Rafik Manaa
@rafikmanaa
International business development & marketing manager building growth, partnerships, and market launches.
What I'm looking for
I’m an International Business Development & Marketing Manager with 11+ years of cross-functional experience across Europe, the GCC, and APAC. I build and scale commercial operations from the ground up—translating market intelligence into actionable go-to-market strategies.
Most recently, I led full product launch execution at Guide In City, bringing a B2C tourism app from concept to market with launch-night traction through a press and influencer-led strategy. I built and managed a 9-person cross-functional team, owned full-cycle recruitment, and negotiated premium media partnerships and sponsored content deals. I also drove influencer partnership strategy and managed end-to-end operations, from legal compliance and vendor management to quality assurance and marketing budget oversight.
Earlier roles strengthened my B2B pipeline and consultative selling skills, including full sales-cycle ownership at Uber for Business and performance optimization expertise with Google Ads. I’ve also delivered go-to-market consulting for SMEs and startups—covering SEO/SEA setup, brand storytelling, and event production—while consistently focusing on revenue growth, brand positioning, and high-impact execution.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Luxury Client Experience Specialist
Farfetch
Aug 2025 - Present (10 months)
Managed end-to-end handling of complex, high-value luxury client cases aligned with luxury brand standards. Supported customer retention and contributed to overall team performance.
Head of Operations & BD
Guide In City (GIC)
Nov 2023 - Oct 2024 (11 months)
Led a full product launch from zero, bringing a B2C tourism app to market and reaching 3,000 downloads on launch night via a 150-guest press, influencer, and B2B event produced at zero cash cost. Built and led a 9-person cross-functional team, negotiated premium media partnerships, contracted influencers with 7.5M+ combined followers, and managed end-to-end operations including AED 10,000 marketin
Business Development Partner
ON11ZE Agency
Feb 2023 - Feb 2024 (1 year)
Co-led commercial strategy for a creative marketing agency, responsible for new business acquisition, pitch development, and client onboarding across three international markets. Initiated and executed multi-market expansion into France, Arab, and Brazil through media partnerships and targeted outreach campaigns.
Marketing & Business Dev Consultant
Kharoub Dev
Sep 2021 - Aug 2023 (1 year 11 months)
Provided end-to-end marketing consulting for SMEs and startups, including go-to-market strategy, SEO/SEA setup, brand storytelling, and event production. Drove measurable growth by combining paid acquisition, organic growth, and content marketing.
Business Development Representative
Uber
May 2019 - Jan 2020 (8 months)
Managed a portfolio of ~200 corporate accounts on Uber for Business, owning the B2B sales cycle from prospecting and SaaS solution pitching to lead qualification and handoff for contract closure. Generated 3+ qualified discovery meetings per week through cold outreach and consultative selling, and coordinated corporate onboarding to support retention and reduce churn.
Google Ads Specialist
Jun 2018 - Jan 2019 (7 months)
Advised SME clients on multichannel Google Ads optimization via phone, chat, and email support. Trained clients on Google Ads best practices to drive data-led improvements in ROI and audience strategy.
Business Developer
Discountlight
Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 (1 month)
Built a B2B pipeline from scratch by running cold outreach campaigns, establishing a regional client portfolio, and closing sales for tailored B2B lighting solutions. Developed channel partnerships with suppliers and resellers to expand market reach across South East France.
Sales Engineer
StrongLed
Jan 2017 - Nov 2017 (10 months)
Led business development across MEA, India, and ANZ by building and maintaining a regional client portfolio through market research, trade show participation, and distributor outreach. Delivered technical sales presentations for LED infrastructure solutions and coordinated logistics and contract execution for large-scale projects.
Market Development Associate
Euro-USA Chamber of Commerce
Jan 2017 - Nov 2017 (10 months)
Facilitated B2B matchmaking and trade negotiations between European and Chinese companies to support cross-border market entry. Developed marketing strategies for cross-border trade events and delegations while building a network across government bodies, chambers, and private-sector partners.
Marketing Project Manager
Swisstank
Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 (11 months)
Managed multi-channel marketing plans supporting international client business expansion from strategic planning through full execution. Coordinated international teams and ensured culturally aligned messaging across APAC and European markets.
Sales & Business Development Assistant
Mercure Les Deux Alpes
Oct 2012 - Jul 2014 (1 year 9 months)
Developed new revenue streams by acquiring corporate clients and tour operators to diversify the hotel's B2B portfolio. Supported occupancy campaigns and coordinated hospitality events to drive performance during low seasons.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
University of Burgundy
Bachelor's degree, International Marketing Techniques
2014 - 2015
Completed a bachelor's program in International Marketing Techniques at the University of Burgundy (France), including study at South China Normal University (China), from 2014 to 2015.
Tourism & Hospitality Institution
Bachelor's degree, Business Units Management
2012 - 2014
Earned a bachelor's degree in Business Units Management at a Tourism & Hospitality Institution in France from 2012 to 2014.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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