Rabee Abu-Kishek

rabee abu-kishek

DYNAMIC LEADER | BUSINESS GROWTH CATALYST | BRAND BUILDER | START-UP SPECIALIST | TALENT ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT EXPERT

United Arab Emirates

Bio Summary

I am a highly accomplished Non-Executive Director, Marketing and Communication Consultant with a track record of driving business performance and transformation throughout a career spanning over 30 years, that included 19 years of local, regional, and global marketing roles, and ultimately achieving the position of global head in Unilever. My expertise lies in B2C and B2B marketing, communication, business strategy development, leading-edge project management, as well as mentoring and coaching across various sectors.


As a Business Advisor, I break businesses away from a “sea of sameness”, fostering disruptive ideas, establishing brand purpose, and creating loved brands. Drawing from my experience as an entrepreneur who successfully founded a retail brand and as a managing partner in a boutique consultancy, I bring immense value in all aspects of starting and scaling businesses.


I am well-versed in using various proprietary personal development assessment tools and combine them with on-the-job training and coaching to maximize individual performance potential. Proficient in reflective, problem-based, and experiential learning, I possess deep insight into corporate culture and cultural protocols, fueling my effectiveness as a training consultant.


Before joining Unilever, I worked as a post-doctoral research Fellow at the University of Southampton. My research work, published in international journals, such as The British Journal of Physiology and Kidney International showcases my dedication to academic excellence and contribution to scientific advancement.

Employment History

The Talent Enterprise

Assessment Consultant/ Associate

The Talent Enterprise

July 2018 - present

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

I excel in running Assessment & Development centres for clients in both the private and public sectors. My expertise lies in conducting psychometric profiling, behavioral assessments, and delivering valuable development feedb ...see more
Napco National

Training & Marketing Consultant. Non-Executive Brand & Marketing Advisor

Napco National

January 2015 - present

Jeddah Saudi Arabia

As well as being an independent freelancer, I worked with esteemed organizations such PwC Academy, and Mercuri International to deliver impactful consultancy and training projects, and was able to leverage my expertise to dri ...see more
poupettealaplage

Co-Founder / Managing Director

poupettealaplage

June 2013 - present

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Successfully launched and scaled a high-end children's mix & match beachwear accessories brand, leveraging my expertise in business strategy, brand development, operations, and markets entry to quickly gain traction and estab ...see more
Misk Foundation

Senior Marketing & Communication Consultant

Misk Foundation

July 2019 - December 2022

Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Misk Foundation is an organization which aims to identify, develop, and nurture a new generation of Saudi leaders, creating opportunities for transformation and growth, aligned with the KSA 2030 Vision. In the last 3 years, m ...see more
Talogy

Marketing & Business development Director

Talogy

January 2019 - April 2019

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Talogy (previously PSI Middle East Services) is a specialized organization focusing on individual, team, and organizational assessments and development. In this position, I applied strategic thinking, client engagement, and m ...see more
MKH&Co

Managing Partner / Consultant

MKH&Co

November 2017 - December 2018

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

MKH&Co is a strategic advisory and management consultancy which offers unique & cost-effective solutions and proprietary tools in the areas of business, people, brand, and market to enable business prosperity. Across these pi ...see more
Unilever

VP Marketing , Oral Care - Africa Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia & Russia

Unilever

August 2008 - May 2013

London, UK

During my tenure, I drove significant revenue and bottom-line growth and played a pivotal role in strategic initiatives, fostering collaboration within Unilever's global operations and demonstrating my leadership abilities, s ...see more
Unilever

Regional Brand Director - South East Asia, Japan and Korea

Unilever

September 2006 - July 2008

Bangkok, Thailand

Delivered strong financial results and using my project management leadership skills to successfully manage complex brand initiatives, including the successful brand relaunch of Unilever’s biggest Face Care brand in Southea ...see more
Unilever

Marketing Director - GCC

Unilever

January 2004 - August 2006

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Delivered exceptional growth, introduced relevant product innovations, and executed impactful go-to-market strategies, demonstrating my ability to drive revenue growth, introduce successful product innovations, and execute ef ...see more
Unilever

Global Brands Manager, Household Care

Unilever

May 2002 - December 2003

London, UK

Achieved impressive business results, developed market-specific product offerings, and effectively utilized competitor intelligence for strategic advantage and developing market-specific strategies. Achievements: • Success ...see more
Unilever

Senior Brand Manager, Home Care - GCC

Unilever

November 1999 - April 2002

Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Led a significant turnaround in the laundry category trading contribution. • Successfully re-launched the laundry brand with a competitive positioning, revitalizing its market presence. • Drove operational effectiveness ...see more
Unilever

Brand Manager, Skin & Hair - GCC

Unilever

January 1997 - October 1999

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Drove substantial cost savings by implementing a strategic sourcing project and collaborated with the Innovation team to introduce a mix to fulfil an unmet consumer need in the market. • Achieved significant gross margin ...see more
Unilever

Management Trainee + Junior Roles - GCC

Unilever

September 1993 - December 1996

Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Gained valuable experience in various roles across different geographies as part of the Unilever Business Graduates Development Program. • Engaged in diverse roles across different geographies, including functions in R&D ...see more

Selected Project Experience

Project Description:
Relaunch of the biggest face care brand in Asia

Industry: Consumer Products

Topic(s): Brand Architecture, Communication, Communication Strategy, Consumer Promotions, Consumer Packaged Goods

Project Description:
Stakeholders and employee survey to determine perception /engagement with business corporate brand and strategic pillars which drive business performance

Industry: Consumer Products

Topic(s): Employee Engagement Surveys, Corporate Branding, Employee Research, Brand Design, Manifests

Certificates

Certified MBTI Practitioner Certified BPS Levels A&P Occupational Testing Certified Assessor TPC Leadership 'Talent Fit' Tool certified UK Driving License UAE Driving License

Education

Ph.D

University of Southampton, United Kingdom

2000

Language Skills

Country Experience

Egypt Indonesia Kuwait Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Thailand Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Korea Vietnam Dominican Republic Japan

Skills

Marketing and Public Relations

Brand Analysis,

Brand Architecture,

Brand Awareness,

Brand Communication,

Brand Extension,

Brand Enhancement,

Brand Language,

Brand Identity,

Brand Loyalty,

Brand Management,

Brand Marketing,

Brand Positioning,

Brand Representation,

Brand Strategy,

Branding Campaigns,

Co-Branding,

Branding,

Corporate Branding,

Digital Brand Engagement,

Affiliate Marketing,

Business-To-Consumer (B2C) Marketing,

Business-To-Business (B2B) Marketing

Design

Brand Design,

Brand Style Guides

Human Resources

Employer Branding,

Employer Brand Marketing,

Talent Management

Business

Business Strategy,

Category Strategy

Information Technology

Agile Project Management

Industry Experience

Consumer Products

Food and Beverage,

Retail, Wholesale and Distribution

Technology

eCommerce (B2B),

eCommerce (B2C)

Public Sector

Education

Healthcare

Professional Services

Management Consulting,

Marketing and advertising,

People and Talent