Jean-Baptiste Casanova
Genève,GE
Summary
Hospitality professional with strong leadership and organizational skills. Proven ability to enhance guest experiences and streamline operations. Excel in team collaboration and adaptable to changing demands. Expertise in staff training, customer service, and business development. Reliable and results-driven with focus on continuous improvement.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Client Advisor
Panerai
Geneva
09.2023 - Current
- Performed deputy-manager tasks (certificate by employer). Moved from Retail Operations Administrator position to be able to sell products and gain commissions
- In charge of tracking team's KPI's (commercial and hospitality) and helping them reach the targets
- Built and nurtured enduring client relationships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the fine watchmaking sector to increase our boutique's turnover despite a challenging local market conjuncture
- In charge of manufacture visits for our VIC's and Corporate groups
- Proactively organized regular targeted VIP events (EBACE, Swiss private banks collaborations, consulting firms etc) to drive new client acquisition to offset the decrease of walk-in prospects
- Supported boutique operations with administrative excellence, ensuring seamless team performance and client satisfaction in accordance with group regulations and guidelines
Retail Operations Administrator
Panerai
Geneva
06.2023 - 08.2023
- Responsible to put the boutique back on track on the administrative side (transactions compliance, CRM daily work, back/office organization...)
- Responsible to improve the boutique hospitality standards to increase the VIC's customer loyalty to the brand (manufacture visits, special events, selling ceremony...)
- Support the team's commercial performance (KPI's tracking, ensuring prospects are actively followed-up...)
Switzerland Sales Representative
La Plantation
Geneva, Switzerland
04.2021 - 02.2022
- Established a premium retail network for the brand throughout Switzerland within a year, onboarding 40+ retail/wholesale partners to distribute our full product portfolio containing over 60 product references
- Providing commercial support to the retailers (regular product training, in-store commercial activations and visibility)
- 3 years later, over 90% of the network created still distributes the products and the turnover has grown steadily since
- Managed the end-to-end sales cycle, including prospecting, negotiations, logistics coordination, and import processes
Agro Tourism Manager
La Plantation
Kampot, Cambodia
04.2020 - 04.2021
- In charge of the agro-tourism site: three restaurants, the farm & lake visits, the spice manufacture visits and two shops (Operations, P&L and accounting, purchasing, sales & marketing, business development)
- Managed 25+ local full-time staff and oversaw the company's accounting department
- Welcomed >80,000 annual farm visitors and reaching >$1.5M USD turnover
- Pivoted hospitality and commercial strategy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to reach our break-even-point and maintain 100% of the tourism staff
Product Owner
La Plantation
Kampot, Cambodia
07.2020 - 02.2021
- Combined this position with my Agro-Tourism Manager position to increase sales in Asia and in Europe
- Developed in-depth technical expertise in premium sustainable spice production through hands-on collaboration with farms, laboratories, and end-clients (retailers and consumers)
- Created digital sales tools and conducted training programs for EMEA teams to improve product expertise, market penetration, and retailer retention
- This 360 degrees position allowed me to gain a full understanding of the business and later helped me when launching the brand on the Swiss market.
Cost Control Intern
Beau-Rivage Palace
Lausanne, Switzerland
08.2018 - 01.2019
- Analyzed costs for multiple departments (spa, front office, restaurants) in a luxury 5-star property
- Managed inventory, audits, invoice reconciliation, and cost-saving initiatives
- Investigated unexplainable cost discrepancy situations, identified the causes, proposed sustainable solutions
- Delivered monthly performance reports to executive leadership
Education
Management & Finance
Geneva Business School
Bulle, Switzerland06-2023
Bachelor in Business Administration & Hospitality Management -
Glion Institute of Higher Education
Bulle, Switzerland02-2020
Skills
- Client Relationship Management & Clienteling
- Sales Prospecting & Network Development
- Financial Analysis & Cost Control
- Team Leadership & Operations Management
- Event Organization
- Client interaction
- Cross-selling techniques
- Staff training and development
- Guest relations management
- Budgeting and financial management
Languages
French (Native)
English (Fluent)
German (Standard)
Timeline
Client Advisor
Panerai
09.2023 - Current
Retail Operations Administrator
Panerai
06.2023 - 08.2023
Switzerland Sales Representative
La Plantation
04.2021 - 02.2022
Product Owner
La Plantation
07.2020 - 02.2021
Agro Tourism Manager
La Plantation
04.2020 - 04.2021
Cost Control Intern
Beau-Rivage Palace
08.2018 - 01.2019
Management & Finance
Geneva Business School
Bachelor in Business Administration & Hospitality Management -
Glion Institute of Higher Education