Sven Knapen's Email Addresses & Phone Numbers

Outgoing Marketing graduate with a strong flair for Sales and experiences both in International Sales as well as Marketing.International Account Manager @ • Responsible for the international roll out of the repositioned Duc d'O brand in the emerging markets of Latin America (Mexico, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru and the Central American Countries) • Responsible for the...

Outgoing Marketing graduate with a strong flair for Sales and experiences both in International Sales as well as Marketing.International Account Manager @ • Responsible for the international roll out of the repositioned Duc d'O brand in the emerging markets of Latin America (Mexico, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru and the Central American Countries) • Responsible for the further development of the repositioned Duc d'O brand in Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Canary Islands, Malta, Bulgaria and Croatia • Improved Spanish negotiation skills by working on deals with the biggest Latin American retailers such as Wal*Mart, Soriana, Chedraui, Cencosud and others • Improved management skills by developing both sales and financial businessplans as well as in-depth forecasting analysis • Gained considerable knowledge of and insight into the Latin American market by analysing the most efficient 'route-to-market' which means choosing between a direct retail approach and an importer aproach From January 2014 to Present (2 years) Account Manager Belgium & Luxembourg @ • Jointly responsible for the national roll out of the repositioned Duc d'O brand in the Belgian and Luxembourgian market • Successfully introduced the rebranded Duc d'O innovations to the top retailers and wholesalers of the country • Increased national sales by efficiently managing various strong promotion campaigns at existing customers and by tapping new business opportunities such as the launch of the brand at the biggest petrol stations • Participated to various trade fairs to increase brand awareness • Honed negotiation skills and gained considerable knowledge of and insight into the market, the products and the customers From October 2012 to January 2014 (1 year 4 months) BelgiumJunior Brand Manager Côte d'Or Seasonals @ • Jointly responsible for seasonal projects related to Côte d'Or pralines (Mignonnette/Bouchée/Carré) and Easter eggs • Efficiently managed a budget of €1,000,000 • Improved leadership skills by managing and working on (team) projects from start to finish including tasks such as market analysis, product development, financial and volume alignment, sales catalogue creation and 360° marketing activation • Performed in-depth market and consumer analysis, making use of specific business applications for selling-in, selling-out (Nielsen), pricing and consumer metrics (GfK & Ipsos BHT) • Honed negotiation and communication skills by preparing and giving clear and detailed agency briefings and internal presentations • Improved creativity by developing a 360° marketing plan including pack development, design change, PLV creation, and ATL (TVC/Outdoor/Digital) and BTL (In-store/Outdoor/Crossroads/City-Centre) support • Learned how to perform in an international and cross-departmental environment, successfully dealing with long lead times, specific procedures and long approval flows From June 2011 to July 2012 (1 year 2 months) BelgiumCommercial Trainee - Field Promotor @ • Was a successful member of various field teams responsible for selling Kraft power brands (such as Cote d’Or, Milka, LU, Philadelphia, Miracoli, Cadbury) to Carrefour, Delhaize, Spar, Makro/Metro, Match, Mesdagh/Champion etc. in Antwerp, De Kempen and Brussels • Gained considerable knowledge of and insight into the market, the products, the customers and consumers • Developed awareness of the differences in preferences and the way of working with regard to various customers and geographic regions • Acquired skills such as selling various promotions, introducing new products, creating in-store events and carrying out regular retail audits • Improved negotiation skills based on the theory learned at the Kraft Sales Academy which taught me how to deal with demanding and difficult customers • Acquired skills such as scheduling appointments with customers, managing administrative information and pre-empting or solving problems caused by logistical delays, miscommunication and expired products • Improved creativity and eye for detail by placing products in the most visible places and using as much PLV as possible to make eye-catching displays • Gained knowledge about different types of promotions, PLV and displays and understand why some are