key wine brands and overall wine portfolio from different
countries including France, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, USA, Portugal, Germany,
Bulgaria, Jordan, Greece, Lebanon, Austria, Cyprus, Italy, India, China, Argentina, Chile, Georgia,
Canada, Romania, Turkey, Uruguay and Brazil.
• Utilised extensive knowledge in selling notable wine brands to clients. Some of these brands include:
o Champagnes: Dom Perginon, Cristal, Krug, Ruinart, Moet, Vevue, Taittinger, Nicolas Feuillatte, Piper-
Heidsieck, Duval Leroy, Billecart-Salmon
o French: Barton & Gustier, Castel, Albert Bichot, Gustave Lorentz, Louis Jadot, Calvet
o Italian: Lenotti, Bottega, Donna Fugata, Astoria
o Spanish: Campo Viejo, Perelada, Estola, Ramon Bilbao, Solar Viejo
o German: Deinhard, Blue Nun
o Californian: Fetzer & Bonterra Organic Wines, Wente
o Lebanese: Ksara, Kefraya, Massaya
o South African: Nederburg, Fleur du Cap, Two Oceans, Footprint, Ken Forester KWV
o Chilean: Concha y Toro Wines, Casselrrio del Diablo, Frontera, Santa Rita, TerraMater
o Argentinian: Trivento, Dona Paula
o Australian: Jacob Creek’s full range of still and sparkling wines, Whydham Estates, Yellow Tail , Evans and
Tate, Penfolds , Wolf Blass
o New Zealand: Seleni Wines, Brancott Estate Wines, Oyster Bay, Kim Crawford, Stoneleigh, Cloudy Bay,
P R O F E S S I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E
L Y N K A F R I Q U E • DOUALA, CAMEROON
Liquor Retail Manager, Lynk Afrique • FEB 2015 TO PRESENT
• Lead the daily operations of the establishment to optimise sales and profitability. Implement and enforce daily
operating policies and procedures. Use leadership and merchandising skills to manage product levels and make
sound business decisions.
• Monitored competition by gathering current marketplace information on pricing, products, new products and sales
strategies. Recommended changes in products, service and policy by evaluating results and competitive
developments.

3. • Motivate, encourage and challenge personnel to excel in customer service through leading by example. Train staff to
greet, assist, provide efficient service and thank guests in a prompt, courteous, friendly and business-like manner in
order to promote image as a service-oriented operation.
• Manage inventory, in-stock position, pricing integrity, merchandising, labour, security, expense control and other
operational processes to company standards.
• Ensure the establishment is merchandised in accordance with the needs of the community. Maintain shelf allocations
to ensure the availability of products at all times.
• Monitor daily product movement and work with vendor partner for replenishment orders that coincide with margin
targets set by company category management.
• Enforce and adhere to all industry law regulations and company policy. Maintain effective business relations with
customers, suppliers and other business resources.
B A R R A C U D A B E A C H R E S O R T • UMM AL QUWAIN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Resort with luxury residences and villas on the country’s east coast. With retail shop owned by Truebell Marketing Sharjah UAE
carrying over 6K varieties of wines and spirits from 21 countries.
Duty Manager, Retail Shop • Jul 2009 TO SEP 2014
Shift in Charge, Retail Shop • APR 2001 TO JUL 2009
Merchandising & Sales Wine Section Retail Shop • NOV 1997 TO APR 2001
• Contributed to the overall financial performance of the wine section including merchandise sales, expense control and
achievement of sales and profitability goals. Supervised store operations and provided quick and courteous service to
all customers by determining their needs and developing associates on wine product knowledge and selling skills.
• Ensured sales and profit opportunities are optimal and align with category brands. Utilised market data to identify
opportunities within each channel and brand.
• Executed merchandise and visual presentation standards and facilitated the efficient flow of merchandise to the sales
floor. Maintained creative product merchandising that supported core products, specials and marketing themes.
• Oversaw inventory control and stock availability. Recommended changes to optimise stock positioning and store
layout.
• Scheduled and prioritised the work of 14 associates and ensured their satisfactory completion of all tasks.
E D U C A T I O N
• Bachelor of Arts, Calicut University, India, 1988
P R O F E S S I O N A L Q U A L I F I C A T I O N S
• WSET Awards (88%, passed with Merit), Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), Dubai, UAE, 2006