CURRICULUM VITAE
Surname
Marital status
Nationality
Address
Home telephone
Mobile phone
TWAHIR
Married with two children
British/Kenyan
Lincoln,
Lincolnshire
01522 686136
07985 163 125
Forenames
Sex
Driving licence
Languages
E-mail
Abdallah Said
Male
Full & clean
English, Swahili, some Italian, a
little French
astwahir@hotmail.com
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
A commercially aware General and Technical Services Manager with over 20 years experience gained in
animal health, agriculture, manufacturing, and social regeneration. Started in veterinary medicine and
agricultural business management and most recently, banking. An advocate of the “can do” culture and a firm
believer in team working and effective team building. I work well individually or in a team. Experience includes
hands on farm management experience, large animal veterinary clinical work, and working with diverse
communities and cultures providing unparalleled management experience in cultural diversity, knowledge and
understanding. I have worked in sub-Saharan Africa and in multi-cultural settings in the UK. I am a good
communicator with a track record of moving commercially forward through continuous improvement initiatives
with an eye on profitability and innovation. Key strengths include resilience, being results driven,
resourcefulness and leadership.
CAREER SUMMARY
September 2008 to February 2013: Agriculture Manager
I was employed by HSBC to provide Relationship Management to the bank's agriculture customers in
Lincolnshire. Responsibilities involved assessing business viability before offering banking support and credit.
Other responsibilities included Business Development, managing customer attrition and identifying crossselling opportunities. The position also involved assessing technical and management capabilities and
business sustainability before recommending lending requests for approval. Assessment of farmers’ technical
capabilities involved forming an informed opinion on both crop and animal husbandry and management
practices. Crop husbandry involves all the operations relating to arable farming that includes seedbed
preparation, seed drilling, fertiliser application, and weed and pest control.
Key achievements

Maintained portfolio size and balance in the first year

Surpassed target achievement in fee income

Surpassed income target for 2011 and qualified for an 8.45% bonus award.

