Vinod Rao

Vinod Rao

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35+ years of professional experience in Asia/Middle East & Europe spanning 3 Global Multi Nationals: PepsiCo (14 years) ICI (13 years) & Diageo (8 years) across a diverse range of businesses like FMCG, Consumer Durables and Industrial Products.

Over two decades of proven track record in senior /leadership roles with recent stints as Group Treasurer & Investor Relations head, Region Finance head (Diageo & PepsiCo), Country CFO of large & complex Operating business’s (PepsiCo Beverages in India & China), leading M&A deals.
Have been on international assignment, outside home country the last 13+ years based in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and London.

Director in Public Boards :
– United Spirits Ltd, India. May 2016 to present,
– Sichuan Swelfun Limited, China – Sept 2013 to present
– PSPPI, Philippines – May 2012 to July 2013

My core strengths/Key experience lie in
• Leading communication, extensive interactions with Equity & Debt investors, engagement with the Board on shaping the Capital allocation strategies for the company as well as developing and executing Corporate Finance/Treasury related initiatives.
• Playing a partnering role as a key member of Leadership/Business decision making teams involving developing the Strategic agenda, interactions with JV/Franchise partners as well as delivery of results.
• Leading finance & commercial teams involving P&L, performance and portfolio management, setting & ensuring execution off National functional agenda’s, investment decisions, annual & long-term financial plans development.,
• Talent management, coaching, mentoring as well as building Function Leaders of the future.
• Championing the enhancement of the Control Environment & Standards in the business as well as increase in proportional ownership of Controls as being good business practice.

Deepak Narayanan

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Deepak Narayanan, a disruptor and a value creator decided to reimagine how consulting firms added value to customers through a proprietary Return On Investments (ROI) framework. Deepak is the Founder & CEO of Practus(www.roibypractus.com) , an implementation focused company that improves business outcomes for clients significantly

Deepak’s tryst with entrepreneurship began in 2007. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Deepak got his basics sorted with AF Ferguson (which became a part of Deloitte) and Ernst & Young advising large corporations. Deepak realised that there were glaring gaps in business consulting practices where the risk was largely on the customer and consulting firms could get away under the garb of merely providing advice without any ‘skin in the game’ ,and this prompted him and his Co-founder, S Venkat to start a company that would change the way in which consulting firms operated

In less than a decade, Practus has grown to become a market leader in the Office of CFO services segment in India working with organisations ranging from start ups to Fortune 500 companies across diverse industries. Practus’ aspiration is to be become the first billion dollar company in the consulting space from India

Practus serves clients from its offices in India, , New York, and Dubai. Practus works with business leaders to improve cash flow, profits, and efficiencies across Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Sales, and Marketing functions.            .

 

Deepak is an active volunteer at the Isha Foundation, a diehard cricket buff, a yoga practioner and a meditator, a voracious reader and loves spending time with people.

Keval Handa

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Promoter Director, Salus Lifecare Pvt. Ltd. Former Managing Director, Pfizer Limited, India Former Non Executive Chairman, Union Bank of India

