Experience

LIPTON Teas and Infusions

• Netherlands
• Beverage Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Global Head of Contract Manufacturing

  • Oct 2023 - Present

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates



ekaterra

• Netherlands
• Beverage Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Head of Supply Chain - Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET)

  • Aug 2021 - Nov 2023

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates



Unilever

• United Kingdom
• Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director Supply Chain South Asia - Foods & Refreshments & Business Head Ice Cream (India)

  • Jan 2018 - Aug 2021

  Mumbai Area, India Headed USD 1.6 Bn (INR 11,200 Crores) South Asia Foods & Refreshment Supply Chain- with diverse categories such as Tea, Coffee, Ice creams, Spreads, Dressings and Savory. Currently leading end to end Supply Chain results across five countries(India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal ). Heading a Supply network having 35+ manufacturing plants and 3000+ employees. Also, part of the SA Supply Chain Leadership Team. Additional responsibility as the Ice Cream Business Head for India -… Show more Headed USD 1.6 Bn (INR 11,200 Crores) South Asia Foods & Refreshment Supply Chain- with diverse categories such as Tea, Coffee, Ice creams, Spreads, Dressings and Savory. Currently leading end to end Supply Chain results across five countries(India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal ). Heading a Supply network having 35+ manufacturing plants and 3000+ employees. Also, part of the SA Supply Chain Leadership Team. Additional responsibility as the Ice Cream Business Head for India - USD 152 Mln (1100 Crs).

• Director Supply Chain - Refreshments - South Asia

  • Jan 2017 - Dec 2017

  Mumbai Headed USD 1.2 Bn (INR 8400 Crores) South Asia Refreshment Supply Chain which includes Tea, Coffee & Ice Cream. Responsible for leading end to end Supply Chain results across five countries (India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh and Nepal). Heading a Supply network having 20+ manufacturing plants and 2000+ employees. Part of the South Asia Supply Chain Leadership Team.

• Cluster Quality Director (South Asia)

  • Apr 2013 - Dec 2016

  Mumbai/Kolkata Responsible for delivering E2E Quality of product and services across the full length of the SC from supplier to retail shelves across South Asia and across all categories in Unilever (Foods & Refreshments and HPC). All this, while driving a cultural change - embedding a Q mindset from the factory floor to Quality @ the point of sale.... from focusing on driving DOWN consumer dissatisfaction to driving UP consumer delight !

• Head - Tea Excellence Centre (South Asia)

  • May 2009 - Apr 2013

  Mumbai & Kolkata The TEC is a one-stop shop for all that is Tea in Unilever (South Asia), managing > 140 mln kgs p.a. Head - TEC is directly responsible for evaluation of RM offered for sale into Unilever (through various channels), new product development, formulations management, managing product (blend) quality through the supply-chain - from RM to retail shelves, driving value enginering projects & quality improvement projects. Working with consumer and building consumer (product) insight & continously… Show more The TEC is a one-stop shop for all that is Tea in Unilever (South Asia), managing > 140 mln kgs p.a. Head - TEC is directly responsible for evaluation of RM offered for sale into Unilever (through various channels), new product development, formulations management, managing product (blend) quality through the supply-chain - from RM to retail shelves, driving value enginering projects & quality improvement projects. Working with consumer and building consumer (product) insight & continously build capabilities and talent pipeline are key requirements of the role. It partners Supply Management & Procurement Operations teams in the buying and stock management. As a member of the Regional Category Leadership Team for South Asia & Africa, it partners the Brand Development teams on building winning mixes & innovations The role also partners the Brand Buiilding Team (or the Opco) on day-to-day operations (e.g. pricing) apart from driving & delivering local projects on time, in full.

• Business manager (Global Sourcing), Foods & Refreshment

  • May 2007 - Apr 2009

  Mumbai The role entailed developing 1. Developing a long term, robust & sustainable global sourcing strategy ex-India and into UL companies globally 2. Building capabilities in India to deliver on the strategy 3. Developing the business case for sourcing opportunities (based on Cost, Service and Quality) & seeing them through to execution 4. Developing and delivering on Customer relationship Management KPI. Included work on projects on "Delivering exceptional Quality @ Asian… Show more The role entailed developing 1. Developing a long term, robust & sustainable global sourcing strategy ex-India and into UL companies globally 2. Building capabilities in India to deliver on the strategy 3. Developing the business case for sourcing opportunities (based on Cost, Service and Quality) & seeing them through to execution 4. Developing and delivering on Customer relationship Management KPI. Included work on projects on "Delivering exceptional Quality @ Asian Costs", VMI etc. 5. Managing and delivering business KPIs such as overheads, top-line & bottom-line targets



