Martin Ndamwe

Commercial growth and marketing professional with experience spanning trade marketing, market activation, customer acquisition, channel development, partnerships and marketing operations across telecommunications, hospitality and business environments. Currently serving as Commercial Growth & Marketing Operations Manager at Royal Mara Safari Lodge, where I develop commercial strategies aligned to revenue objectives, drive customer acquisition and channel activation, manage partnerships and use performance data to improve commercial outcomes. Delivered a 20% increase in direct bookings and a 15% improvement in digital campaign ROI through data-led performance tracking linking marketing activity to revenue.

Previously gained trade marketing experience at Wananchi Group, developing practical expertise in channel execution, market activation, customer-facing commercial initiatives and translating broader brand and commercial strategies into market-level execution. Combines the analytical mindset of performance marketing with the practical discipline of trade execution and commercial operations. Comfortable working across strategy and execution, coordinating stakeholders, identifying growth opportunities and prioritizing initiatives based on measurable business impact.

Commercial Growth & Marketing Operations Manager at Royal Mara Safari Lodge (2025-01 – Present)

Lead commercial growth and marketing operations for a luxury safari business, connecting market strategy, customer acquisition, partnerships, distribution and marketing execution to commercial objectives.

• Develop and execute commercial growth strategies aligned with revenue, occupancy and business objectives.
• Increased direct bookings by 20% through channel activation, proposition-led campaigns and stronger direct customer acquisition initiatives.
• Improved digital campaign ROI by 15% through data-led performance tracking connecting marketing expenditure with revenue outcomes.
• Develop pre- and post-campaign monitoring frameworks to evaluate performance and guide future resource allocation.
• Identify and activate opportunities across direct, trade, corporate and partnership channels to expand market reach.
• Develop commercial propositions based on customer segments, seasonality, market opportunities and business priorities.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with tourism operators, corporate partners, hospitality businesses and industry stakeholders.
• Manage external creative and media agencies, translating commercial priorities into executable briefs and measurable deliverables.
• Coordinate marketing and commercial initiatives with operational teams to ensure demand-generation activity aligns with business capacity and customer experience.
• Monitor competitor activity, market trends and channel performance to identify opportunities for differentiation and growth.
• Support pricing, rate-card and promotional decisions using occupancy, ADR, contribution and break-even considerations.
• Lead market activation initiatives targeting domestic, regional and international customer segments.

Trade Marketing / Marketing at Wananchi Group

Gained hands-on experience in trade marketing and commercial market execution within a major telecommunications and consumer-facing business environment.

• Supported the translation of broader marketing and commercial strategies into market-level trade execution.
• Worked on initiatives designed to strengthen product visibility, customer acquisition and commercial performance at point of sale.
• Supported channel and market activation activities, working with commercial stakeholders to improve execution in the field.
• Contributed to promotional and customer-facing initiatives designed to stimulate demand and improve product uptake.
• Monitored market conditions, competitor activity and customer behaviour to inform trade and marketing decisions.
• Worked across marketing and commercial stakeholders to coordinate execution of campaigns and market initiatives.
• Developed practical understanding of the relationship between brand strategy, distribution, trade execution, customer demand and sales performance.
• Gained experience operating in a fast-moving, highly competitive market where commercial execution and speed of response are critical.

Marketing & Administration Manager at Tom Fisher & Associates Limited

• Led marketing and business-development activities supporting company growth and customer acquisition.
• Developed and implemented marketing initiatives across digital, relationship and business-development channels.
• Managed internal and external stakeholders to deliver commercial and marketing projects.
• Coordinated suppliers, agencies, budgets and operational requirements to ensure effective execution.
• Used market and customer insights to identify opportunities for business development and improved positioning.
• Supported management decision-making through performance monitoring, reporting and commercial analysis.
• Managed administrative and operational processes alongside marketing responsibilities, strengthening cross-functional execution and resource-management capabilities.

MBA in Marketing and Strategy – International University of East Africa (IUEA)

BA in Social Sciences – Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)