Suleyman Gul

Area Sales Manager at Imperial Brands (2025-05 – Present)

• Led and developed a team of 10 District Managers, driving regional performance, operational excellence, and consistent achievement of business targets.
• Expanded the partner network by acquiring and onboarding new strategic business partners, strengthening market presence and increasing regional sales opportunities.
• Designed and delivered structured onboarding programs for new agencies, covering compliance, IT systems, and operational processes to ensure rapid integration and regulatory adherence.
• Optimized performance across existing partner locations through data-driven performance management, targeted coaching, and operational improvements, resulting in higher sales productivity and improved service quality.
• Managed complex international escalations, coordinating cross-functional and cross-border stakeholders to resolve critical operational and partner issues efficiently.

Sales Director Central Northern Europe at Mevol Germany (2023-09 – 2025-04)

Management of the sales organizations in DACHLS, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland and Nordic countries

• Strategic establishment and further development of sales organizations in several countries
• Recruitment, training and target setting for sales staff
• Definition and implementation of sales targets as well as coordination of marketing and Sales activities.
• Implementation of effective sales channels and promotion of a motivating working environment
• Goal-oriented management to implement sales strategies and ensure brand visibility
• Data analysis to optimize market cultivation and ensure the availability of goods
• Implementation of promotion programs to increase sales and exchange best practices
• Conclusion and management of distribution agreements with partners such as Valora, CIGO and others
• Responsibility for annual agreements with wholesalers and distributors

Franchise Manager Central Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium) at Cleopatra Ink. (2023-01 – 2023-08)

• Managed and developed the franchise network across Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, ensuring operational excellence, brand consistency, and compliance with company standards.
• Led and supported a team of 10 District Managers, driving regional sales performance and aligning operations with strategic business objectives.
• Expanded the franchise partner network by identifying, recruiting, and onboarding new franchisees and agency partners across the region.
• Delivered structured onboarding and training programs for new franchise partners, covering compliance, IT systems, and operational processes to ensure fast and effective integration.
• Improved performance of existing franchise locations through KPI monitoring, coaching, and operational optimization to increase sales and service quality.
• Managed international escalation cases, coordinating with cross-border stakeholders to resolve operational and partner-related challenges efficiently.

Country Manager at Galaxy Connect Germany (2020-06 – 2022-12)

Founding and management of the German branch

• Responsibility for opening the branch in compliance with all legal requirements
• Organization of office and warehouse space as well as recruitment and management of 40 employees with an expected turnover of EUR 8 million (2022)
• Implementation of sales strategies, monitoring of programs and coordination of activities.
• Cooperation with the finance department in price negotiations and contract conclusions
• Identification and development of new partnerships in the region
• Participation in specialist events and networking to promote further training and knowledge sharing
• Conclusion of centralized distribution agreements with partners such as Valora, Cigo and Lekkerland

Senior Business Development |Team Leader Sales Germany at Western Union Financial Services (2010-06 – 2020-05)

• Management of a team of 12 district managers and 4 compliance officers
• Acquisition of new business partners and expansion of the partner network.
• Training and onboarding of new agencies, including compliance, IT and processing training
• Performance management of existing partner locations to increase sales and improve service quality
• International escalation management
• Responsibility for annual sales of US$ 24 million

Area Manager at Japan Tabacco International (2007-03 – 2010-05)

• Sale of tobacco products to kiosks, petrol stations, tobacconists and food retailers
• Conducting sales negotiations with food retailers
• Planning and coordination of tobacco shelving systems
• Support and maintenance of brand placements
• Review and update of annual distribution contracts
• Management and coordination of promotion teams

Area Manager at Sebapharma (2005-07 – 2007-02)

Area Manager for West Germany

• Managing the Pharmacies and Organize the Promotion activities
• Pitch new Products and take care to distribution
• Responsible selling Sebamed Products to pharmacy, hospitals, nursing homes

Sales Representative at Esprit (2004-10 – 2005-06)

• Responsible for selling Esprit stationery products to trades
• Negotiate of annual compensation on trade visitors fair

Area Manager at Austria Tabak (2003-02 – 2004-08)

• Responsible for selling Tabacco Products to Kiosk, Gas Stations and Tabacconists
• annual contracts and brand pitches w
• check annual distribution contracts and negotiate new contrats

Sales Representative at Happy Promotions (2001-10 – 2003-01)

• Responsible for selling advertising area on city maps around Germany

Seller at Saturn (1999-11 – 2000-05)

• Responsible selling TV, Video and Camcorder to customers
• Advice customers to buy right TV for there demand

Certificate course in Real estate agent IHK training – IHK-Düsseldorf (2010-01 – 2010-03)

Certificate course in Marketing assistant training – IHK-Krefeld (2005-10 – 2006-08)

Certificate course in Product consultant for e-commerce – Deutsche Angestellten Akademie (2000-08 – 2001-07)

Vocational training in Businessman in wholesale and foreign trade – Josten Stahl (1997-08 – 1999-11)