Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
References
Phone
Additional Qualifications
Timeline
Generic
Syed Farhan Absar

Syed Farhan Absar

Whitby,Canada

Summary

Visionary leader with proven track record in steering organizations toward success through strategic planning and effective management. Skilled in building cohesive teams, driving innovation, and enhancing operational efficiency to achieve business objectives. Demonstrated ability to transform challenges into opportunities, resulting in significant impact on company growth and profitability.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Vice President of Franchising and Operations

The Davis Group
09.2022 - Current
  • Crafted and implemented strategic initiatives to align with organizational vision.
  • Implemented strategies boosting workplace performance.
  • Managed strategic joint venture agreements and acquisition efforts.
  • Finalized agreements with vendors for services and products.
  • Managed financial operations, overseeing budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis activities.
  • Oversaw human resources functions such as recruitment, employee relations, training and benefits administration.
  • Coordinated various departmental activities to maintain operational efficiency.
  • Established performance standards for staff members in order to drive productivity levels up.
  • Organized special projects such as corporate events or marketing campaigns.
  • Collaborated with executive team members on major decisions regarding company-wide initiatives.
  • Created effective communication strategies between management team members and employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Implemented process improvement procedures that resulted in cost savings across the board.
  • Maintained relationships with key stakeholders by attending meetings and responding promptly to inquiries or requests for information.
  • Reviewed reports from functional areas to assess progress towards organizational goals.
  • Analyzed market trends to identify opportunities for growth within existing markets or new ones.
  • Assisted with product launches by coordinating promotional activities with sales teams.
  • Advised senior executives on approaches for resolving complex issues impacting operations.
  • Developed and implemented strategic plans to achieve company objectives.
  • Hired, trained, and mentored staff members to maximize productivity.
  • Signed and approved budgets for new funding and program initiatives.
  • Implemented strategic offerings to enhance company's suite of products and services.
  • Oversaw technological improvements, successfully reducing waste and eliminating business bottlenecks.
  • Optimized supply chain to reduce materials costs and improve distribution.
  • Led strategic planning and execution to enhance profitability and company growth.

Sr Director of Franchising, OPS and Development

The Davis Group
01.2020 - 08.2022
  • Accountable for recruiting, hiring, coaching, developing and assessing the operations team
  • Execute a calendared performance management system providing constructive, actionable feedback
  • Coordinate with members of development team and related departments to assure new restaurants open successfully and in a timely manner
  • Facilitate restaurant operations to achieve annual operating budget goals and company sales targets
  • Review and analyze financial statements with Business Consultants on a regular basis and develop action plans to improve results and profitability
  • Develop strategies to accelerate retail and service revenue growth
  • Strengthen relationships and influence with the HQ team
  • Manage and de-escalate challenges
  • Taking two of the brands internationally with organic growth plan, recruited 2 developers and working to finalize 3 new development deals in Gulf and Europe Market
  • Develop regional plans
  • Set and manage Budgets/Goals
  • Support recruiting and talent acquisition for key advertising publishing related roles across the organization
  • Projects and initiatives may include for example: (new) business model evolutions, scoping and launching new lines of business, pricing and go-to-market strategy, supply and sales organization optimization, post-merger integrations of supply teams etc
  • Responsible for Franchise department EBITDA

Regional Director of Operations and Development

The Davis Group
11.2015 - 12.2020
  • Directly reporting to the COO; leading the team of multiple Area Director/Regional Managers
  • Leading the operation and development of five iconic brands under The Davis Group called the INS Market, International News, Treats Café, Fit for Life and Pure Health responsible for companies’ operations and development budget
  • Successfully established the restaurants, Café’s, In-line concepts, Kiosks and markets by performing site assessments, analyzing high traffic areas, overseeing construction, developing menus, and driving sales
  • Recruiting 12+ Area Director and Regional Managers
  • Worked with designers to rebranded Café’s, markets, and food-based concept
  • Successfully developed a loyalty program which led to an increase of 10% in sales
  • Worked on development of a number of city and provinces throughout Canada and USA, launching 5 + locations in each region while overseeing franchising, recruiting, lease negotiation, construction and training
  • Worked towards new sell/re sell of the stores while managing store transfers, franchise recruitment
  • Creating a business plan for a laser sharp focused on international growth
  • Leading all companies store conversions
  • Successfully development ordering method launching a self-serve kiosk
  • Organize trade shows to generate franchise lead while dealing with vendors and the landlord
  • Working closely with legal counsel in ensuring all disclosure documents, letter of intent, head lease and any other document related to franchising is accurate and served in accordance with the law
  • Working closely with executive of real estate with acquisition of brands
  • Negotiating with several contractors, vendors and suppliers during development to ensure companies profitability
  • Worked closely with different departments in commanding proposals, presentations, RFPs, and other material as necessitated
  • Responsible for all company and Franchise stores performance, Sales and EBITDA
  • Dealing with Customer Satisfaction and helping the organization in meeting targets and exceeding the forecasts for each period as well as monitoring all staff and managers’ development plan

