Gilbert Gitamo
Summary
Motivated professional with 11 years of experience in the aquaculture industry, providing comprehensive support for good aquaculture practices. Developed a deep understanding of the industry through technical support, fish farm management, consultancy services, and collaboration with fish farmers and stakeholders in East Africa. Skilled in managing tilapia and catfish hatcheries, fingerling production, grow-out husbandry practices, processing and marketing, fish nutrition and feed management, as well as water quality control. Experienced in facilitating and training fish farmers to enhance their practical skills and knowledge in intensive and semi-intensive aquaculture systems. Proficient in designing and developing innovative fish production models, aquaculture rearing systems, and focused management strategies that promote integrated aquaculture development and sustainability. Additionally, possess 20 years of cumulative experience in sales and marketing, including 11 years dedicated to selling aquaculture-related products and services.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Manager
SAMAKGRO Ltd
09.2023 - Current
- Developing and implementing strategic commercial plans to drive Samakgro Fish Feed sales growth and expand market share across East Africa
- Building and nurturing strong relationships with fish farms, key customers, distributors, and industry stakeholders to strengthen market presence
- Overseeing and supporting regional sales teams and distributors, while providing continuous training, guidance, and motivation to enhance performance
- Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities within the fish feed and aquaculture industry to support expansion goals
- Conducting in-depth market research to track industry trends, competitor activities, and evolving customer needs
- Collaborating with R&D and production teams to ensure product development aligns with market expectations
- Delivering training programs on Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) to enhance clients' operations and capacity
- Managing pricing strategies, sales agreements, and contract negotiations to ensure profitability and high customer satisfaction
- Coordinating with supply chain and production teams to guarantee timely and quality product delivery
- Tracking and reporting on sales performance, distributor output, and market dynamics to support data-driven strategic decisions
Consultancy in Training and Marketing Services for the Aquaculture Academy Project
Lattice Aqua Ltd (Lattice Consulting)
09.2021 - 09.2023
- Conduct training need assessment and manage database of potentials fish farms
- Develop custom-tailor made training course materials and training program in conjunction with Lattice trainers for use in training at the Aquaculture Academy program
- Offer technical support to clients and develop strategic plan for the aquaculture academy
- Develop and review proposals for funding
- Developing technical/marketing materials and documents, e-learning tools for the Blue Planet project (www.howtodoaquaculture.com)
Consultant Project Manager
Jumbo Fish Farm Ltd
01.2023 - 08.2023
- To oversee revival of the farm - To Make the business plan and the budgets, direct and coordinate all farm's operations, purchase of important inventory and ensure warehouse efficiency
- Chalking out or improve operational systems, processes and best practices that guarantee the farm's well-being
- Conduct recruitment, trainings and make financial arrangement
- Review the report of production in relationship with sales
- Compare sales with intended goals on short- and long-term basis
- Make a viable feasibility assessment of the business to check its chances of success
- Offer importance lectures and presentations to clients concerning company products
- Manage a team of managers, training managers and other direct reports
- Examine financial data/statements and use them to improve profitability
- Perform quality controls and monitor production KPI's
Consultant Technical Specialist Aquaculture English Africa
SKRETTING - A Nutreco Company
04.2018 - 08.2021
- Company Overview: Netherland
- Promoting Skretting's fish feed through meeting prospects and handling customer requests, identifying and troubleshooting customers' fish husbandry challenges, - to strengthen customer relationships- this has enabled Skretting to become leading supplier with close to 50% market share for fish feed in East Africa
- Visiting fish farms across East Africa to add value through technically supporting them, introducing and launching of precision farming tools and services, recommending customized set of farming tools to both small and commercial farms to optimize farm performance to achieve the most efficient production
- Innovatively partnering with key account fish farms to boost productivity by continually building technical capacity of staff on good aquaculture practices through proactively supporting them with tools and services, education and hands-on training on breeding/propagation, culture, record keeping, processing, and marketing
- Developing technical/marketing materials and documents, e-learning tools for East Africa, implementing fish feed training both theory and practical skills
