Regional Manager Global Travel Retail & Middle East Africa (GTR & MEA) (m/f/d)

Stewarding a Legacy of Excellence in Global Markets

Since 1865, the Plasencia family has lived by the land, guiding every cigar from seed to smoke with patience, discipline, and a deep respect for nature. Present in over 80 countries worldwide, the brand continues to define excellence in premium cigars, including the iconic Alma Collection and the world’s only 100% certified organic cigar, Plasencia Reserva Original. As the only premium cigar house to grow certified organic tobacco, the company cultivates without chemicals, preserves water, and restores life to the soil. Beyond the fields and factories, the family supports communities across Nicaragua and Honduras through education, medical care, and cultural enrichment programs, carrying forward five generations of stewardship.

Role Overview

This position is responsible for the overall coordination and execution of all relevant sales and marketing activities for the brands in the Greater Turkey & Middle East and Africa (GTR & MEA) region. The role aligns with the defined global strategy for relevant Duty-Free markets and focuses on the expansion of brands in key countries within the domestic MEA region.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive distribution expansion, brand visibility, and sales performance across key Duty-Free locations in Europe, the Middle East, and partly the Americas, as well as in key domestic countries across the MEA region.
• Focus on the availability of the core assortment and space allocation in permanent cabinets, humidors, and displays.
• Implement training, tobacco seminars, and forums to build brand image.
• Produce an Annual Sales plan and manage Sales & Marketing investments as per the defined strategy for relevant Duty-Free locations in Europe, the Middle East, and where applicable the Americas, as well as in key domestic countries across the MEA region.
• Provide quarterly updates and revisions via the KPI process.
• Establish and negotiate pricing structure within the region and ensure margin targets in KPI.
• Handle stock planning and management of inventory to ensure stock availability on the core assortment.
• Maintain close liaison with Marketing, Supply, and Finance teams, as well as other key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with the legal and regulatory environment for tobacco.

Professional Qualifications

• Exceptional understanding of marketing and consumer aspects of branded FMCG and Tobacco.
• Minimum of 3 years in a similar position with a working relationship with Global Travel Retail customers, especially in Europe, and deep knowledge of the Middle Eastern and African markets.
• First-class track record in delivering business growth.
• Extensive intercultural and people skills, with strength in relationship building.
• International mindset and experience.
• Experience in Distributor Management.
• Proven experience of implementing international group strategic plans on a country level.
• Working experience in an owner-managed company is an advantage.
• A background in the tobacco industry is considered a strong asset.
• Previous experience within the luxury goods industry is highly desirable.
• Education: MBA or equivalent.

Behavioral Attributes

• Open, direct, honest, and respectful.
• Strategic with a pragmatic hands-on approach.
• Hard worker, dynamic, with a high level of energy and hunger to succeed.
• Ability to build strong personal relationships at various levels, including key external people, central marketing, supply chain, and finance.
• Highly creative, trying out new ideas and approaches.
• Sees different aspects of a problem or situation, quickly adapts, identifies, and seeks advantage for the business.
• Reduces complexity and develops clear and simple plans.
• Challenges the status quo, speaks up with conviction even when unpopular, and leverages complementary strengths of the team by valuing different approaches, experiences, and expertise.
• Detail-oriented, solution-focused, and able to multi-task with solid organizational and time-management skills.
• Proactive, self-confident, and a highly motivated team player.
• International mindset: thinks global, acts local.
• High self-motivation and resilience.
• Flexible and mobile.
• Positive, has fun at work, and can laugh.