Novruz Alkhanov
Baku
Summary
Senior Commercial & Business Development Leader with 10+ years of progressive experience in FMCG retail, food distribution, and category management. Proven track record of driving revenue growth, expanding market share, optimizing category profitability, and leading high-performing commercial teams.
Extensive expertise in P&L ownership, strategic sourcing, international supplier negotiations, and retail commercialization. Strong background in launching new brands, building distribution networks, and managing multi-million AZN business portfolios.
Recognized for aligning commercial strategy with operational execution to deliver sustainable growth and competitive advantage.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Business Development Manager
GudFood LLC
Baku
2024.06 - 2026.02
- Lead strategic expansion of international food brands in Azerbaijan market
- Develop and negotiate distribution agreements with global suppliers
- Drive HoReCa and retail channel growth initiatives
- Manage commercial partnerships and long-term supplier relationships
- Identify new market opportunities and implement growth strategies
Head of HPC Commercial
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
Baku
2022.08 - 2024.04
- Assisted in developing commercial strategies for health and personal care category.
- Supported management of full P&L responsibilities for assigned portfolio.
- Facilitated supplier negotiations and contributed to annual commercial planning.
- Helped optimise assortment strategy and promotional performance.
- Aided in improving category profitability and market positioning.
Head of Fresh Food Commercial
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
Baku
2021.10 - 2022.08
- Assisted in overseeing fresh food commercial operations within retail network.
- Supported supplier partnerships and pricing strategies.
- Contributed to category development and margin improvement initiatives.
- Facilitated coordination between operations and procurement teams.
Senior Category manager
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
Baku
2019.05 - 2021.09
- Assisted in developing strategies for category growth and annual business planning.
- Conducted thorough market analysis and outlined competitive benchmarks.
- Supported management in maintaining key supplier relationships and negotiated contracts.
- Helped achieve commercial targets and execute promotional plans.
Category manager
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
Baku
2015.06 - 2019.04
- Assisted in managing product assortment and developing pricing strategies.
- Supported negotiations for trade agreements and promotional investments.
- Monitored stock performance and contributed to sales optimisation.
Category manager
Bazarstore LLC
Baku
2014.10 - 2015.05
- Assisted with management of retail categories and supplier performance.
- Supported demand planning initiatives and assortment optimisation efforts.
Head of Marketing & Business Development
Business Service Center
Baku
2014.04 - 2014.09
- Supported business development initiatives through market research and competitor analysis.
- Assisted in managing marketing strategy and positioning within corporate guidelines.
- Contributed to team efforts in enhancing brand visibility and outreach.
Marketing manager
Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC
Baku
2013.11 - 2014.03
- Developed marketing campaigns and brand positioning strategies
- Supported commercial expansion initiatives
Marketing specialist
Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC
Baku
2012.07 - 2013.10
- Managed advertising budget efficiently, ensuring maximum return on investment.
- Streamlined communication process within the department enhancing operational efficiency.
- Strengthened company's online presence by managing social media accounts effectively.
- Liaised with influencers for promotional partnerships, boosting product awareness among target audiences.
- Analysed consumer behaviour data to refine marketing strategies appropriately.
- Conducted extensive market research to identify potential growth sectors.
Education
Master of Science - Business Administration and Management
Azerbaijan State University of Economics
Baku 2012.01 - 2014.01
Bachelor of Science - Business Management and Marketing
Azerbaijan State University of Economics
Baku 2007.01 - 2011.01
Skills
- P&L management
- Strategic business development
- Category and portfolio management
- Supplier and contract negotiation
- Retail strategy
- Margin optimization
- International sourcing and partnerships
- Team leadership and performance management
- Market expansion and brand launch
- Commercial forecasting and budgeting
Certification
- Category management Professional (CatMan Pro) (certificate): Krok Consulting (Israel)
- Promotion management in Retail (certificate): Category management Business School “Catman-DO” (Russia)
- Planogram management in Retail (certificate): B2Bosphorus (Turkey)
- The International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5 Score.
Languages
English
Russian
Turkish
International Business Events
- Stamegna Middle East Food and Beverages Event, (Dubai, UAE) – 05/2022
- Alimentaria Food and Beverages Exhibition, (Barcelona, Spain) – 04/2022
- Stamegna Eastern European Food and Beverages Event, (Budapest, Hungary) – 03/2022
- TuttoFood 2021 Food Exhibition (Milan, Italy) – 11/2021
- World Food Istanbul Exhibition, (Istanbul, Turkey) – 09/2021
- TuttoFood 2019 Food Exhibition (Milan, Italy) – 05/2019
- Stamegna Eastern European Food and Beverages Event, (Budapest, Hungary) – 03/2019
- Stamegna European Food and Beverages Event, (Madrid, Spain) – 07/2018
- ProdExpo Food Exhibition, (Moscow, Russia) – 02/2018
- SIAL Food Exhibition, (Paris, France) – 10/2016
Timeline
Business Development Manager
GudFood LLC
2024.06 - 2026.02
Head of HPC Commercial
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
2022.08 - 2024.04
Head of Fresh Food Commercial
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
2021.10 - 2022.08
Senior Category manager
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
2019.05 - 2021.09
Category manager
Bravo Supermarket Azerbaijan
2015.06 - 2019.04
Category manager
Bazarstore LLC
2014.10 - 2015.05
Head of Marketing & Business Development
Business Service Center
2014.04 - 2014.09
Marketing manager
Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC
2013.11 - 2014.03
Marketing specialist
Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC
2012.07 - 2013.10
Master of Science - Business Administration and Management
Azerbaijan State University of Economics
2012.01 - 2014.01
Bachelor of Science - Business Management and Marketing
Azerbaijan State University of Economics
2007.01 - 2011.01