Piyush Chopra Email & Phone Number

Mumbai Area, India

Mumbai Area, India

I developed and implemented the new governance and communications framework at Essar under which the Fund's global investments are now structured as over 65 independent SBUs that are board-driven and CEO-led. I assisted the Global Chief Executive in managing and reviewing business and functional performance of this entire portfolio. I interfaced between the investors, directors and top management to formulate corporate strategy, provide functional support, and drive stakeholder engagement. I handled all internal and external communications for the Group CEO, including representations to governments, financial institutions, media outfits and leadership platforms like the World Economic Forum. I continued to anchor the Fund's Corporate Centre that provided strategic advisory support to portfolio companies. I was also assigned, from the Group CEO's office, to anchor corporate brand building and additionally support marketing strategy for Essar's investments in technology enabled consumer facing businesses like fuel and mobile retail in the physical as well as digital world.

I anchored Essar Corporate Centre (ECC), which is an apex advisory body comprising Board of Directors of Essar's portfolio businesses, who collectively provided operational, financial, and functional guidance to investee companies. I designed ECC's strategic agenda and outlined key objectives for the organizational restructuring, including asset monetization, cost optimization, brand building, credit rating improvement, etc. I drafted signature functional policies and guidelines, that were endorsed by ECC and adopted by SBU boards for all Essar businesses. I designed templates and formats for annual business plans, monthly board reviews and quarterly investor reviews. I conceptualized the Fund's first Global Annual Meet where Essar's new governance framework was communicated to the entire leadership team, including external advisors and key partners.

Mumbai

I managed Essar Group's brand-building and marketing initiatives in India and overseas. I worked across the entire spectrum of strategic brand communication - print and broadcast advertising, corporate website, digital media, event sponsorships, communications collateral, notably leading the launch of a 24*7 corporate web TV channel that is broadcast live and on-demand to over 55,000 employees across geographies. I created high quality content and external presentations for the Group's Promoter Directors and senior leadership. I drafted Essar's brand strategy guidelines that articulated the Group's vision, documented the brand's journey and prescribed a framework for its evolution. I also spearheaded brand communication assignments for the Group's portfolio companies. To name a few - 1. I led M&A communications in UK for Essar Oil's acquisition of a Shell refinery. 2. I designed internal communications approach for Essar Steel's 'Customer First' initiative. 3. I scripted, produced and directed a short film for Essar Exploration & Production's community outreach.

I headed the Communications work-stream for Essar Oil's acquisition of Royal Dutch Shell's Stanlow refinery in UK. I was in charge of devising and implementing the internal and external stakeholder engagement plan in India and in UK. This involved managing external media agencies, international labor unions, investment consultants as well as the high-level deal team on both sides. I represented Essar in negotiations during due-diligence, take-over and all the way till post-merger integration. Key wins in this assignment included: 1. Successfully creating a master narrative for the deal which ensured accuracy and consistency in Essar's communication. 2. Finding and converting key influencers in the UK who were able to champion Essar's strategic intent for Stanlow's future growth. 3. Choreographing critical town-hall meetings with Shell's senior management and site staff to ensure employee buy-in, which is a critical determinant of success for any long-term acquisition.During my tenure, I also carried out strategic and marketing due-diligence for other competitive assets in the UK refinery market. In that process, I examined all acquisition prospects to help the management eventually pursue the most relevant strategic-fit for Essar's market-entry in Europe.

I worked on two key assignments during my Management Trainee stint at Essar. I worked on Customer Relationship Management for Essar Steel where I was involved in re-designing and re-launching the loyalty programme for high value retail customers. My second project was with the M&A department of Essar Oil where I scanned market opportunities for strategic entry and business development in the European market. I handled communications internally and externally during due-diligence and negotiations for prospective international alliances.I also did my Summer Internship at Essar where I worked on the Group's global rebranding. I was involved in developing the new brand architecture, brand identity and brand communication approach for the Group. I worked closely with brand consultancies, research agencies and design firms to help articulate Essar’s brand proposition internally for the global employee base and externally for the evolving stakeholder segments. This was key to Essar’s subsequent evolution from an India based family conglomerate to a global PE fund. Essar made a special request to my business school for extension of my internship in appreciation of the significant contribution I made on the rebranding project. I was later given a pre-placement offer to join their global Leadership Programme as a management trainee, which I accepted.

New Delhi Area, India

Executive Education, Corporate Finance

Mba, Brand Communications Management

Activities and Societies: Senior Member, Career Planning & Development Cell, 2008-9 Member, Placement Committee, 2007-8

B.A., Economics

Activities and Societies: President, Debating Society, Miranda House, 2006-07 - Participated in and won over 50 national level debate.