From Ground Zero to Market Leadership
Transformation Expert Imran Sheikh's Corporate Journey of Turning Around Businesses Across Saudi Arabia & GCC
Throughout my 30+ years as a transformation expert in the GCC corporate world, I have been privileged to work on projects that were not just “jobs” but true missions: shaping markets, building partnerships, and turning around businesses that many considered impossible to save. Below are five Business Development Consultancy case studies and results that defined my career and leadership philosophy. Each one demonstrates that with clarity, strategy, and relentless execution, extraordinary outcomes are not only possible, and they are repeatable.
1. Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Saudi Arabia – Creating a Market from Scratch
When Coca-Cola re-entered Saudi Arabia after 26 years of ban, the market was heavily dominated by Pepsi.
Most believed:
❌ Coca-Cola cannot survive here
❌ Consumers will not shift
❌ Market share will remain symbolic
We started with zero presence, no distribution network, and massive market resistance.
Through:
✅ Grassroot market penetration
✅ Strong distributor engagement
✅ Aggressive visibility & activations
✅ Relentless field execution
We achieved a remarkable:
28% market share from scratch
This was not just a business win. It was proof that commitment, belief, and hard work can rewrite market history.
2. eXtra Electronics – A 7-Year Hyper-Growth Transformation
When I took over the Abdul Latif Jameel business with eXtra Electronics (the leading power retailer in KSA – extra.com), annual turnover was:
📉 SAR 320,000 per year
Under my leadership, we built a growth machine based on:
✅ Store-level business plans
✅ Sell-out focused strategy
✅ Exclusive model development
✅ Joint marketing programs
✅ Deep customer-insight selling
The result?
📈SAR 178 million per year within 7 years
🔥Every year the business DOUBLED in revenue and profit
What started as a struggling relationship became one of the strongest retail partnerships in the industry.
3. ALJ & Bin Hamood – From Transactional to Strategic Partnership
Bin Hamood (bhstores.com) was another retailer/wholesaler partnership that needed direction.
We transformed:
❌ A typical supplier relationship
into
✅ A life-long strategic partnership
How?
✅ Category development
✅ Exclusive product ranges
✅ Shared investment programs
✅ Trust-based collaboration
Outcome:
🚀 Business grew 4x
🤝 Partnership elevated to strategic long-term cooperation.
4. Leading ALJ Electronics Kingdom-Wide
I was later given the responsibility to lead the entire electronics business of ALJ across Saudi Arabia, achieving:
💰SAR 900M revenue annually
Under this role, we unlocked massive growth in historically weak areas:
✅ Qassim
✅ Tabuk
✅Sakaka
We increased market share from:
📉 2% → 📈 12%
with 50%+ yearly growth
This was possible through:
✅ Channel restructuring
✅ Territory development
✅ Dealer empowerment
✅ Team capability building
✅ Laser-focused execution
5. Zamil AC & GE Appliances JV – A Complete Turnaround
This joint venture was experiencing:
❌ Heavy losses
❌Overdues
❌ Dead stock
❌ Weak distribution
❌ Retailer disengagement
I was assigned to turn it around.
Within ONE year:
✅ Returned the JV to profitability
✅ Cleared all overdue payments
✅ Liquidated dead warehouse stock
✅ Appointed new dealers & retailers
✅ Rebuilt confidence in the market
This turnaround remains one of the most rewarding achievements of my career.
What These Projects Taught Me
Success is not accidental.
It requires:
✅ Clarity in strategy
✅ Discipline in execution
✅ Ownership mindset
✅ Strong relationships
✅ Consistency
Today, as an International Business Coach, I help business owners and CEOs achieve the same:
🔥 Growth without chaos
🔥 Profit without pressure
🔥 Expansion with peace of mind
If you are building a business and want to scale it sustainably, I am always a call away.
