Group Service Line Lead, Innovation, Market Strategy & Understanding, Strategy3Leading client relationships and engagements across multiple domains like NPD, Business Forecasting, Market and Consumer Understanding, Segmentation, Customer Experience, Brand Equity, among others. Engaged with clients across industries like FMCG, F&B, Automotive, Tobacco and Alcobev.

My responsibilities include…

Leading the insights initiative on key projects and driving important process changes. Also responsible for the work output and growth of three junior executives.

Highlights of the current role:- Heading the strategic media planning account of Dabur India Ltd- Overall responsibility for media strategy, sponsorships and impact buys, quality levels in planning work and managing client relationships - In charge of a team of fifteen people, with four levels belowAchievements:- Lead role in change of media strategy on Dabur brands – Dabur Amla Hair Oil and Dabur Real Activ.- Lead role in Dabur brands’ sponsorships of major impact properties on television – brands associated include Vatika, Fem and Real.- Key influence in improving team’s regular performance and reducing attrition.

Highlights of the role:- Reported to the executive director, marketing and sales - was responsible for keeping the ED, marketing and sales, hardwired into brand portfolio health, competitive activity.- Overall responsible for all outsourced market research work, consumer contacts and environmental scanning to generate actionable insight for the entire marketing team. - Active member of teams involved in work on strategic projects, including new product development - Part of a core team involved in the Medium Term Planning (MTP) cycle for the company.- Significant exposure to A C Nielsen retail audit, IMRB Household Panel, continuous brand tracking, STM’s, blend development research, pricing research, positioning development research and advertising research.Achievements:- Developing innovative product tolerance research studies used in development of a product meant for the “bottom of pyramid” economic class. Product to be launched shortly.- Worked on concept and communication development of the Jaago Re campaign of Tata Tea. This campaign was a step ahead in the tea category, which was earlier mostly on product based advertising.Awards and Recognition in role- Received an annual award for actively championing innovation in Tata Tea Limited’s out of home initiative, Chai Unchai, in 2007.- Received an annual award for championing business excellence, in 2006.

Significant projects included - Corporate Image Study for Tata Steel Limited- Product Development work for a new range of personal care products for ITC LimitedAchievements: - Led the Pack Research which eventually resulted in the pack change of Gold Flake, India’s largest cigarette brand.- Led the U&A and market understanding study for the matchbox market in India  key strategic input in ITC’s acquisition of WIMCO.