CEO Insights Magazine

Bangladesh’s garment and textile sector forms the backbone of the country's economy, contributing considerably to its GDP. Country Managers play a vital role in supporting the performance and sustainability of these sectors. Riyadh Zabir, Country Manager of Etam International Sourcing Asia, Bangladesh Liaison Office finished his undergraduate degrees and started his career by working for his family-owned clothing manufacturing company in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Riyadh was heavily trained on the critical manufacturing process (sometimes at needle point) to understand all aspects of apparel manufacturing: from fabric weaving to cut-to-ship through lean management practice. He worked as a hands-on worker for almost three years before enrolling in a prestigious UK university to get an MBA in Business Management.

After returning to Bangladesh, Riyadh concentrated on improving lean manufacturing productivity to stay competitive in the market. He rose to the top level and was able to attract Western brands and greatly expanded the company. He joined Maidenform Brands in 2012, and established its start-up sourcing office in Bangladesh, and within 2.5 years generated almost $12 million FOB turnover for the brands. After Maidenform brand was acquired by Hanesbrands, in Q4-2014, Riyadh took over on a more important leadership role and oversaw a larger number of staffs that handled few well renown European and Australian brands through global accusations. Bangladesh office's turnover hit to almost $78 million by the end of 2021.

Riyadh began working for Etam brand in November 2022, covering sourcing responsibilities of Indian subcontinent as well as Bangladesh. Under his guidance, the organization has seen exponential growth.

Embarking in an engaging interaction with CEO Insights Asia magazine, Riyadh shares his strategies, future roadmap, and much more. Let’s delve into it.

Could you tell us about the quality control measures you have undertaken in your organization to deliver the best quality products and services?

In apparel sourcing organization, I implemented robust quality control measures to ensure best quality of products. Few key measures are: Supplier Evaluation and Selection, Material Inspection, Pre-production Sampling, more emphasis on In-line Production Inspections, Final Product Inspection by using stricter AQL (Acceptable Quality Level), Quality Control Checklists, Testing and Certification, Close follow-ups on Corrective Action Plans and Continuous Improvement by regularly review and update quality control processes and standards based on feedback, new technologies, and industry best practices.

Foster a culture of continuous improvement among all stakeholders, including suppliers and internal teams. Implementing these measures helps ensure the production of high-quality apparel, minimizes defects, and enhances customer satisfaction, that can eventually bring down the quality fail rate below 5 percent.

Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the methodologies you follow as a leader?

I prefer a democratic approach, letting my team participate in decision-making. As a result, team members are more creative and have higher job satisfaction. I encourage and inspire my team to realize their full potential.

In addition, I adopt a laissez-faire leadership style that gives people autonomy within reason. Their sense of confidence and ownership over their job increases with autonomy.

The fusion of these leadership philosophies has produced outstanding outcomes for me. I can attest to the fact that we exceeded our 96 percent target for on-time delivery performance, reaching 98 percent. The team's ability to take responsibility and feel accountable for their work as though it were their own is what has led to their success.

In your professional journey so far, which are the milestones that bestowed you with the utmost satisfaction - both personally and professionally?

I achieved one of the most rewarding career accomplishments during the COVID-19 lockdown. During the three months the nation was under lockdown, I was given the task of transporting 20 million face masks and 3.5 million gowns to the US government. I felt a great sense of inner satisfaction after completing this enormous challenge and delivering the products successfully and on-time. I received a lot of media attention in Bangladesh, the Middle East, and the US. This accomplishment gave me a great deal of trust and confidence, which helped my company's sourcing volume to grow quickly and reinstated some label brands to continue production in Bangladesh.

When I started at Etam, the on-time delivery performance was below 85 percent with a quality failure rate of over 5 percent. I increased the delivery performance to 93 percent in just six months, then to 98 percent in the following six months. I consider this achievement another feather in the cap.

What is the future destination you have envisioned for yourself?

Having worked in multifaceted cultures and work processes for a long time, I see myself in a global role in the future. My ambition to increase my influence and leadership in the international market is in line with this responsibility.

What is your advice for the upcoming industry leaders?

I always stress that it takes time to accomplish goals therefore, it is imperative to set realistic short-term goals in addition to long-term ones for consistent advancement.

In my opinion, daily updates and establishing a high degree of trust within your team are essential. You will gain your team's trust if you have faith in them so give your staff a sense of accountability. Giving them leadership abilities enables them to better align with the goals of the organization.

Riyadh Zabir, Country Manager, Etam International Sourcing Asia

Riyadh Zabir has an MBA from the University of East London and a bachelor's degree in marketing & finance from North South University. With over 19 years of diverse experience, Riyadh has held pivotal roles in companies such as Etam, PDS Multinational, Hanesbrands, & Maidenform gaining experience in apparel sourcing, buying, merchandising, manufacturing, & material re-sourcing.

• Hobbies: Cricket
• Favorite Cuisine: Japanese
• Favorite Book: Greed and Corporate Failures by Stuart Hamilton
• Favorite Travel Destination: Europe especially Zurich Old Town, Venice, Paris, & Santorini (island in the Aegean Sea)
• Awards & Recognition: Retention award during the transition from Maidenform to Hanesbrands. Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International. Merit Award for securing 7_th position in combined merit list in Higher Secondary Exams