I am a senior corporate professional with extensive experience at CEO and Board level with
globally leading companies in the financial services, fast moving consumer goods and retained executive search sectors. I have worked for over 35 years in India and internationally with a number of the worlds premier firms, including as CEO and MD, Aviva life Insurance India, VP and Business Director, Citigroup, India, Head of Marketing Levant and Gulf, HSBC, Senior Vice President, India and South Asia, Gillette, Marketing Manager , Proctor& Gamble India and Director, Hindustan Times.
The last phase of my career was spent initially with a global top ten Executive Search firm, and
Later with Sheffield Haworth, a global leader in the financial services human resources advisory and strategic recruitment space. At Sheffield Haworth I was the co promoter and Executive Chairman of the India company and then moved to New York as Vice Chairman, Americas, of the US operation.
Over the course of my career I have sat on multiple Boards, including Aviva Life Insurance, KK Birla group companies, TVIndia, Dalmia Industries, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals, Sheffield Haworth India and Gillette group companies.
My skills, competencies and expertise include:
One, extensive new business start up experience, taking businesses from greenfield
stage to launch and early growth stage of life cycle. I was a prime mover in launching the
Gillette Company in India, Aviva Life Insurance, Sheffield Haworth and Go for I, ,a joint venture
between Chase Capital Partners and the Hindustan Times Group. The range of activities I was
involved in included conducting Government liasion pulling in Investors, securing regulatory
approvals, recommending the choice of technology, making greenfield investments in plant and
hard assets, sourcing suppliers, recruiting management teams, preparing Strategic Business
Plans, Marketing plans and Operating Plans, and launching the business.
Two, ground level operating experience across multiple geographies, including India,
Bangladesh, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the erstwhile USSR, and the United States.
Three, very strong strategic skills, reflected in my understanding of business strategy and the
selection of appropriate product-segment-business strategies in competitive marketplaces.
Four, a particular ability to identify, appraise, nurture and develop top quality managerial
talent During my business career, I have demonstrated an ability to very quickly spot talent and
have promoted the career of an array of people , a large number of who have gone on on to
become country CEO's, regional CEO's and even global CEO's of multinational corporations. I
number at least 20 individuals in this frame. I continue to have excellent relationships with many
of them.
Five, a remarkable network of connections, across business and Industry as well as
Government I am known to and respected by a wide cross section of senior executives and the bureaucracy, and can create effective access to decision makers and influencers. I have
relationships at global CEO level with a number of high profile internationally visible executives.
Finally, superb communication skills. I am widely acknowledged as one of the better communicators and orators in the Country, and have received a plethora of awards for this skill starting from my University days. 1 am the President of the Debating Society of India, have won internationally promoted Debate events and have been honored by Pakistan, when I was invited as Chief Guest to their National Youth Debate Championship, a first for an Indian.
I am a keen golfer, a fitness enthusiast,a regular bridge player, and a world traveller,
I have an MBA from XLRI, and have received additional training from liM Ahmedabad, Ashridge
College UK, And the Darden School of business. I have been guest faculty and have spoken on
multiple occasions at liMA, XLRI, FMS and the Booth School of Business Chicago.
I am currently occupied with promoting the activities of the Debating Society of India, am the President of the Rotary Club of Delhi Garden City, Director General of the Delhi Golf Society and Chairman of the Advisory Board of SIFT Capital, a leading Mutual Funds Distributor.
I reside in New Delhi at 103 Jorbagh (9810939990) and am contactable 10am- 7pm, Monday
through Saturday.