Managing Director of Pfizer Limited, India from 2005 to 2012. Prior to this, has served as Executive Director – Finance, Pfizer Limited. Also Managing Director of Wyeth Ltd from 2009 to 2012. Former Non Executive Chairman of Union Bank of India, Chairman of Clarriant Chemical Limited and on Board of various companies. Under his leadership, Pfizer India became one of the top ten pharmaceutical companies in India, due to new initiatives and innovative strategies implemented during his term. He constantly challenged the rules of the game – whether it was making Pfizer India the first MNC to enter into the branded generics space in India or explore a unique partnership with the Government to increase access. Building a diverse organization is one of his key focuses. As part of this, he has driven the various teams to hire and retain women colleagues in management and most importantly in sales positions – an initiative unheard of in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. He has managed this by sensitization and developing policies that are women friendly. These initiatives are now case studies and were showcased at a ministerial roundtable held in Turkey. Has diverse experience in Finance, Commercial, Strategy, Business Development, Merger & Acquisition, Banking, Corporate Affairs and he has also experience in sectors like Engineering, Consumer and Project Finance in companies like Schrader Scovill, Hindustan Liver Limited (HLL), Vidyut Blades & State Industrial Investment Corporation of Maharashtra (SICOM),  He is qualified Management Accountant and Company Secretary and has a Masters Degree in Commerce. Has completed the Pfizer Leadership Development Program from Harvard University and the Senior Management Development Program from IIM, Ahmadabad. Has also done a Certificate course on Marketing Strategy from Columbia Business School, New York. He was awarded the ‘India CFO 2004 – Excellence in Finance in an MNC’ by International Market – Assessment Group, the Bharat Shiromani Award in 2007 and the Pharma Leaders – Pharma Professional of the year 2010.

Srini Srinivasa

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Consulting CIO, BPI

Srini Srinivasa is a business and technology strategy leader with experience in manufacturing, retail, banking, government and eCommerce sectors. As CIO and IT Director, he has transformed IT departments into very successful high performance global business focused teams. He built and managed the Ford Cybersecurity Center in India. As a leader, Srini has led change in organizational culture, policies and procedures. He specializes in building and leading global high performance teams across digital transformation, strategic sourcing, supplychain and eCommerce.

Sanjay Rastogi

Sanjay Rastogi

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Head, Corporate HR, Trent Limited

Sanjay Rastogi is the Head Corporate HR & Sustainability for Trent Limited. Sanjay has expertise in successfully integrating the organization’s long term business strategy, people strategy, and building customer & employee centric organization. Along with his HR responsibilities, Sanjay also take care of Sustainability initiatives at Trent. Sanjay has core interest and proven experience in enhancing Human Capital Readiness of organisation. He has helped organisation build leadership capabilities ahead of business need so that same can be leveraged by business to meet its strategic objectives. Education & Expertise After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Science from Meerut University, Sanjay went on to complete a course in Computer Application before pursuing his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Mumbai University. Sanjay was part of the healthcare; pharmaceutical sector (Wockhardt Limited) for 13 years prior to joining Trent Limited in 2006. Sanjay’s interest also lies in helping government and non-government bodies in overcoming challenges of employability and education. He loves spending time with students and business start-ups.

Shashi

Shashi Shekhar

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Managing Director, Camfil India

Shashi Shekhar is a business leader and a strategic thinker with more than 28 years of experience in the field of Industrial, Government, and Consumer Business. He has held several leadership positions in companies like Sandvik, 3M & DuPont. Currently serving as the Managing Director of Camfil India (A Swedish MNC and Global Leader in Air Filtration), is responsible for leading the Clean Air Business for India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. He is passionate about making ‘Clean air a human right’. A Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from BIT Sindri and IIM Bangalore alumni has accomplished several professional enhancement programs including Six Sigma DMAIC, DFSS, Leadership Development. Over these years, Mr. Shekhar has been awarded numerous prestigious industry awards and recognized in several industry-leading publications including Forbes, Industry Outlook, CEO Insights, and many more. With the firm belief in youth being the country’s future, Shekhar has mentored several students and held various advisory positions with numerous startups. Presently, Shashi is an advisor on AI for Ikigai Labs, an initiative of IIT Kanpur.

Sunil Buch

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Co-Founder and CEO, Wellness Niyamas

Sunil Buch is a versatile and multi-talented leader. He has over two decades of leadership and general management experience spanning FMCG, Advertising, Telecom, Retail and the Media & Entertainment sectors. He has served and contributed in leadership roles at Colgate — Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, Leo Burnett, Marico, Reliance Communications and ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited where he was the CEO of Zee Live and Zee Talent. In 2017, he crafted one of the most interesting partnerships between Zee & Rally for Rivers, which gave one of the best advertising films for the rally. Currently, he consults for Live Nation Entertainment, a $11 billion live music entertainment conglomerate and is also a Non-Executive Independent Director on Board of Orbit Exports, a listed company. He specializes in creating profitable brand-led businesses via thought leadership, entrepreneurial problem-solving, creative strategy and execution. Happy People make Happy Products & Services and the PAT principle are the two tenets he strongly propagates and believes in. Sunil is a science graduate and MBA from Mumbai University.

