Sabah Kahoul

Founder, Managing Director @Business Travel Purchase | Ex -Microsoft I Strategic Consulting | Corporate Travel & Mobility Management I Procurement I Managing Director The Mobility Think Tank I WBTF2025

Greater Paris Metropolitan Region

About

Through the design and implementation of effective sourcing strategies, I continually deliver overall budget costs optimisation by building partnerships that deliver productivity and innovation to my customers. Driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, I consistently achieve success in meeting targets and goals. Being adept at stakeholder management, I’ve a proven track record in delivering successful change management programs within fast-paced, high-energy environments - supported by influencing skills in complex environments. With change being a constant, I lead by example in communication and training roles by sharing about the latest market shifts through online newsletters, intranets, social media and video creation. Additionally, I run training sessions in person and online web conferencing; plus create industry user guides.

Experience

  • Founder and Managing Director at Business Travel Purchase
    May 2014 - Present · 12 yrs 2 mos

    Business Travel Purchase partner with companies willing to optimize their travel budget by providing strategic and operational support. We deliver creative sustainable and innovative solutions. Our solutions are traveler centric and allow savings for your company and comfort for your travelers.

  • Global Travel Category Management. at Allnex
    May 2014 - Dec 2018 · 4 yrs 8 mos

    Managing global travel policy re-engineering in this role, I ensured communication and compliance follow-up across all regions remained consistent throughout the roll-out of an online booking tool across Europe, North America and Latin America markets. This was carried out in partnership with finance departments to ensure product alignment during the roll out of the expense tool In the delivery of a travel VAT refund tool, I managed the implementation of an exceptional, new online reservation process that led to the global roll out of an awarded TMC RFP. The roll-out included car rentals, hotels and airline RFPs. Additionally, I ran full capacity coaching sessions around the topic of “How To Become” a travel manager and oversaw the production of a 2-mins explainer video regarding travel guidelines.

  • EMEA Head of Travel & MICE at Xchanging
    Nov 2011 - Apr 2014 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    Overseeing categories addressable spend of 150M€, I implemented an online booking tool for a major CAC 40 worldwide leader in the cosmetics industry. As a project leader, I managed the delivery of an accounting interface system that enabled seamless interconnection between an online booking tool and an expense management system. Defining system specifications, managing weekly steering committees, following up with suppliers and business partners deliveries; in addition to organising product tests and roll-outs were other pivotal tasks that formed my portfolio.

  • Microsoft (Paris Area, France)
    • EMEA Travel Category Manager
      Nov 2007 - Nov 2011 · 4 yrs 1 mo

      Managed Microsoft traveler process of travel booking, upholding high levels of policy compliance and providing assistance throughout the duration of travel by negotiating contracts with air, car, hotel, credit card and technology vendors in the travel space. Leveraging global spend, I was able to provide the best in industry discounts with a strong emphasis on value, traveler comfort and safety, ensuring efficient execution of the booking process throughout. Project deliveries in this role included group air tickets negotiation for a yearly convention in the United States for 2000 employees, implementation of an event management tool that enabled budget monitoring along with clearly defining the Travel & Event Policy.

    • Corporate Services Manager
      Mar 2003 - Nov 2007 · 4 yrs 9 mos

      Managing fleet, travel and facilities through the re-engineering of all related purchasing processes. Delivered new car fleet policy, in addition to managing on-site vendors handling procurement and serving as a communication lead.

  • Consultant at SABB (owned)
    2001 - 2003 · 2 yrs

    Managed compliance auditing and IT consultancy contracts management, in addition to overseeing procurement tool implementation for customers such as, Hewlett Packard International and Perkin Elmer.