David Semple

Experience

• 

  French Embassy in Damascus

  Feb 1996 - Jun 1997

  Junior Commercial Attaché

  French National Service at the Commercial Section of the French Embassy.3 main types of activities:* Supporting and advising French exporters on how to develop their business in Syria* Welcoming and managing official French delegations coming to Syria* Analyses and research about the Syrian economy

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  Potain (part of Manitowoc since 2001)

  Mar 1998 - Apr 2005

  Export Sales Manager

  Developing and following-up the sales of Potain tower cranes in the Middle-East, Africa, and Central Asia. Management and development of a network of dealers and agents. Developing new markets (Iraq, Central Asia). Position initially based in Lyon, France; but then moved for 3 years in Beirut, Lebanon; and finally to Dubai, UAE in 2003

• 

  The Manitowoc Company

  May 2005 - now

  Leading all aspects of Manitowoc's business in the MEIRA region. Turnover approx $180m, headcount approx 270 people.Middle-East infrastructure: headquarters in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, including workshop, storage yard, training centre. Go-to-market through distributors.India infrastructure : profitable tower crane factory in the Pune region. Go-to-market both direct and through distributors.Russia infrastucture: fully-owned subsidiary in Moscow. Go-to-market both direct and through distributorsAfrica managed remotely from Europe and Middle-East, through a network of distributors Show less Leading all aspects of Manitowoc's business in the MEI region. Turnover approx $150m, headcount approx 250 people.India infrastructure : tower crane factory in the Pune region + 5 sales and service offices across the country. Go-to-market both direct and through distributorsMiddle-East infrastructure: headquarters in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, including workshop, storage yard, training centre. Go-to-market through distributors.Key achievement was the turning around of the Potain tower crane factory in India, after a chaotic move to from Mundhwa to Chakan in the Pune region. Significant re-organization and culture change, empowering of the local team, strong cost-take-out initiative. India P&L back into profit from Q3-2017 onwards.In addition, I have been the Managing Director of Manitowoc's fully-owned subsidiary in Dubai since its creation in 2005. Show less Creating and managing Manitowoc's fully-owned subsidiary in Dubai: company incorporation, building of new light industrial premises, staffing-up to a headcount of 50 people.Managing sales of all Manitowoc product lines (Potain tower cranes, Grove mobile cranes, Manitowoc crawler cranes) accross an extended Middle-East region (20 countries from Egypt to Kirghizistan / from Turkey to Yemen).Turnover managed up to $300M in 2008.Managed the downturn after the financial crisis, with a substantial reduction in headcounts and turnover (down to $140M in 2010) Show less

  • VP Sales Mobiles - Europe & MEIRA

    Jan 2021 - now

  • Sr Vice President, MEIRA region (Middle-East, India, Russia, Africa)

    Jan 2019 - now

  • Sr Vice President, Middle-East & India

    Sept 2017 - Dec 2018

  • SVP Mobile cranes, Middle-East & Asia Pacific

    May 2016 - Aug 2017

  • VP & GM, Middle-East & Africa

    Jan 2011 - May 2016

  • Middle-East sales director & managing director

    May 2005 - Dec 2010