Vice President of Business Development

Sbarro Canada
10.2014 - 11.2015
  • Key member of the executive team involved in setting company's strategic direction
  • Created and implemented an exclusive commissary program for Sbarro, which increased profit stream from 6% (previous vendor) to 37% in less than 1 year
  • Created an exclusive operational planner for Sbarro, which lead to company’s success by controlling labor production helping the franchise/corporate location as well as reducing the food cost and controlling the waste
  • Initiated and led business development initiatives companywide consistent with the company's vision
  • Managed and ensured smooth operation of 60+ business initiatives in a new environment
  • Efficiently generated revenue of $40M, strategic partnership development, client relationships, and management
  • Established and led a strong business development team of 450+ people focused on a collaborative partnership
  • Successfully managed negotiation of a 50+ leases, closed deals, and worked with legal counsel
  • Embodied and positively enforced the company's work ethic, culture, value of sales, and business development
  • Established the company's approach in dealing with the marketplace
  • Spearheaded initiatives to develop the brand through encouraging prime location development, quality, marketing, sales, and strong franchise support
  • Competently generated sales analysis reports, marketing reports, growth forecasts, summaries, and fostered a culture of exceeding sales targets by 5%+
  • Entire Canadian market ended in May 2015 with 10.3% positive sales growth vs
  • 6.3% (national avg.)

Director of Operations

Sbarro LLC, USA
04.2013 - 10.2014
  • Responsible for overseeing 24 Italian Eatery's, with 25+ million-dollar sales revenue
  • Full operational responsibility of growing restaurant sales, labor management, profits and operational excellence
  • Ability to impact events through coaching, counseling, and influencing others to accomplish desired outcomes
  • Strategic and tactical thinking to execute the market growth plans over a multi-year time horizon
  • Ability to constantly prioritize and re prioritize activities based on changing needs
  • Ability to forge high performing working relationships with other disciplines, especially construction managers and operations managers
  • Achieved 20---- point margin improvement in agency P&L vs
  • Original budget for 2013
  • Achieving targets in a dynamic and complex business environment
  • Team leading and people development skills while managing a diverse group of 250+ highly skilled people
  • Recruited General Managers, Assistant Managers and staff members of the stores and trained/developed them in their respective positions, as well as overseeing their responsibilities to help them receive promotions
  • Successfully established corporate stores in the several regions by negotiating leases and assessing the high traffic area, thus ensuring extensive profit from the stores

Director of Events

Sbarro LLC, New York, USA
01.2013 - 04.2013
  • Initiated Daytona Speedway ensuring the successful operation of the organization
  • Dealing with sales, profits and customer satisfaction and overseeing operations in meeting targets and exceeding the forecasts for each period
  • Launched well received programs of professional development for staff and mentored and coached employees
  • Developed strategic marketing plans resulting in an increase in sales profit while controlling costs
  • Led and directed entire Daytona Speedway team on operations, procedures that adhered to company policies
  • Supervised personnel while maintaining adequate staffing and control labor
  • Generated over 500k+ in 5 days period with profitability of 23%

Regional Manager

Sbarro
Toronto, Canada
08.2008 - 12.2012
  • Monitored budgetary issues, scheduling, and payroll including maintaining food/labor costs at or below budget for each period
  • Adhered to the Sbarro recipes, methods, and procedures as well as, monitored and assisted counter servers/food production workers during high volume periods
  • Maintained health related requirements including proper sanitation and cleanliness of the unit
  • Analyzed customer needs and purchasing trends valuably deciding product additions and proper mix of food
  • Managed the inventory of food items/supplies on a regular basis and always responded to customer complaints and incidents
  • Recruited staff members of the unit and trained/developed them in their respective positions, as well as overseeing their responsibilities

