Serkan Erdoğan

Senior Sales Executive | CULINES Turkey Team Leadership & Organizational Growth

(Responsible for Istanbul, Izmir & Mersin Regions )

Regional Sales & Business Development

• Regional Market Coverage: Leading the commercial activities and sales strategies across Istanbul, Izmir, and Mersin, ensuring the brand’s growth across Turkey’s three major maritime gateways.
• Portfolio Construction: Played an active role in building the branch’s customer base from the ground up, establishing a diverse pipeline of local exporters and global forwarders.
• Key Account Management: Managing high-volume accounts and securing Minimum Volume Commitments (MVAs) through targeted negotiations and solution-oriented service management.

Trade & Pricing Support

• Market Pricing Strategy: Contributing to the determination of regional freight rates by analyzing market supply/demand and competitor movements to ensure competitive positioning.
• New Service Implementation: Supporting the launch of new liner services by conducting market research, identifying target cargo groups, and securing initial bookings for service sustainability and report to HQ side.

Performance & Reporting

• Target Achievement: Consistently meeting TEU and profitability KPIs, focusing on optimizing vessel load factors for all Turkish port calls.
• Commercial Reporting: Providing regular market intelligence and performance reports to management to support strategic decision-making and trade lane adjustments.
• Team Development & Selection: Played a decisive role in the initial recruitment and formation of the Istanbul sales team, selecting and onboarding key personnel to establish a high-performing commercial unit from the ground up.
• Sales Mentorship: Leading the Istanbul team by providing strategic guidance, performance coaching, and market insights to ensure alignment with global corporate targets.
• Commercial Coordination: Synchronizing the sales efforts of the Istanbul, Izmir, and Mersin regions, fostering a collaborative environment to maximize regional synergy and customer service excellence.

Key Strengths Demonstrated

Strategic Business Development & Market Expansion

• Engineered and executed targeted sales strategies for global import/export operations, consistently aligning with corporate growth KPIs.
• Conducted deep-dive portfolio audits to identify untapped market segments, successfully onboarding high-value accounts and expanding the domestic and international client base.

Commercial Excellence & Pricing Strategy

• Managed the full sales lifecycle, from lead generation to post-shipment follow-up, ensuring a seamless customer journey.
• Developed bespoke pricing models and promotional initiatives, balancing competitive market positioning with healthy profit margins.

Supply Chain Coordination & Operational Synergy

• Optimized end-to-end logistics efficiency by fostering strong partnerships with shipowners, port agents, and internal operations teams.
• Mitigated logistical bottlenecks through proactive communication, ensuring timely cargo movement and high service reliability.

Performance Analytics & Process Optimization

• Standardized sales performance tracking through rigorous reporting and data analysis, providing actionable insights for executive leadership.
• Spearheaded system improvements and CRM enhancements to streamline workflows and improve departmental transparency.
• Adaptability: Navigating the volatile freight market and fluctuating carrier capacities.
• Relationship Management: Balancing the needs of the "Golden Triangle" (The Client, The Carrier, and The Operation).
• Analytical Thinking: Using reporting not just to see where you’ve been, but to predict where the market is going.

Specialized Project Logistics & High-Value Cargo

Project 1: Heavy-Lift & Out-of-Gauge (OOG) Operations

• The Project: Orchestrated the end-to-end multi-modal transport of 10 industrial "autoclave" units from Eskişehir to Novorossiysk, Russia.
• The Complexity: Managed units with extreme dimensions (20m x 6m x 5m), requiring specialized heavy-lift planning and oversized cargo permits.
• Key Action: Synchronized inland heavy-haulage to the Port of İzmit with chartered vessel operations, ensuring all technical and safety specifications were met for sea transit.

Project 2: High-Value Asset Consulting (Luxury Automotive)

• The Project: Provided comprehensive logistics consultancy for the secure transport of 30–40 custom-built luxury vehicles.
• Strategic Oversight: Developed rigorous protocols for route risk assessment, enhanced cargo security, and specialized customs clearance to mitigate financial and physical risks.
• Result: Delivered a zero-incident framework for premium assets, ensuring white-glove delivery standards were maintained across international borders.

Branch Management & Executive Leadership

Strategic Regional Oversight

• Directed all commercial and operational activities for the Istanbul branch, aligning regional output with the company’s broader global objectives.
• P&L Responsibility: Accountable for the branch’s financial health, consistently meeting or exceeding TEU volume targets and net profitability margins.

