26 years turning sales teams into market leaders.

Senior commercial, marketing and digital leader for healthcare and commercial businesses across the MENA region. I have doubled regional sales for some companies, led a 70-person team to national #1, and I now help brands enter and win the market.

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Basem Shaaban in graduation gown holding his degree

26+years in commercial leadership
70person sales team led
#1national market ranking
2×Kurdistan Region sales

Commercial leadership, built in the field.

I have spent 26 years in pharmaceutical commercial, marketing and digital leadership across Iraq and Egypt, working up from medical representative to heading national sales and marketing operations for some of the region’s largest companies. Along the way I have led teams of up to 70 people, built sales strategies from the ground up, and managed exclusive distribution portfolios for global manufacturers.

My work covers the full commercial picture: sales and marketing team structure, territory management, brand marketing, key accounts, distribution and P&L. Over the past decade I have built deep roots in North Iraq, covering the Kurdistan Region, Mosul and surrounding areas, and I know how decisions actually get made at each level of that market.

On top of the field experience, I hold formal AI and digital-marketing certifications, still uncommon at this level in the Iraqi market, and I use them practically to sharpen targeting, HCP engagement and commercial decision-making.

Currently open to

Country Manager
Commercial Director
Head of Sales & Marketing
Fractional Consulting
Advisory Roles

Results that show up in the numbers.

A quarter-century of commercial leadership across the region, measured in market share, growth and teams built.

Oct 2025 – Present · Erbil (Remote)

Freelance Commercial, Marketing & Digital Consultant

Independent, self-employed

Advising healthcare and commercial businesses across Iraq and Kurdistan on commercial strategy, sales structure and digital marketing.
Completed advanced AI certification (Egypt’s Ministry of Communications & IT, 2026), now built into how I approach commercial work.

Nov 2023 – Oct 2025

North Iraq Sales & Marketing Manager

Pioneer Pharmaceutical Company · Erbil & Federal Iraq

Doubled Kurdistan Region sales within twelve months, the fastest regional growth the company had seen, through territory redesign, hands-on coaching and stronger distributor partnerships.
Built and ran a 70-person sales and marketing team with weekly KPI reviews and individual development plans, driving it to the #1 national market position.
Grew market share 30% by launching 5+ new product lines across medical, marketing and supply chain.
Managed government tenders, pricing and key relationships across Kurdistan’s major hospital groups.

Sep 2021 – Oct 2023

Regional Sales & Marketing Manager

Tiba Pharma Iraq · Exclusive distributor for global manufacturers

Ran the commercial P&L for an exclusive four-manufacturer portfolio, delivering 25% revenue growth every year.
Cut expired inventory by 35% with a new batch-tracking and demand-forecasting system.
Lifted qualified HCP engagement 40% via a CRM, SEO/SEM and social-media program rolled out across the field team.
Led a 22-person team and renewed long-term distribution agreements through competitive tenders.

Sep 2014 – Aug 2021

Senior National Sales & Marketing Manager

Seriopharm Pharmaceuticals · Egypt, national

Led a 35-person national team across all regions of Egypt.
Designed and delivered a national training program for 70+ medical representatives; key-account prescription performance rose 22%.
Won and retained high-value national tender contracts; built forecasting and territory systems used long after.

1999 – 2013 · Earlier career

From the field to the front of the room

Hikma · Rameda · Tabuk · Amoun · Egypt & Iraq

Sales Manager for the Hikma portfolio across Kurdistan and North Iraq (2011–2013), where my regional market knowledge began.
Best Achiever District Manager at Rameda Pharmaceutical for top national territory results.
Completed Amoun’s 7-module Professional Selling Skills program (2003–2008).

Formally trained. Continuously sharpened.

Degrees in marketing and science, layered with 35+ commercial, digital and AI certifications. Filter by category, and tap any certificate to view it full-size.

Academic: MBA in Marketing (Grade: Excellent), Arab Academy. Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University.

42 certificates. Tap a certificate to enlarge.