Achieved a 6.3% growth against a peer average of 2.6% in 2011

Achieved a 1.6% income growth in 2012
July 2007 to May 2008: Area Manager
Employed by Leeds Ahead Ltd to provide technical service advice to businesses on CSR and engage them
in social regeneration. Also worked to align the Leeds Ahead public and business engagement strategies
with the strategies of such key customers as the Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Forward (Regional
Development Agency), Leeds Initiative (Local Strategic Partnership), the Leeds Local Enterprise Growth
Initiative and businesses
Key achievements
 Set up a new area management structure at Leeds Ahead in brokering business support for community
projects (CSR work)
 Produced and implemented an area management strategy in alignment with strategies of key customers
 Brokered business support for community programmes
 Recruited businesses into Leeds social responsibility programmes
June 2006 to February 2007: Technical Sales Manager
I was employed at Ecolab Ltd to deliver a Livestock Disease Interventions (LDI) programme to the
commercial farming community in the UK and managing technical sales key account functions. The LDI
programme involves the use of suitable chemicals and physical interventions in the immediate environment of
all meat species to reduce possible exposure to such pathogens as Salmonella, E. coli, Pasteurella, viruses,
fungi and parasites.
Abdallah Said Twahir
Curriculum Vitae
Key achievement
 Identified shortfalls in the efficacy of the chemicals in use and initiated efforts at revising formulation and
application procedures
July 2002 to June 2006: Systems Continuous Improvement Co-ordinator
Employed by Speedibake Ltd initially as a Manufacturing Team Leader and then as a Systems Continuous
Improvement Co-ordinator. As a Manufacturing Team Leader, I managed six manufacturing teams of 15
each in shifts with the key responsibility of improving throughput and meet set KPIs. As a Co-ordinator, I
collected and analysed manufacturing data and reported to respective Plant Managers on opportunities for
continuous improvement in efficiencies and meeting KPIs. Other responsibilities included staff resourcing, staff
training and competence assessment for efficiency and targeting to achieve set manufacturing KPIs. We
produced frozen baked products for such retailers as TESCO, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Somerfield.
Key achievements
 Reduced reliance on temporary staff at the Wakefield site by 80% by using permanent staff sensibly
 Trained manufacturing operatives on the application of HACCP
 Produced a market survey report on baked products in UK coffee shops for the Sales Director
March to July 2002
Worked on temporary contracts after first arrival in the UK from Kenya
May 2000 to October 2001: Head of Sales Development
I was employed at Cooper Kenya Limited in Nairobi, Kenya with national strategic sales policy responsibilities
in the supply of feed supplements, micro-nutrients in feed manufacturing, veterinary ethicals and parasiticides. I
managed a team of 24 technical sales people with a portfolio of products worth £3million per annum. I was a
key member of the national change management team with the responsibility of transforming the working
culture and working practices. I was also a member of the senior management team that was involved in the
creation and implementation of the company operational strategy.
Key achievements
 Introduced objective performance measurement standards
 Implemented a new sales and distribution system
 Achieved growth of 1.5% in the first year
July 1999 to April 2000: Supply Chain Manager & Company Veterinarian
Employed by Kilifi Plantations Limited at the coastal town of Kilifi in Kenya to form and develop the Supplier
Quality Assurance Services department and set up supplier vendor rating, approval and assurance schemes.
Responsibilities also included herd health responsibilities, reproductive and breeding programmes.
Key achievements
 Increased the quality of the milk purchased and consequently reduced waste (spoilage) by 10%
 Introduced SPC (Statistical Process Controls) as part of the QA function in manufacturing
 Initiated the set up of quality circles in management
 Set up suppliers’ self-help groups to organise milk collection, storage and training
 Administered the first embryo transfer programme at the farm
March 1996 to July 1999: Supply Chain Manager
Employed by Brookside Dairy Limited at Ruiru near Nairobi in Kenya to form and develop the Supplier Quality
Assurance Services department and set up supplier vendor rating, approval and assurance schemes. I
developed a winning field quality assurance team through identifying individual training needs, holding quality
circles and benchmarking.
Key achievements
 Increased the intake of good quality milk for processing by an average of 197% per year over 3 years.
Today, Brookside Dairy is a leading vendor of milk products in the Kenyan market and spreading to the
East African region.
 Led the team that opened up the Mombasa market route. By the time I left the company, Mombasa
accounted for 25% of the company’s sales volumes.
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Abdallah Said Twahir
Curriculum Vitae
January 1989 to February 1996
I was employed by the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) for just over 7 years in various general
and technical management roles. Key features of the technical roles included crop and animal husbandry,
animal welfare, pathogen and general disease control programmes. Crop husbandry responsibilities included
land preparation, appropriate fertiliser application (in line with soil types and crop), seed rates to use, and the
appropriate application of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Main general management roles included
profitability and providing strategic direction.
May 1995 to February 1996: Regional Agricultural Manager
I had responsibility over 7 sites overseeing the Internal Farm Assured Schemes. I also managed the
Nakuru regional office and oversaw the performance of 26 management staff including technical staff