Commercial Growth & Portfolio Management

• Market Penetration: Engineered high-level business development strategies that balanced aggressive new customer acquisition with the retention of key accounts.
• Client-Centric Solutions: Acted as the senior point of escalation for complex import/export shipments, ensuring a "solutions-first" approach that drove high customer satisfaction scores.

Financial & Operational Synergy

• Cost Optimization: Negotiated strategic service agreements with shipowners and carriers to improve the branch’s procurement costs and operational agility.
• Performance Analytics: Oversaw rigorous financial reporting and KPI tracking, utilizing data to identify trends, mitigate risks, and capitalize on market shifts.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Human Capital Management: Led a multidisciplinary team by fostering a culture of accountability, high motivation, and transparent internal communication.
• Performance Coaching: Mentored staff through regular performance reviews and skill-building initiatives, resulting in increased departmental efficiency and reduced turnover.

Business Development Manager (Logistics & Maritime)

Strategic Market Expansion & Growth

• Spearheaded strategic business development initiatives in both import and export sectors, aligning regional sales activities with the company’s long-term growth objectives.
• Conducted comprehensive portfolio audits to identify high-potential market segments, leading to the successful acquisition of new enterprise-level clients.
• Defined and executed market entry strategies, driving sustainable revenue growth through targeted outreach and brand positioning.

Key Account Management & Bespoke Solutions

• Cultivated high-value relationships with "Key Accounts," designing customized, end-to-end logistics solutions that secured long-term partnerships and recurring business.
• Acted as a strategic consultant for top-tier clients, optimizing their supply chain efficiency through tailored pricing and service models.

Procurement & Stakeholder Negotiation

• Directed high-level negotiations with shipowners and carriers, securing preferential freight rates and space guarantees that provided a distinct competitive advantage.
• Optimized procurement workflows, leveraging strong industry networks to enhance operational margins and service reliability.

Financial Performance & Reporting

• Consistently exceeded TEU volume and profitability targets (P&L) through disciplined sales pipeline management and data-driven decision-making.
• Developed executive-level reports on sales performance, market trends, and competitive intelligence to guide the board’s strategic direction.

Trade Lane Manager | Israel (Ashdod) & Morocco (Casablanca)

Trade Lane Strategy & Market Intelligence

• Spearheaded commercial activities for the Israel (Ashdod) and Morocco (Casablanca) trade lanes, managing high-frequency services under various Incoterms (CIF, CFR, FOB).
• Executed deep-market intelligence and competitor benchmarking to engineer dynamic pricing strategies, ensuring market leadership in these strategic Mediterranean corridors.

Revenue & Performance Optimization

• Directed end-to-end sales lifecycles for high-volume exporters, transitioning from transactional freight selling to strategic account management.
• Managed "Collect" (FOB) and "Prepaid" (CIF/CFR) shipment flows, balancing regional cash flow requirements and vessel allocation priorities.
• Utilized data-driven reporting to track route-based KPIs, providing executive leadership with actionable insights for long-term strategic planning and capacity adjustments.

Operational Leadership & Account Management

• Supervised the full shipment execution process, from initial freight quotation to final delivery, maintaining zero-defect service standards for premium clients.
• Cultivated strong relationships with key shippers and local agents in Ashdod and Casablanca to mitigate logistical bottlenecks and ensure smooth document flow.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) within the team, mentoring junior associates on trade-specific regulations, regional market nuances, and carrier-side operational protocols.
• Onboarded and trained new hires, accelerating their integration into the company’s commercial ecosystem and improving overall team productivity.

Global Agency Management & International Business Coordination

International Network Liaison

• Directed cross-border communications with international agents through structured weekly summits and daily strategic alignment, ensuring seamless end-to-end tracking of global export shipments.
• Acted as the primary point of contact between the head office and foreign branches, synchronizing operational standards and corporate commercial policies across multiple jurisdictions.

Global Sales Strategy & Pricing (FOB/Collect)

• Developed competitive freight pricing models and market-specific sales strategies for FOB/Collect shipments, successfully penetrating diverse international markets through localized commercial intelligence.
• Optimized global revenue streams by coordinating with overseas offices to capture "collect" freight opportunities and improve regional market share.

