Bora Usal

General Manager Non-Electronics Hardlines and Fashion @ Amazon TR

Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye

About

- 5 year Amazonian -Ex-Unilever with 13 years of service. -Lecturer @ Istanbul Bilgi University- Interactive Marketing Master -New Business Models and Growth. I am a world citizen, former AFS student, former athlete; All-American swimmer. Follower and recreational player of football, basketball , volleyball and tennis. I am an early adapter of technology. I love gadgets. I enjoy travelling, shooting and editing movies and taking photographs. I am a car and tech enthusiast who loves racing on track and off roading in the wild. Family and friends are huge part of my life and my motivation. I am a positive and calm person with a problem solver attitude in life. Specialties: Strategic marketing, Brand development, Brand marketing in FMCG, ATL, BTL development, Consumer Goods , Consumer & customer Marketing, Product management, Homecare industry, Beverage industry, Mainstream and premium products, advertising, Concept development,Financial understanding, P&L, project management, consumer research and understanding

Experience

  • Amazon (İstanbul, Türkiye)
    • Busines Unit General Manager
      Sep 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 10 mos

      -Amazon Turkey Executive Committee member -Managing Non-electronics Hardlines Business -Leading several corporate programs

    • Head of Category & Vendor Management
      Dec 2020 - Sep 2022 · 1 yr 10 mos

      -Amazon Turkey Executive Committee member

  • Teaching Staff at Istanbul Bilgi University
    Jan 2017 - Present · 9 yrs 6 mos

  • Unilever (6 yrs 9 mos)
    • Marketing Director - Turkey, Russia and Israel
      Aug 2019 - Dec 2020 · 1 yr 5 mos

    • Digital, Disruption and Strategy Director- Personal Care and Home Care -NAMETRUB
      Aug 2018 - Aug 2019 · 1 yr 1 mo

    • Senior Brand Manager
      Oct 2016 - Jul 2018 · 1 yr 10 mos

      • Managed the strategy and execution for the one of the largest brands of UL in Turkey. • Executed offline and online marketing mix leading the digital transformation in the business. • Lead the homecare category on partnerships and new business model agenda.

  • PLI Regional Brand Manager Africa, Middle East, Asia at Pepsi Lipton
    Feb 2011 - Apr 2014 · 3 yrs 3 mos

    • Managed 2 out of 7 global priority markets for PLI joint venture globally. • Delivered a double digit volume growth as a region in all focus countries 3 years in a row. (KSA, UAE, Lebanon, South Africa) as well as doubled penetration in GCC and increased ALL 17 brand attributes which is a first in brand history. • Established brand launch in India, Mauritius and brand re-launch in KSA, Gulf and Lebanon • Facilitated the increase of OOH business from 100-1100 stores and volume by 260%, contribution to business from 8 to 17% in GCC. • Prepared a category launch strategy and marketing mix in Egypt, Mauritius. • Facilitated several new pack/product innovation launches in the region. • Developed full integrated brand communication strategy and ammunition including TV, Digital, Activation, Instore • Lead the digital / social marketing innovation and implementation and team knowledge increase with campaigns receiving over 2M views, 11x the average engagement rate of country benchmark in KSA as well as a fan base increase from 15K to 500K in the region responsible. • Implemented several successful digital/ social and on ground activities through which received several awards. • Worked closely with insights and took on an additional responsibility of the insight manager role for 7 months while the position was vacant in 2012 to set up and analyse researches for understanding the business and consumer needs and taken action accordingly. (Product and Packaging improvements, pricing changes, communication development, brand health check, triggers and barriers study etc.) • Developed the wider team skills by facilitating training sessions.

  • Unilever (3 yrs 1 mo)
    • Brand Building Manager-GULF
      May 2010 - Feb 2011 · 10 mos

      •Delivered a double digit volume growth in all 4 categories responsible for 2010 and a double digit overall value growth with a 522bps higher gross profit than the yearly target. •Developed multiple brand category support strategy. •Deployed new innovation and renovation in the market place. •Analysed the category problem areas and bring solutions for growth •Prepared a country support and launch plan for Gulf countries.

    • Assistant Brand Development Manager Africa Middle East and Turkey
      Feb 2008 - Jun 2010 · 2 yrs 5 mos

      •Contributed developing the regional category strategy •Analyzed the whitespace markets and created plans across the full marketing mix to drive into reality •Developed brand communications •Developed brand innovation and renovation •Analyzed gaps and developed country specific propositions