located on farms and ranches. I also oversaw the implementation of the corporation’s policies and
achievement of set KPIs.
Key achievements
 Relocated the central office to the town from a village and disposed of the staff bus reducing the need
to transport staff to work and saved on all staff transport related expenses.
 Rationalised staffing levels and reduced the workforce at the regional office by 50%
December 1993 to May 1995: General Manager
I managed the 1.6 million-acre ADC Galana Ranch with a workforce of 350 staff, 30,000 head of cattle and
5,000 sheep. Other resources included a 60 km water pipeline, pump stations, a mechanical maintenance
workshop and assortment of machinery and equipment. Technical service responsibilities included
pathogen control, animal husbandry and animal welfare. General management responsibilities included
profitability and strategic management issues.
Key achievements
 Successfully negotiated the increase in livestock sale prices by 8.7% to compensate for the high
inflation levels and increased operational costs.
 Optimised criteria for selling slaughter stock with regard to age, weight, and time
 Introduced participatory management practices
April to December 1993: Senior Ranch Manager –
I managed the 236,000-acre ADC Kulalu Ranch with a workforce of 117 personnel and 5,500 head of
cattle including a mechanical maintenance workshop and assortment of machinery and equipment.
Technical service responsibilities included pathogen control, animal husbandry and animal welfare.
Key achievements
 Reduced expenditure on veterinary ethicals and anthelminthics by 43% while achieving other set KPIs
April 1991 – April 1993: Regional Veterinary Manager
Key technical service responsibilities included pathogen control, animal husbandry and animal welfare in
mixed farms and ranches in Nakuru in Kenya. I also took up the responsibilities of the Regional Agricultural
Manager in her absence. Other responsibilities included management of the reproduction cycle, breeding
and selection.
Key achievements
 Arrested loss of lambs through death and stunted growth due to micro-nutrient deficiencies and
devised nutrient supplement programmes
 Instituted a reproductive cycle management programme
 Reduced open days from 87 days to 74 days (calving intervals from 392 days to 379 days) through
training on better heat detection and observation.
June 1990 – March 1991: Technical Livestock Manager
Key technical service responsibilities included pathogen control, animal husbandry and animal welfare at
ADC Galana Ranch. I managed the livestock department daily with a workforce of 300 and 30,000 head of
cattle. Other key responsibilities included veterinary clinical quality assurance checks and implementation
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Abdallah Said Twahir
Curriculum Vitae
of recommendations from the local KETRI (Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute) team on disease
and parasite control.
Key achievements
 Maintained a quarantine unit for livestock with communicable diseases (CBPP and Bovine farcy) with
the aim of reducing incidence of the diseases by 5%
 Instituted a culling programme for poor performing stock
January 1989 – June 1990: Assistant Farm Manager
Key technical service responsibilities included pathogen control, animal husbandry and animal welfare at
ADC Chepchoina Ranch. I managed the livestock department daily with a workforce of 50 and 3,000 head
of cattle. Other key responsibilities included veterinary clinical quality assurance checks. Crop husbandry
responsibilities included land preparation, appropriate fertiliser application (in line with soil types and crop),
and seed rates to use.
Key achievements
 Trained farm staff in artificial insemination and reproductive health management in cattle
 Reduced open days from 88 days to 73 days (calving intervals from 391 days to 378 days) through
training on better heat detection and observation.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION
1996 - 2000
United States International University (Nairobi, Kenya)
Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management
1984 - 1988
University of Nairobi (Nairobi, Kenya)
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM)
WORK RELATED TRAINING
Short courses
 Professional Selling Skills
 Basic Food Hygiene
 HACCP course – Intermediate level
 Team Building Workshop
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
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Sales and leadership workshop
Finance for non-finance managers
Staff course on Total Quality Management
Understanding finance and budgetary control
Animal husbandry course (Italy)
An assortment of CPD training in banking
Achieve Global (UK)
Royal Institute of Public Health (UK)
Royal Institute of Public Health (UK)
Arnold Associates Management Consultancy
(UK)
Dale Carnegie (Kenya)
Consultants for Effective Training (Kenya)
Consultants for Effective Training (Kenya)
Bellhouse Mwangi Ernst & Whinney (Kenya)
Istituto Formazione di Operatore Aziendali (Italy)
HSBC internal training programmes
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
2004
Member of the Chartered Management Institute – UK
PATENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
2000
Staff Motivation - The Case of Brookside Dairy (part of my MBA research thesis looking at different
aspects of staff motivation) – United States International University
INTERESTS
Physical fitness, swimming, movies, photography, and computers
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Abdallah Said Twahir
Curriculum Vitae
REFERENCES
1. Stephen Evans
Deputy Area Commercial Director
HSBC Bank
Mid Lincs
88 Westgate
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 6LF
E: stephen1.evans@hsbc.com
M: 07827 355961
2. Phil Carr
Commercial Manager
HSBC Bank
Mid Lincs
221 High Street
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
LN1 1TS
E: philipcarr@hsbc.com
M: 07795688845
3. Mucai Kunyiha
Managing Director
COOPER K-BRANDS LIMITED.
P.O. BOX 40596-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
E: mkunyiha@coopers.co.ke
E: info@coopers.co.ke
T: +254 20 4206000
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