- Supporting Skretting and its distributors fish feed development and enhancing farm feed management strategies-through knowledge transfer by conducting on-farm trials, collecting and analyzing fish feed samples, conducting customer satisfaction survey and information for benchmarking
- Developing and executing strategies that drive Skretting business in new and existing markets through regularly meeting with customers to discuss their evolving needs and to assess the quality of the company's relationship with them to align and fulfill customer and Skretting's requirements
Farm Manager
Jambo Fish Western (K) Ltd
01.2017 - 03.2018
- Company Overview: Fleuren and Nooijen Company Netherlands (Now AquacultureID)
- Managing daily farm operations made up of 20 staff
- Marketing and sale of Skretting Fish Feed, Fleuren and Nooijen Aquaculture materials and hatchery equipment, fingerlings, stock maintenance and sales prospecting that saw company break sales records earning staff bonus in two years
- Coordinating and ensuring fish propagation, fish feeding compliance programs, adherence to standards and production targets and managing fish farm operations by providing the technical inputs/support as and when/where required-made Jambo Fish a leading company in aquaculture training, quality seed and feed and equipment supplier
- Providing individualized short courses/tailor made trainings to clients on various Aquaculture practices-Culture systems, construction and maintenance, Tilapia and Catfish propagation, fish feed management, water quality practices, aquaculture record keeping, fish health, fish processing and marketing-more than 10,000 trained
Director of Operations, Marketing and Extension
Aqualife Solutions Ltd
04.2015 - 12.2016
- Managed daily operations of fish propagation, fish feed production compliance, adherence standards and production targets meet targets
- Established and developed modules for individualized short courses/Tailor Made trainings to clients on various Aquaculture practices among them-propagation, feed management, water quality practices, aquaculture record keeping, fish health, fish processing and marketing
- Consulting with other team members to plan, coordinate and conduct classroom oriented and practical aquaculture skills to doctoral and graduate interns in research activities
- Managing team members in providing technical support to facilitate timely project completion
- Drafting proposals, research design and overseeing project execution
- Participating in recruitment of new interns, MSc and PhD students and assist successful applicants in sourcing for research grants for research at Aqualife centre
- Participating in Consultancy on Biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems
- Overseeing the formation of partner farmer groups and facilitating their integration within Aqualife Solutions Ltd.'s goals by supporting them access Aqua life services and products
- Providing expert guidance, support and Supervision for staff and ensure they provide the required inputs for successful implementation and development of Aqua life Services and Products
- Identifying any new areas of interventional research, clients and partners for Aqualife business implementation and scaling up
- Cross selling Aqualife Solutions Ltd products and services and communicating with stakeholders about operations
- To market Aqualife Solutions Ltd.'s products and services and explore new business opportunities and ensure all necessary documents and products are prepared and dispatched in a timely manner
- Performing monthly appraisal on operations to ensure reports are compiled and shared by each department
Tutorial Assistant/Research Assistant
University of Eldoret Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Department
01.2014 - 06.2014
- Worked under the supervision of a Senior Lecturer or other senior member of staff
- Teaching diploma and undergraduate students and evaluated assignments
- Conducting tutorials and demonstrations
- Marking student essays and assignments, offering guidance and assistance to students as needed
- Conducted both theoretical and field research
Senior Medical Representative
Mega Life Sciences
08.2004 - 12.2009
- Company Overview: Kulal International Ltd & Surgipharm (K) Ltd
- Work with NGOs and community groups dealing in chronic indications like HIV/AIDS and Diabetes care, management, and treatment in conducting nutritional supplementation talks and training, Continuous Medical Education and camps for brand penetration
- Lead a team in my assigned region to originate marketing strategies, sales promotions and customer marketing activities in NGOs and institutions, prescribing Doctors, Clinical Officers and Pharmacists, in my assigned geographical area-North and South Rift, Western and Nyanza provinces of Kenya
- Represent the company in all major meetings taking place in the region such as the Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Association of Physicians, Surgical Society of Kenya, Kenya Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, Clinical Officers Association etc
- Organize, conduct and evaluate the Continuous Medical Education (CME) for the prescribing Doctors, Clinical Officers and Pharmacists and Pharmacy assistants about our products range
- Negotiate with all key decision makers during daily detailing logistics, product launches and Continuous Medical Education (CMME's) and prepare of detailed marketing plan for the region