Performance Management & Accountability

• Monitored and audited the performance of foreign offices, ensuring all regional sales and operational activities aligned with global KPIs and corporate growth targets.
• Engineered performance-tracking frameworks to provide the head office with comprehensive reports on overseas sales operations and agency efficiency.

Strategic Relationship Building

• Orchestrated annual international site visits and agency summits, strengthening strategic alliances and fostering long-term trust with global partners.
• Facilitated knowledge transfer between the main office and global agents to ensure a unified approach to client satisfaction and crisis management.

Commercial & Vessel Operations | Shipowner Perspective

Asset-Based Export Sales & Marketing

• Managed export sales and marketing lifecycles for one of Turkey’s leading shipowning companies, leveraging direct control over vessel capacity and container assets to provide high-reliability shipping solutions.
• Engineered bespoke logistics frameworks for major exporters, overseeing freight quotations, space allocations, and booking management with a client-centric approach.

Integrated Vessel & Port Operations

• Gained hands-on experience in vessel operations, including berth planning, arrival/departure synchronization, and terminal loading/discharging oversight.
• Acted as a liaison between commercial and technical teams, ensuring that operational constraints and port schedules were seamlessly integrated into the sales strategy.

Chartering & Cargo Planning

• Developed technical knowledge in Chartering operations, assisting in vessel-cargo matching and evaluating ship suitability based on specific cargo requirements and stowage constraints.
• Mastered the nuances of charter-party terms and voyage estimations, contributing to the efficient utilization of chartered and owned tonnage.

Cross-Functional Synergy

• Maintained a dual-focus role spanning both commercial sales and maritime operations, ensuring that promised service levels were operationally executable and financially viable.
• Optimized container turn-around times and equipment availability through proactive coordination with port authorities and operational staff.

Field Sales & Multimodal Logistics Management

Harika bir final dokunuşu. Bu maddelerle birlikte profilinize "Multimodal" (Çok Modlu) yetkinliği eklemiş oluyoruz. Sadece deniz yolu değil; hava ve kara yolunu da sürece dahil ederek, müşteriye 360 derece lojistik destek verebilen bir "Field Sales Expert" profili çiziyoruz.

İşte bu deneyimi, tüm taşıma modlarını ve saha dinamiklerini kapsayacak şekilde profesyonel İngilizceye dökülmüş hali:

360-Degree Multimodal Sales Execution

• Spearheaded field sales operations for comprehensive multimodal transport solutions, encompassing Sea (FCL/LCL), Air, and Road freight services.
• Managed the full sales cycle from lead generation and cold calling to closing, consistently expanding the regional market share through high-velocity business development.

Strategic Account Acquisition & Client Solutions

• Cultivated a robust portfolio of import and export clients by delivering tailored logistics consultations that optimized their supply chain costs and lead times.
• Directed the end-to-end commercial process, including complex freight quotations, dynamic pricing strategies, and the negotiation of long-term service contracts.

Market Intelligence & Field Activity

• Executed rigorous market analysis and frequent client site visits to identify emerging industry trends and competitor positioning.
• Developed and implemented localized marketing strategies to increase brand visibility and drive high-value logistics inquiries.

Specialized Project & OOG Cargo Oversight

• Engineered logistics plans for "Project Cargo," managing the movement of oversized and heavy-lift shipments through precise operational coordination and technical bid preparation.
• Synchronized multi-stakeholder workflows to ensure the safe and compliant transport of non-standard goods across international borders.

Sales Analytics & CRM Discipline

• Maintained peak operational visibility by leveraging CRM systems for pipeline management, performance tracking, and granular sales reporting.
• Exceeded quarterly and annual revenue targets through a data-driven approach to client retention and cross-selling opportunities.

End-to-End Operational Excellence & Supply Chain Coordination

Multimodal Operations Management

• Orchestrated comprehensive logistics operations across Air, Sea (FCL/LCL), and Land freight, ensuring strict adherence to international shipping regulations and client deadlines.
• Managed the full lifecycle of shipment documentation, ensuring 100% accuracy in Bill of Ladings, Airway Bills, and transit permits to eliminate customs delays and demurrage risks.