District Manager

Pizza Pizza
Ontario, Canada
02.2007 - 09.2008
  • Excelled in sales and profits by 5%, ensuring business initiatives are a success
  • Managed restaurant guests according to the company guest services policy by handling their complaints and supervising employees to provide exceptional customer service and conducting safe production of food products
  • Engaged in the recruitment process, provided onsite training, supervised staff members on company policies, reviewed staff performances and assisted with growth and development
  • Handled company budget, met revenue targets of $10M, as well as maintained all labor costs well within the budget
  • Conducted field visits to ensure company standards are exceptional

Multi-unit Manager

Tim Horton’s
Toronto, Canada
10.2005 - 02.2007
  • Recruited and supervised 100+ highly motivated staff as well as, successfully managed scheduling, ordering, payroll, motivated employees, and was sales focused
  • Coordinated with the Vice President for planning store expansion, setting up budgets, altering policies and increasing productivity

Education

Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management

05.2009

Business Management

11.2007

Skills

  • Franchising
  • Real Estate
  • Budgeting
  • Payroll Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Recruitment Expertise
  • Instructional Design
  • Strategic Problem Resolution
  • Decision Making
  • Management Reports
  • Presentations
  • Handling Defaults
  • Leadership
  • Effective Team Contributor
  • Self-Driven Project Management
  • Autonomous Task Management
  • Cost Control
  • Cash Management
  • Written Communication
  • Verbal Communication
  • Food Safety Evaluation
  • License Approvals
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Client Interaction
  • Customer Service
  • Marketing Knowledge
  • New Business Development
  • Forecasting
  • Workflow Optimization
  • Business growth and marketing strategies
  • Negotiation and persuasion
  • Critical thinking
  • Performance monitoring and evaluation
  • Policy and procedure development
  • Resource allocation
  • Partnerships and affiliations
  • Cross-functional team leadership
  • Performance metrics analysis
  • Complex Problem-solving

Accomplishments

  • Successfully motivated and managed a team of 450+ employees focused on increasing profits
  • Profitably opened over 100+ franchise locations for the company in Canada and USA
  • Focused on meeting targets, exceeding profit objectives, solving problems, maintaining a proactive human resource function, and creating a positive work environment
  • Reinforced the company policy across departments
  • Recruited and selected the Executive Team and assisted the HR department with employee relation issues
  • Supervised all performance objectives of the leisure center and implemented marketing strategies to gain attraction
  • Managed day-to-day operations, fiscal management, administration and overall compliance
  • Assisted in planning and executing a strategic road map for the company to follow
  • Implemented operation systems and procedures to build an efficient organization while mentored project teams to drive quality improvements
  • Led operations to optimize efficiency and maximize profitability as well as, evaluated and managed all operation related functions and activities
  • Worked with the production department to incorporate site content and meet client deadlines/expectations
  • Coordinated with Board of Directors to implement company strategies with the Executive Leadership team
  • Developed and executed a QSCC system for the company to follow, which helped increase the profitability by 2.3%

References

Available on Request

Phone

mobile, +1 647 919 0645

Additional Qualifications

  • Advanced FST - Food Safety Training in Canada and Lifesaver 101 First Aid and CPR Training
  • Valid G driver’s license and able to engage in extensive travel
  • Proficient in Windows and MAC operating systems
  • Expertise in MS Office, Microsoft Outlook, Java Software, Networking, and Data Entry Systems

Timeline

Vice President of Franchising and Operations

The Davis Group
09.2022 - Current

Sr Director of Franchising, OPS and Development

The Davis Group
01.2020 - 08.2022

Regional Director of Operations and Development

The Davis Group
11.2015 - 12.2020

Vice President of Business Development

Sbarro Canada
10.2014 - 11.2015

Director of Operations

Sbarro LLC, USA
04.2013 - 10.2014

Director of Events

Sbarro LLC, New York, USA
01.2013 - 04.2013

Regional Manager

Sbarro
08.2008 - 12.2012

District Manager

Pizza Pizza
02.2007 - 09.2008

Multi-unit Manager

Tim Horton’s
10.2005 - 02.2007

Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management

Business Management

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Syed Farhan Absar