- Handle Key Business partners, Tendering institutions and NGOs in my region
- Work closely to ensure team in my region's maintain and submit daily, weekly and monthly reports, work-plans with appropriate schedules and meet sales targets as quality index check to monitor and evaluate performance against set targets
Medical Sales Representative
Emcure Pharmaceuticals-Syner-Med Pharmaceuticals (K) Ltd
01.2001 - 07.2004
- Work with NGOs and community groups dealing in chronic indications like HIV/AIDS and Diabetes care, management, and treatment in conducting nutritional supplementation talks and training, Continuous Medical Education and camps for brand penetration
- Lead a team in my assigned region to originate marketing strategies, sales promotions and customer marketing activities in NGOs and institutions, prescribing Doctors, Clinical Officers and Pharmacists, in my assigned geographical area-North and South Rift, Western and Nyanza provinces of Kenya
- Represent the company in all major meetings taking place in the region such as the Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Association of Physicians, Surgical Society of Kenya, Kenya Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, Clinical Officers Association etc
- Organize, conduct and evaluate the Continuous Medical Education (CME) for the prescribing Doctors, Clinical Officers and Pharmacists and Pharmacy assistants about our products range
- Negotiate with all key decision makers during daily detailing logistics, product launches and Continuous Medical Education (CMME's) and prepare of detailed marketing plan for the region
- Handle Key Business partners, Tendering institutions and NGOs in my region
- Work closely to ensure team in my region's maintain and submit daily, weekly and monthly reports, work-plans with appropriate schedules and meet sales targets as quality index check to monitor and evaluate performance against set targets
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
01.1998 - 03.1998
- Three-month placement in conducting integrated multi-disciplinary research in marine ecosystems
- Sample collection treatment and analysis
- Data handling and interpretation on nutrients
- Hydrodynamics and primary and secondary production
- Pollution assessment including Microbiology
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Techno
Juja, Kiambu District, Kenya12-1999
Master of Science - Aquaculture Option - ONGOING
Maseno University
Kisumu, Kenya01-2027
Skills
- Building strong professional connections
- Sales team development
- Team leadership
- Goal setting and tracking
- In-depth product knowledge
- Sales strategy formulation
- Strategic sales planning
- Customer acquisition strategies
- Market research
Accomplishments
- Proven track record in driving sales growth and market expansion for leading aquaculture companies including Samakgro and Skretting.
- Provided expert technical support and advisory services to fish farmers, resulting in improved productivity and client satisfaction.
- Successfully developed and delivered training programs on best aquaculture practices, reaching over 10,000 fish farmers and students across East Africa.
- Strong advocate of sustainable aquaculture through strategic partnerships with research institutions, NGOs, and government bodies.
- Led product development initiatives, including field trials and demonstrations to validate product performance and encourage adoption.
- Recognized for mentorship and leadership in nurturing talent and fostering industry growth..
References
- Mahmoud, Haidar, Manager Nutrition & Formulation, mahmoud.haidar@skretting.com, +31 683084628, +31 8805532644, Nutreco Africa, Veerstraat 38, Boxmeer, The Netherlands, PO Box 220,5830 AE Boxmeer, www.skretting.com
- Zipporah Moraa, Gichana, zippmoraa@yahoo.co.uk, zgichana@kisiiuniversity.ac.ke, +254 721 157 137, Department of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Kisii, 40200, School of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, P.O. Box 408-40200 Kisii
- Hosea, Machuki, Chief Executive Officer, hoseamachuki@gmail.com, +254 020 445188/9, 4450442, 0205160333, +254 722 656 036, Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, New Rehema House, 4th Floor, Raphta Road, Westlands, NAIROBI, 00100, P.O. Box 40312-00100, Skype:hosea731
Timeline
Sales Manager
SAMAKGRO Ltd
09.2023 - Current
Consultant Project Manager
Jumbo Fish Farm Ltd
01.2023 - 08.2023
Consultancy in Training and Marketing Services for the Aquaculture Academy Project
Lattice Aqua Ltd (Lattice Consulting)
09.2021 - 09.2023
Consultant Technical Specialist Aquaculture English Africa
SKRETTING - A Nutreco Company
04.2018 - 08.2021
Farm Manager
Jambo Fish Western (K) Ltd
01.2017 - 03.2018
Director of Operations, Marketing and Extension
Aqualife Solutions Ltd
04.2015 - 12.2016
Tutorial Assistant/Research Assistant
University of Eldoret Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Department
01.2014 - 06.2014
Senior Medical Representative
Mega Life Sciences
08.2004 - 12.2009
Medical Sales Representative
Emcure Pharmaceuticals-Syner-Med Pharmaceuticals (K) Ltd
01.2001 - 07.2004
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
01.1998 - 03.1998
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Techno
Master of Science - Aquaculture Option - ONGOING
Maseno University
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