Pharm. Mofolorunso Abdul Afeez Alaran is the regional marketing manager, West Africa, Shalina Healthcare. He is a seasoned sales and marketing professional and business manager, with added experience in channel and human resources management.
An indigene of Ikereku in Abeokuta, Ogun State, he had his elementary education at the Trinity Home Nursery and Primary School, Ojoo, Ibadan, Oyo State. Thereafter, he proceeded to Abadina College, also in Oyo State, where he obtained his Senior Secondary School Certificate in 1991. He later gained admission into the University of Ibadan and graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1998. He further obtained an MBA degree in Marketing from the ESUT Business School, in 2011.
Alaran got his first exposure to the corporate world in 1999 when he commenced his internship at CPL Industries Limited. Two months into the training, he was taken by the Lagos Hospital Management Board for internship placement. There, he garnered rich experience serving under reputable pharmacists in the hospital setting. He also had a stint in the petroleum industry, courtesy of the compulsory National Youth Service programme, which he had at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Medical Services, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in 2000.
His career journey started on 1 October 2001 with Ranbaxy as a medical sales representative, in Asaba, Delta State. There, he won the award of “Performer” for product sales, in December 2001. He got transferred seven months later to manage the bigger PHC territory in 2002 which he did successfully till he became the regional manager for the east in 2005, winning many accolades and awards in the process.
Alaran joined AstraZeneca sub-Sahara Africa, in 2009, as a pioneer member of the Nigeria country team. He established the AZ businesses in the east and played pivotal roles in the launch of many of the innovator brands of the company. He ultimately won the best regional manager of the year award in 2011.
Alaran received a boost in his career as he assumed the role of national sales manager at Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, in 2013. He later became head of Sales and Marketing, and then head of Marketing Strategies and Business Development. While at Emzor he streamlined and transformed the sales and marketing operations. He also created a harmonious interdepartmental workflow among the various operations, which impacted the growth of the business.
Alaran joined Shalina Healthcare in December 2017 as regional marketing manager, West Africa. Since then, he has facilitated many partnerships and sponsorships of many professional bodies and organisations for capacity development and training activities that have impacted many stakeholders and colleagues in learning and business development. He is the anchor and lead in the Shalina Young Talents Awards, a national level competition for final year pharmacy scholars, which has run for three seasons. He also leads Shalina Rising Star Awards, a unique platform for resident doctors to showcase their clinical talents amongst many other value-added initiatives that have impacted pharmacy and medical practices in Nigeria.
Alaran is an active member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. He is happily married with children.
