John Speke

I lead brand and category portfolio strategy across Non-Food at Majid Al Futtaim — one of East Africa's most recognized international retail groups — managing a diverse mix of global and local brand partners across Light Household, Heavy Household, and Textile categories. With 6+ years in retail commercial management, I specialize in translating shopper insight into category strategies that grow brand equity, improve basket value, and deliver consistent commercial results. I work closely with brand principals and supplier partners to negotiate commercial agreements, execute multi-brand in-store activation campaigns, and optimize product ranging and shelf space decisions that serve both brand and retailer objectives. Beyond strategy, I lead a multi-disciplinary team — driving accountability, product knowledge, and a high-performance culture across the department floor. What I bring to the table: >End-to-end brand portfolio and category management>Brand partner negotiation and trade marketing execution>Planogram compliance and visual merchandising>Sales performance, KPI analysis, and loss prevention>Team leadership and operational excellence I'm passionate about the retail ecosystem — where brand storytelling, commercial discipline, and customer experience converge to create winning categories. Open to connecting with brand managers, category leads, retail professionals, and anyone building great brands in East Africa and beyond.