Brooke Bond Liption India Ltd

• Operations Manager (Exports) & Business Head, F&B Exports

  • May 1995 - Apr 2007

  Bangalore Responsibilities during this stint included (amongst others) 1. Managing the Value added Tea Exports business Ex-India into Unilever countries globally (T/O approx Rs 250 Crs) such as Japan, USA, NEA, Australia & Middle East etc. Responsibilities included developing country specific blend formulations based on consumer research carried out jointly with the Unilever companies on-shore and then building the sourcing strategies for Original Tea [as RM], tracking and managing key business… Show more Responsibilities during this stint included (amongst others) 1. Managing the Value added Tea Exports business Ex-India into Unilever countries globally (T/O approx Rs 250 Crs) such as Japan, USA, NEA, Australia & Middle East etc. Responsibilities included developing country specific blend formulations based on consumer research carried out jointly with the Unilever companies on-shore and then building the sourcing strategies for Original Tea [as RM], tracking and managing key business KPIs such as WC, Overheads, Customer Satisfaction,managing Quality issues (including responding to local consumer and customer complaints as required), etc. The role was directly accountable for delivering Top and Bottom-line targets. Also, building new capabilities such as a world class Packet Tea, Tea Bag manufacturing site & new tea bag & Packet Tea formats. And a world class Instant Tea Plant within India (a first for the Company) 2. Managing direct non-UL businesses such as a branded Instant Coffee exports business into Russia & erstwhile USSR countries (T/O approx 75 Crs). Apart from delivering on business KPIs and being directly accountable for Top & Bottom-line targets, responsibilities included mining for consumer insights based on consumer research conducted locally and then leading development of new products & formats in keeping with the insights, establishing a direct distribution networks, appointing distributors, developing & executing communication (including TV) & buying of media plans, etc. 3. Managing a direct non-UL sourcing business in Rice with similar responsibilities as above (T/) approx 50 Crs) 4. The stint also included managing a direct 3P/non-UL packet Tea business into countries such as USA, Yemen & the Maghreb region. The responsibilities were similar to those of the Instant Coffee business above. 5. Also a short stint carrying country responsibility for Iran (for Bulk and value added teas) Show less



Lipton India Ltd

• Senior Commodity Buyer (Tea) & Specialty Exports

  • May 1993 - Apr 1995

  Kolkata Area, India The responsibilities included 1 Tasting and buying of teas offered for sale in Kolkata (both privately and through auctions). Approx 40 mln kgs p.a. 2. Managing the Speciality Exports (Darjeeling & Orthodox teas) business. Customers included buyers in Japan, Germany, UK and Iran. Accountable for top and bottom-line delivery as well as WC targets for the business; developing and sustaining customer portfolio including driving customer satisfaction; developing new products in line with… Show more The responsibilities included 1 Tasting and buying of teas offered for sale in Kolkata (both privately and through auctions). Approx 40 mln kgs p.a. 2. Managing the Speciality Exports (Darjeeling & Orthodox teas) business. Customers included buyers in Japan, Germany, UK and Iran. Accountable for top and bottom-line delivery as well as WC targets for the business; developing and sustaining customer portfolio including driving customer satisfaction; developing new products in line with customer (and consumer) requirements and ensuring service KPIs were also delivered on 100% OTIF basis. T/O approx 50- 60 crs p.a.

• Commodity Buyer

  • May 1991 - Apr 1993

  Cochin Area, India Responsible for 1. Tasting & buying of South Indian teas for blends in the Lipton portfolio across the three offices in Cochin, Coonoor & Coimbatore. 2. Running the three offices - managing overheads, budgets & head counts (including contractual labour & service providers). The youngest Unit Manager hitherto to head the South India office of Lipton 3. Managing two 3P tea blending and packing operations for (Lipton domestic packs). Responsible for Cost, Service and Quality of… Show more Responsible for 1. Tasting & buying of South Indian teas for blends in the Lipton portfolio across the three offices in Cochin, Coonoor & Coimbatore. 2. Running the three offices - managing overheads, budgets & head counts (including contractual labour & service providers). The youngest Unit Manager hitherto to head the South India office of Lipton 3. Managing two 3P tea blending and packing operations for (Lipton domestic packs). Responsible for Cost, Service and Quality of products ex-factory; managing the relationship with the 3P service providers, including resolution of any local IR issues at the site, buying and monitoring of RM & PM for the site & delivering on WC targets 3. Top-line and bottom-line targets for a small but very profitable Bulk Tea exports business into Japan, Germany and USA (T/O approx 10 Crs)

• Coomodity Buyer (Tea)

  • May 1990 - Apr 1991

  Guwahati Area, India Responsible for 1. Tasting and buying of teas offered for sale in Guwahati auctions (then the largest tea buying operation for Lipton in India) 2. Managing the Siliguri Tea Buying Unit (operating out of Guwahati) & solely responsible for tasting & buying of Dooars teas for blends in the Lipton portfolio. Approx 1000 tpa.



Lipton India Ltd

• Management Trainee

  • Jul 1988 - Jan 1990

  India Recruited as Mgt Trainee and placed in the Commodity Buying team. The training included stints in Commercial, Logistics, Planning & Marketing and a short stint at the Etah dairy plant (which was a mandatory). Responsible for managing the total Original Tea Stocks for Lipton India Ltd. Confirmation projects 1. Developing and landing a "Blend Order Generation" module which replaced (in most part) the human interface and ensured FIFO in stock management while managing WC… Show more Recruited as Mgt Trainee and placed in the Commodity Buying team. The training included stints in Commercial, Logistics, Planning & Marketing and a short stint at the Etah dairy plant (which was a mandatory). Responsible for managing the total Original Tea Stocks for Lipton India Ltd. Confirmation projects 1. Developing and landing a "Blend Order Generation" module which replaced (in most part) the human interface and ensured FIFO in stock management while managing WC delivery. 2. "Timely and accurate physical reconciliation of stocks" 3. "E2E computerisation of the process flow in Tea Tasting & Buying Operations" Show less