Experience

• 

  Autograde International

  • United Arab Emirates

  • Managing Director

    • Aug 2007 - Present
    • United Arab Emirates

    • Scaled up the company from scratch to a turnover of 5 million USD and 100 member strong team in a span of 4 years• Set up an R&D Center in the heart of Automotive industry of Bangalore, ITPL – a center of excellence, with 20 staff working• Widest geographical spread of speed limiters, spanning over 25 countries• R&D Center set-up with a vision to bring features of high-end vehicles for retro-fitment market; Products to bring need for road safety into consumer consciousness• Set up an ISO Certified manufacturing unit in Kochi and started an Emirates Quality Mark certified manufacturing unit in Dubai• First and only speed limiter manufacturer with Emirates Quality Mark and certifications from British Standard (AU-217), Gulf Standard Organisation, European-Marking, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), ICAT, and ARAI among others• Solidified the foundation for future expansion by building a middle management with a pedigree of IIM, Bosch, Siemens, Coca-Cola, Tata Group among other companies

• 

  HKA Group

  • Founder

    • Jan 2000 - Jul 2007

    • Entered the automotive electronics sector with Speed Limiters in India• Joined hands with Siemens VDO and later Actia• Launched road safety awareness campaigns to increase awareness about and sensitivity towards road fatalities• On the back of awareness campaigns and strong sub-dealer network, became the biggest dealer across Asia for road speed limiters for Siemens and Actia

• 

  Hajee. K. Assainar & Co

  • Founder

    • 1980 - 1999

    • Entered the family business of Rice Trading, established since 1924• Created a strong system of buyers throughout Kerala• Had strong procurement network spread across India• Grew the company to trading 1000T/day, becoming among the largest rice trader in Kerala• Diversified the business into unchartered territories – often creating new markets by introducing products from other geographies• Partnered with Ras-Al Khaimah White Cement to bring their premium branded White Cement to India• Managed 3,200 dealers across Kerala, with an volume of 30,000 TPA• Vertically integrated to develop market for Vitrified tiles• Developed market for complementary products by tying up with RAK Ceramics and others to ensure a strong supply of UPVC and CPVC Pipes in addition