Sridhar Dharmarajan (DS), MSC Software Corporation- High Res

Sridhar Dharmajan

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EVP and MD, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence

CEO, MD and Strategy Leader with 30+ years of experience in successfully creating, growing, transforming and dramatically improving P&Ls/businesses. Successfully started, built and established multiple MNCs and start-ups in India over 3 decades in the ‘technology’ domain. Selected and retained the best-fit talent, coached and developed leaders. Collaboratively finds purpose in line with organizational goals.

A people leader who continues to demonstrate his widely acknowledged skill and prowess in inspiring teams to work at the highest level of passion with a relentless result-oriented mindset. Excels at integrating insights towards a purposeful future of the business, and provides a platform for people to accomplish their goals.

Operates with a ‘customer-centric’ approach with the ability to build compelling relationships with CxOs. Focuses on the strengths of the team in a way that has helped in maximizing and creating sustainable growth. Highly proficient in driving digital innovation and bridging the gap between existing industrial environments and emerging new technologies. Known for taking on challenging assignments and utilizing deep experience in the automotive, aerospace, defence and machinery sectors to drive innovative customer solutions and outperform the competition.

𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 r𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 e𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 in innovative global product strategies, IoT, machine learning, AI, asset performance management, big data, edge computing, mobility and cloud-based technologies. Adept in complex operations/financials, smart manufacturing and organizational/business turnarounds.

𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲:

P&L Growth • Digital Innovation • Digital Thought Leadership • Strategic Planning • Product Line Leadership • Industrial Internet • Internet of Things (IoT) • New Product Rollouts • Technology Turn-Around Expertise • Cost-Cutting Initiatives • Software Thought Leadership • Cloud and SaaS Business • Certified Solution Selling • Award Winning Business Leadership

MS Unnikrishnan

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Chief Executive Officer, IITB-Monash Research Academy Former MD and CEO, Thermax

MS Unnikrishnan is the Managing Director and CEO of Thermax Limited, the energy and environment solutions major. The company has a global presence and operates in the areas of heating, cooling, power, water and waste management, air pollution control and chemicals. He chairs the CII National Committee of Industrial Relations and is a member of the Development Council constituted by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India. He chaired the Capital Goods Skill Council under the National Skill Development Corporation. He also chaired the Skills Working Group of the BRICS Business Council in 2016. He is a Member of the AICTE Jury Committee for annual ranking of technical and management institutes of the country and is also a Co-Chair of the Apex Council to implement the “Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research.” He has been honoured with the “Asia Innovator Award” at the CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards, 2012. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from VNIT, Nagpur in 1982 and has completed his Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School, USA. Unnikrishnan is known for his strategic and human relations skills and is a champion of green technologies.

Rahul Prakash

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Partner at Route to Markets Partners

Rahul is a marketer who has worked across the globe in Tobacco and Consumer Goods Marketing. He had a short stint as a tea planter — with Tata Finlay — and realising this was not his calling, moved to Marketing in ITC Limited where he spent a very exciting 15 years before moving in 1996 to the parent British American Tobacco, in London, UK. Over the next few years, he travelled extensively to lead and participate in marketing projects in different geographies, including Uzbekistan, Russia, Poland, Italy, Nigeria and Brazil. After three years in Canada where he led transformational change, Rahul returned to the UK to head the Global Sales function for the BAT Group. Latterly, Rahul worked as Executive Director at a London-based private equity firm. These days, he volunteers for Isha in the UK and India and spends some time in Marketing Consultancy assignments.