Wassim Makarem
Building and scaling of the next generation of online delivery: Q- Commerce | Chief Retail Officer at Talabat | C-Suite
The move
MoveThe Sultan Center → talabat
TitleGroup Marketing & E-Commerce Director → Chief Retail Officer (CRO)
LocationKuwait → Dubai
Career arcRecent arrival
Cross-border moveYes · Kuwait → United Arab Emirates
Years in UAE6.2
Total experience19.2 years
talabat headcount1,001-5,000 employees
talabat industryTechnology, Information and Internet
talabat HQDubai
talabat founded2004
talabat typePrivately Held
Career arc
- Chief Retail Officer (CRO)Jan 2024 — Present
talabat· Dubai, United Arab Emirates· Full-time
- Vice President Q-Commerce ; Vice President Regional MarketMar 2020 — Jan 2024
- Managing DirectorSep 2017 — Feb 2020
- Group Marketing & E-Commerce DirectorApr 2016 — Sep 2017
The Sultan Center· Kuwait
- Group E-Commerce DirectorOct 2014 — Sep 2017
- Group head of Commercial & Supply Chain DevelopmentMar 2011 — Oct 2014
- Commercial ManagerAug 2010 — Feb 2011
- Corporate Merchandise Division Manager - Supply Chain Division2007 — Oct 2010
Education
- American University of BeirutBS · Computer Science1998 — 2003
- International College (IC)High School Degree1994 — 1998
- IIM AhmedabadRetail Management Program · Retail Management2011 — 2011
- Lebanese Community School (LCS)Secondary Degree1985 — 1994
- Maastricht School of ManagementMBA · Emphasis on Strategic Management2004 — 2009
- INSEAD· Strategy in the age of Digital DisruptionOct 2022 — Dec 2022
Languages
- English
- Arabic · Limited working
Top skills
BudgetsFMCGInventory ManagementProcurementSupply ChainTeam Building
About
Passionate in building businesses from scratch, with a proven record of scaling them in a sustainable manner (in terms of growth and profitability) An expert in online delivery (on-demand services & marketplace) across multiple industries (food, groceries, pharmacy…). Experience extends up the value chain for grocery, restaurants, dark stores , pharmacies & flowers in developing and emerging markets. Currently building and pioneering Quick Commerce, the next generation of e-commerce, aiming to bring grocery and household goods to customers ultra-fast.