Rakesh Ram MCIM
Dubai
Summary
Accomplished professional with more than 15 years of demonstrated success in developing and enforcing strategic approaches to drive market growth and profitability. Strategic marketing and business development leader with forward-thinking and creative approaches to establishing revenue channels, enhancing sales funnels, devising and executing diversification and expansion strategies, mounting strategic partnerships, brand reputation, visibility, revenue growth, budgeting, consumer engagement, and implementing targeted marketing strategies for educational and business organizations. An innovative higher education leader, with 10 years’ experience in Higher Education marketing and recruitment with particular emphasis on local and international student recruitment and development. Managed and led recruitment and international partnership development for a range of markets with the main emphasis on Africa and Asia.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Partnerships, Outreach and Regional Development Manager
Middlesex University Dubai
06.2023 - Current
- Leading the strategic development and implementation of partnerships, outreach, and regional expansion initiatives across global markets to drive student recruitment and institutional growth
- Identifying and developing new markets and growth opportunities by initiating long-term partnerships with schools, educational groups, and agents worldwide
- Overseeing outreach strategies to enhance regional engagement, strengthen Middlesex University Dubai’s profile, and build valuable networks across key regions such as GCC, Africa, South Asia, Europe and emerging territories
- Collaborating with academic and professional services teams to design and implement programme-focused initiatives that align with market demands and university goals
Associate Director - Marketing, Business Development and Communication
Middlesex University Mauritius
08.2021 - 05.2023
- Promoted within4 years due to strong performance and organisational impact
- Lead the university’s recruitment, marketing, business development and communications efforts
- Lead international recruitment team, manage international recruitment territories, develop relationships with international counsellors, and increase articulation agreements to expand the international enrolment at the university while enhancing Middlesex’s presence abroad
- Provide direction and leadership in the administration, management, strategic planning and institutional effectiveness by identifying and developing new business opportunities as well as expanding the Middlesex University Mauritius brand presence
- Collaborate across the university to improve the quality and range of programs and services; extend reach beyond the university by establishing partnerships with community representatives, industry partners, and other stakeholders
- Strategise best use of budget for student recruitment and enrollment activities, including replicable and sustainable events and practices that meet long and short-term goals
- Strengthen University operations by aligning processes to capitalise on new educational trends
- Lead cross-functional teams, manages existing partnerships as well as stakeholder relationships, and develop an institutional marketing plan to drive student recruitment, increase brand equity and support the delivery of the University’s strategic plan
- 5 years11 months
Head of Marketing, Student Recruitment and Admissions
Middlesex University Mauritius
07.2017 - 08.2021
- Implemented marketing strategies to achieve a40% increase in student enrolment, despite5% and10% increases in tuition fees for local and international students
- Devised a pricing and branding strategy to launch a new pricing model; reached registrations over60 % with improved promotional approaches, outreach strategies and parent engagement plans
- Created effective and user-friendly processes for both admissions and applicant review through an online application portal that led to an increase of55% of the number of applications where students can track own progress
- Expanded institutional social channels to include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube while managing monthly e-newsletters, to attain social media return on investment by215% and digital marketing lead generation by130%
- Overhauled the University’s website by increasing graphics usage by50% and mobile responsiveness by100%; generated70% more leads via email capture forms, reduced bounce rate by20%
- Spearheaded the University’s entry into the African and Indian market, growing the University’s international student base by30%
- 4 years2 months
Head of Marketing, Public Relations & Communications
Amity University
03.2013 - 07.2017
- Expanded student numbers by20% by implementing robust international marketing strategies
- Strengthened partnership with the University of Northampton ensuring an overall increase of200% in the number of leads and engagement
- Defined the company’s marketing and communications strategy
- Developed and implemented creative marketing and communications campaigns
- Simplified a process re-engineering project to consolidate end-to-end service processes; restructured communication flow among5 departments, and cut down paperwork by75%
- Machinated and deployed online marketing plans with effective SEO, social media and viral video campaign strategies, increasing Twitter following by200%, Facebook by500%+and Instagram by500%
- Led the implementation of an international marketing and business development plan in Africa
- 4 years5 months
Marketing Director
HYPERPHARM LTD
01.2009 - 02.2013
- Grew sales by45% in one year with a massive increase in website traffic and online sales
- Planned highly successful marketing strategies and market research efforts, resulting in the opening of3 new pharmacies around the island
- Developed e-commerce strategies including optimizing advertisement placement, newsletters and promotional communication; increased online sales by25%
- Created content and copy for social media channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and email newsletter; assessed customer response to create targeted messaging and inform future content; social media following grew by125%+organically
- Piloted retail distribution expansion in3 new territories and markets in Kenya, Botswana and Seychelles; wrote and executed a business plan that resulted in70% sales growth
- Introduced customer referral program, leading to a50% increase in referral business and15% of incremental revenue
- 5 years2 months
Marketing Manager
HYPERPHARM LTD
01.2008 - 12.2008
- 1 year
Assistant Manager Marketing Communications
Xprim Communication
01.2001 - 12.2007
- 7 years
Education
Professional membership -
CIM | The Chartered Institute of Marketing
Master class - Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
Digital Marketing Institute
Executive MBA - undefined
Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management University
MA Marketing - Marketing
The University of Northampton
Bachelor's degree, BSc (Hons) - Tourism and Hospitality Management
University of Technology Mauritius
Skills
- Digital & Traditional Media Marketing
▪Team Training & Development
▪Brand management
▪Budgeting & Resource Optimisation
▪Financial Aid Marketing
▪Stakeholder Engagement
▪Business Development
▪Data Analytics & Insights
▪Strategic Alliances
▪Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
▪Project Management
▪Enrolment management
Timeline
Partnerships, Outreach and Regional Development Manager
Middlesex University Dubai
06.2023 - Current
Associate Director - Marketing, Business Development and Communication
Middlesex University Mauritius
08.2021 - 05.2023
Head of Marketing, Student Recruitment and Admissions
Middlesex University Mauritius
07.2017 - 08.2021
Head of Marketing, Public Relations & Communications
Amity University
03.2013 - 07.2017
Marketing Director
HYPERPHARM LTD
01.2009 - 02.2013
Marketing Manager
HYPERPHARM LTD
01.2008 - 12.2008
Assistant Manager Marketing Communications
Xprim Communication
01.2001 - 12.2007
Master class - Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
Digital Marketing Institute
Executive MBA - undefined
Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management University
MA Marketing - Marketing
The University of Northampton
Bachelor's degree, BSc (Hons) - Tourism and Hospitality Management
University of Technology Mauritius
Professional membership -
CIM | The Chartered Institute of Marketing
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