Ahmad Hayouk

Executive retail and commercial leader with 35+ years of experience, including 25 years with Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour across General Management, Head Office sourcing and merchandising, store openings, business transformation, and multi-category operations. Strong record of delivering profitable growth, double-digit EBITDA, operational excellence, concept modernization, commercial planning, supplier negotiations, organizational development, and customer experience. Experienced in leading multicultural teams, developing senior talent, managing complex openings and renovations, and converting strategic priorities into measurable business results across the UAE and Kuwait.

General Manager at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2020-06 – Present)

• Lead end-to-end store performance, commercial strategy, people leadership, customer experience, profitability, and operational standards.
• Delivered the South District's challenging budget, achieved double-digit EBITDA, and secured the UAE's highest OHI rating across all categories.
• Modernized the store through new concepts across beauty, breakfast, home care, mobile, office automation, bicycles, fishery, butchery, bakery, and roastery.
• Built a leadership succession plan that promoted three Department Heads and identified one General Manager candidate.

General Manager at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2019-05 – 2020-05)

• Directed store operations during the pandemic and pioneered customer and frontline-protection measures later adopted by Loss Prevention.

General Manager, Textile | Head Office, Sourcing & Merchandising at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2018-05 – 2019-05)

• Developed and piloted a merchandising framework to standardize assortment, layout, display, and promotional planning.
• Built textile import collections for different UAE and regional customer preferences while improving promotion profitability and reducing excess stock.
• Rationalized purchasing budgets while addressing significant inherited inventory.

General Manager at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2013-05 – 2018-05)

Led a flagship operating environment selected to pilot the latest LHH concept and HHH relocation model.

General Manager, Store Opening at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2010-09 – 2013-05)

• Led a newly promoted team through a successful opening delivered without discrepancy against the opening budget.
• Managed supplier contracts, opening fees, authority permits, mall relationships, and opening readiness across all workstreams.
• Protected Carrefour's commercial position by securing AED 8 million in late-opening penalties and one year of free electricity from the mall.

General Manager at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2009-01 – 2010-09)

• Progressed from Assistant General Manager to General Manager and led the store revamp to Carrefour's latest concepts.

Department Head, Textile and Country Opening Team at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2006-08 – 2008-12)

• Led textile operations for Carrefour's Kuwait market entry, building local supplier capability and reducing reliance on UAE imports.
• Achieved more than 30% of opening-fee targets, recruited and developed local managers, and supported merchandising, marketing, advertising, authorities, and cross-department opening activities.

Department Head, Textile at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2003-09 – 2006-08)

• Led high-performing teams, negotiated revenue-generating promotions, developed assortments and planograms, revamped the department, and ranked second in financial revenue.

Department Head, Textile at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2003-03 – 2003-09)

• Coached a developing team, improved assortment and planograms, delivered promotions, and achieved strong sales and profit in challenging conditions.

Section Manager, Textile and Store Opening Team at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour (2001-07 – 2003-03)

• Supported the Carrefour Sharjah opening through team development, supplier negotiations, assortment and planogram setup, and benchmark promotional campaigns.

Textile Department Head and Assistant Buyer at BHV, Galeries Lafayette Group (1998 – 2001)

• Managed a 50-person sales team and oversaw training, scheduling, payroll, stock, local purchasing, layouts, merchandise flow, inventories, promotions, budgeting, and margin control.

Sales Manager at Tres Chis Est, Wholesale Fabrics (1990 – 1998)

• Managed European purchasing, Middle East and Gulf sales, receivables and payables, banking documentation, letters of credit, financial follow-up, and staff scheduling.

Owner and Manager at Sweet Sixteen (1988 – 1990)

• Owned and operated a sportswear shop trading in high-end imported brands.

BA in Business Management and Accounting – Beirut Arab University (1996)

Baccalaureate II in Experimental Science – St. Elie School (1989)