Process Optimization & Problem Solving

• Identified and mitigated operational bottlenecks through proactive risk assessment, resulting in enhanced transit times and increased service reliability.
• Developed "Rapid Response" protocols for logistics disruptions, maintaining high customer satisfaction levels even in volatile market conditions.

Stakeholder & Customs Coordination

• Seamlessly synchronized workflows between customs brokers, inland carriers, and terminal operators to ensure "On-Time, In-Full" (OTIF) delivery of cargo.
• Oversaw loading arrangements and equipment securing, ensuring that cargo integrity was maintained throughout the multimodal chain.

Data Integrity & Management Reporting

• Standardized internal reporting structures to provide executive management with real-time visibility into operational performance and departmental KPIs.
• Analyzed operational data to recommend process improvements, contributing to a more lean and cost-effective logistics department.

Export Documentation & Bill of Lading Management

Bill of Lading (B/L) Administration

• Managed the issuance and execution of Bills of Lading for LCL (Less than Container Load) export shipments, ensuring precise alignment with carrier manifests and customer instructions.
• Supervised the full documentation lifecycle, including the verification of shipping marks, weights, and cargo descriptions to guarantee error-free customs clearance and smooth title transfers.

Stakeholder Communication & Tracking

• Facilitated proactive customer notifications, providing real-time updates on document status and shipment milestones to enhance transparency and trust.
• Optimized the document flow between export operations and global clients, ensuring that all negotiable and non-negotiable sets were delivered within strict commercial deadlines.

Operational Integration

• Synchronized documentation workflows with the physical export operations team, ensuring that administrative processes moved at the same speed as the cargo.
• Maintained 100% compliance with international shipping regulations and carrier requirements, mitigating risks of delays or administrative fines at the port of discharge.

Educational Consultancy & Student Success Management

Consultative Sales & Financial Structuring

• Developed personalized educational programs and bespoke financial payment plans for prospective language students, aligning their academic goals with their budgetary requirements.
• Managed the end-to-end enrollment cycle, utilizing a consultative sales approach to identify student needs and provide high-impact educational solutions.

Mentorship & Student Engagement

• Monitored individual student progress throughout the learning lifecycle, providing proactive guidance and motivational support to ensure high engagement and completion rates.
• Acted as a dedicated success coach, identifying learning barriers and implementing tailored intervention strategies to help students reach their target proficiency levels.

Goal-Oriented Performance Tracking

• Delivered measurable outcomes by supporting students in achieving their targeted language milestones, resulting in high success rates and strong referral business.
• Optimized student satisfaction through regular feedback loops and personalized follow-up, fostering a supportive and results-driven learning environment.

Medical Device Sales Support & Healthcare Logistics

Medical Product Distribution & Export Management

• Orchestrated the domestic distribution and international export operations for high-precision medical devices used in cardiovascular surgery.
• Ensured full compliance with stringent healthcare regulations and quality standards, managing the sensitive logistics requirements inherent in life-critical medical equipment.

Client Relations & Targeted Procurement

• Managed direct communications with domestic and international healthcare providers, ensuring the accurate procurement and delivery of specialized surgical products based on technical requirements.
• Facilitated "Just-in-Time" (JIT) delivery schedules to meet the urgent demands of surgical units and medical distributors, maintaining a high-reliability supply chain.

Commercial Sales Support & Customer Success

• Executed comprehensive sales support activities, including the preparation of technical bids, precise order tracking, and post-delivery client satisfaction management.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align inventory levels with market demand, minimizing stock-outs and optimizing regional distribution efficiency.

Internship | Spare Parts Logistics & Warehouse Management

Inventory & Warehouse Operations

• Supported end-to-end warehouse operations, including the inbound reception, categorization, and systematic storage of automotive/industrial spare parts.
• Assisted in inventory audits and cycle counting to ensure data accuracy within the Warehouse Management System (WMS) and minimize stock discrepancies.

Logistics Coordination

• Gained hands-on experience in order fulfillment, overseeing the picking, packing, and dispatching processes to meet internal and external distribution deadlines.
• Coordinated with domestic transport providers to streamline the movement of spare parts from the central warehouse to regional hubs.

Process Improvement

• Contributed to the optimization of warehouse layouts, helping to improve picking efficiency and workflow safety.
• Developed a foundational understanding of "Just-in-Time" (JIT) logistics, ensuring the availability of critical parts for time-sensitive maintenance and repair operations.