Mouna Mekni

• Identifying and penetrating new market segments within the fuel additives, adhesives, paint and coatings and polyurethane industries
• Designing and executing a growth strategy focused on understanding and meeting customer requirements, supported by comprehensive market research.
• Building and maintaining strong supplier relationships, negotiating favorable terms, and closing deals to secure essential materials and services.
• Offering expert technical guidance to customers throughout the testing process, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Increased client base by implementing strategic business development initiatives and fostering long-lasting partnerships.
• Initiated cross-functional collaborations with multiple departments, improving communication and project outcomes.
• Secured high-profile contracts through effective relationship management and persuasive negotiation skills.

Strategic Leadership & Business Development

• Implemented a comprehensive market analysis within paint & coatings and Adhesives industries to identify new opportunities and optimize our product portfolio, leading to the successful launch of eco-friendly emulsions and acrylic resins.
• Spearheaded business development efforts in Algeria, resulting in a 50% increase in revenue in Algeria.
• Led a successful market penetration in East Africa resulting in the acquisition of 10 new clients in Kenya.
• Managed a portfolio of 30 R&D projects.
• Planned and coordinated implementation of business plans and penetration of new markets.
• Developed comprehensive proposals to successfully win lucrative projects from major clients.
• Drove cost reduction initiatives by introducing a new line of economical products, streamlining production processes, and negotiating favorable terms with key suppliers.
• Provided strategic oversight on major projects ensuring timely completion within budget constraints.

Sales & Client Management

• Increased client base by implementing strategic business development initiatives and fostering long-lasting partnerships.
• Created customized solutions for clients by understanding their unique needs and preferences, leading to enhanced customer satisfaction levels.
• Resolved problems with high-profile customers to maintain relationships and increase return customer base.
• Established and maintained highly effective relationships with clients and industry partners to drive growth.
• Cultivated a strong network of industry contacts, leading to increased collaboration and referral opportunities.
• Communicated directly with customers and partners to build strong business networks and relationships.
• Communicated product quality and market comparisons by creating sales presentations.
• Organized seminars and interacted with community to increase sales volume.
• Demonstrated products to show potential customers benefits and advantages and encourage purchases.
• Prepared sales presentations for clients showing success and credibility of products.

Team Leadership & Management

• Led a multidisciplinary team of 5 engineers and 12 technicians to successfully develop and launch new product lines.
• Managed cross-functional teams to ensure seamless collaboration on key projects, enhancing overall performance.
• Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented a mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
• Streamlined internal processes for improved efficiency, resulting in increased productivity across the team.

Marketing & Sales Support

• Led successful trade show exhibitions that resulted in significant lead generation and networking opportunities within the industry.
• Led the technical documents : product brochure, data sheets and safety data sheet …creation and update.
• Directed the website redesign and content update
• Engaged in product training, demonstrations, consumer awareness, branding, and acquisition initiatives to raise awareness and revenues.

Strategic Leadership & Development

• Introduced a new range of unsaturated polyester resin products for composite materials manufacturing.
• Developed new aqueous emulsions and alkyd resins.
• Led a successful laboratory upgrade project, enhancing the department's capabilities for research and development.
• Evaluated emerging technologies to assess potential impact on current projects, driving informed decision-making throughout the R&D lifecycle.
• Established strategic partnerships with external organizations to enhance research capabilities, expand technical expertise, and drive industry collaboration.

Team Leadership & Management

• Demonstrated strong leadership skills in restructuring and reorganizing the R&D department.
• Coordinated multidisciplinary project teams to deliver complex research projects on schedule while meeting established budget constraints.
• Mentored junior researchers, fostering a culture of learning and professional growth within the R&D team.
• Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented a mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
• Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
• Championed a collaborative work environment within the R&D team through open communication channels and regular team-building activities.
• Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
• Conducted internal audits for ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety) standards.

Project Management & Execution

• Partnered with sales and strategy to identify new product opportunities, manage project portfolio and work assignments.
• Supported collaborative projects and worked closely with technical partners to deliver against portfolio roadmaps.
• Reduced time-to-market for new products by streamlining the prototyping process and leveraging rapid prototyping technologies.
• Planned, created, tested and deployed system life cycle methodology to produce high quality systems to meet and exceed customer expectations.
• Coordinated with purchasing department to identify new materials and technology.
• Developed and implemented plans to qualify alternate suppliers or new materials for manufacturing.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Improved product quality and reduced costs through optimized formulations and manufacturing processes.
• Led process optimization initiatives aimed at reducing costs while maintaining high-quality standards in product development efforts.
• Improved R&D processes for increased efficiency and quality by streamlining workflows and enhancing communication among team members.
• Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
• Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
• Optimized resource allocation by implementing project prioritization methodologies aligned with company strategic goals.

Customer Focus & Business Development

• Enhanced customer satisfaction by providing timely and effective technical support.
• Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
• Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
• Collaborated with sales and production teams to ensure effective product launches and seamless integration into existing offerings.
• Increased success rate of new products by conducting thorough market analyses and identifying untapped opportunities for growth.

Technical Expertise & Analysis

• Leveraged data and insights to inform conclusions and support decision-making.
• Liaised with key stakeholders to understand business requirements and expectations and develop strategic direction to R&D performance materials.
• Reviewed staff competencies to build employee skill sets based upon future technical requirements.

Product Development & Innovation

• Developed and optimized polymer formulations for a wide range of applications in the paint, adhesive, and coatings industries.
• Developed new products with cross-functional teams, resulting in increased market share and customer satisfaction.
• Successfully transferred new products from the laboratory to industrial scale, meeting demanding quality and cost targets.
• Conducted feasibility studies for new product ideas, evaluating their potential for commercial success before investing resources into development.
• Played a key role in the qualification of new raw materials, reducing time-to-market for innovative products.
• Designed custom solutions for clients' unique challenges, generating positive feedback from satisfied customers who valued personalized attention to detail in problem-solving endeavors.

Project Management & Execution

• Led engineering teams to successfully complete projects on time and within budget.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously prioritizing tasks meeting deadlines managing resources effectively.
• Collaborated with other departments to facilitate successful project completion.
• Documented and developed engineering procedures and processes.
• Developed comprehensive engineering documents for all projects.

Technical Expertise & Analysis

• Conducted research to identify and evaluate new technologies and concepts.
• Evaluated emerging technologies and industry trends landscape making informed recommendations for the incorporation of advancements into existing processes and products.
• Optimized current designs for increased efficiency, reducing raw material and production costs.
• Identified areas for improvement in existing products through rigorous testing and data evaluation.
• Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, standards, regulations, allowing for proactive adaptation of products as needed.

Customer Focus & Support

• Provided technical support to production and sales teams as well as customers, ensuring product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Supported business development efforts by providing technical expertise during client presentations and sales calls, helping secure major contracts with key customers.
• Assisted in the selection of materials for new product designs, balancing performance requirements with cost considerations.

Process Improvement & Quality Control

• Enhanced overall product quality by implementing strict quality control measures and continuous monitoring.
• Optimized current designs for increased efficiency, reducing raw material and production costs.

Team Collaboration & Mentorship

• Trained engineer interns in advanced techniques and methodologies, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing within the team.
• Presented findings from research projects at industry conferences, establishing a strong presence in the field of R&D engineering.

Operations & Supply Chain

• Partnered with suppliers to optimize raw material sourcing strategies, ensuring reliable supply chains and minimizing risks associated with procurement disruptions.

Professional Development

• Participated in relevant conferences and workshops staying abreast latest developments field expanding professional network knowledge base.