more attractive, usable and effective than others • Learned how to meet deadlines and multitask by working in a structured and efficient manner • Learned how to work independently and deal with a considerable amount of responsibility From October 2009 to May 2011 (1 year 8 months) BelgiumHoliday Job: Marketing @ • Worked in a field marketing team responsible for the distribution of free promotional material • Acquired skills such as managing the delivery of the required free products • Honed negotiation skills by interacting with people from all backgrounds and solving conflict situations • Improved creativity and eye for detail by setting up the promotion stand in the most visible places From July 2009 to July 2009 (1 month) Antwerp Area, BelgiumOrganizing Committee President Jobdays/Jobfair 2008 @ Responsible for the organization of the annual Jobdays/Jobfair event in the AIESEC Campus Recruitment eXPerience Program at the University of Antwerp which involved contacting/inviting several companies, creating publicity (poster/flyer), reserving parking spots, providing food and beverages and managing the placement of various company stand in the foreseen jobfair area From July 2008 to December 2008 (6 months) Antwerp Area, BelgiumWeekend Job: Field Support @ • Worked in a team of 15 responsible for placing promotional material at strategic locations during events such as GVA Trofee Veldrijden, Maanrock, Bollekesfeesten, Antwerp 10 Miles etc. • Acquired skills such as scheduling the allocation of the required materials for a specific event • Solved organizational and logistical problems due to unexpected weather conditions and technical defects • Learned how to meet deadlines even if that involved working overnight From July 2006 to December 2008 (2 years 6 months) BelgiumWeekend Job: Sous-Chef @ • Acquired skills such as dealing with repetitive tasks • Collaborated with team members to achieve better results resulting in more satisfied customers • Learned how to meet deadlines and acquired skills such as staying calm in stressful situations • Created and organized special theme dinners to attract new customers • Improved social skills by serving clients as politely as possible • Developed multi-tasking skills by preparing different dishes at the same time From March 2002 to December 2008 (6 years 10 months) BelgiumHoliday Job: Marketing @ • Worked in a field marketing team responsible for the distribution of free promotional material • Acquired skills such as managing the delivery of the required free products • Honed negotiation skills by interacting with people from all backgrounds and solving conflict situations • Improved creativity and eye for detail by setting up the promotion stand in the most visible places From July 2008 to July 2008 (1 month) Antwerp Area, BelgiumInternship (Impact of Mobile Couponing) @ Significant Marketing course work for These Days communications agency (Antwerp): Business/Marketing research on the potential and impact of Mobile Couponing From September 2007 to June 2008 (10 months) Antwerp Area, BelgiumHoliday Job: Facility Management @ • Sorted out how to handle order vouchers efficiently and learned how to get packages ready on time to send to various distributors • Achieved skills such as working in a very orderly manner and arranging a warehouse efficiently From July 2007 to July 2007 (1 month) Antwerp Area, BelgiumHoliday Job: Facility Management @ • Sorted out how to handle order vouchers efficiently and learned how to get packages ready on time to send to various distributors • Achieved skills such as working in a very orderly manner and arranging a warehouse efficiently From July 2006 to July 2006 (1 month) Antwerp Area, BelgiumHoliday Job: Facility Management @ • Sorted out how to handle order vouchers efficiently and learned how to get packages ready on time to send to various distributors • Achieved skills such as working in a very orderly manner and arranging a warehouse efficiently From July 2005 to July 2005 (1 month) Antwerp Area, BelgiumBachelor and Master, Commercial Engineering (Business and Sciences), Major in Marketing @ Universiteit Antwerpen From 2004 to 2009 Master, Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales @ Universidad de Sevilla From 2008 to 2008 A-Level, Mathematics - Sciences @ Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Presentatie Sint-Niklaas From 1998 to 2004 A-Level, Primary School @ Sint-Lutgart Belsele From 1992 to 1998 Sven Knapen is skilled in: Marketing Strategy, Customer Insight, Brand Management, Marketing Communications, FMCG, English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Consumer Insight, Media, Chocolate, Sales Presentations, Field Marketing