Rajesh Gupta — CEO
I build businesses others underestimate — and make them the ones everyone watches. Over 27 years across automotive, agribusiness, biotechnology, and logistics, I've led P&L operations of over $400M, built manufacturing plants from scratch, and turned marginal brands into market leaders — across India, South Africa, and beyond. At Mahindra South Africa, I inherited a business with 0.7% market share and limited infrastructure, with no clear identity. Eight years later, it's a Top-10 OEM, posting 19% CAGR against an industry growing at less than 1%, with 108 consecutive months of growth — through a global pandemic, supply disruptions, and fierce competition. We built South Africa's largest single-OEM SKD plant, doubled our dealer network, and pioneered cultural marketing that redefined how an Indian brand connects with African consumers. Today, Mahindra South Africa holds over 4.5% share of the industry, has the biggest SKD plant, is keenly studying CKD manufacturing, has the ability to handle challenges from new entrants, is loved by stakeholders for its ability to offer sustainability and scalability, and has a brand that has created an identity of a socially responsible. Before South Africa, I impacted a $2B+ topline at Mahindra India, built a rural sales vertical from zero across 1,800 towns, and led the Mahindra-Ford alliance distribution strategy. Earlier in my career at Piaggio and Monsanto, I launched India's first biotech products and grew a commercial vehicle brand from $220M to $360M. I'm now looking for my next chapter — CXO, President, or Board Advisory roles with organisations that are serious about growth in emerging and high-growth markets: South Africa, the Middle East, Singapore, and India. What I bring: ✔ P&L ownership at scale ($400M+) with consistent profitability ✔ Manufacturing & localisation strategy in frontier markets ✔ Cross-cultural leadership across diverse, high-complexity environments ✔ Government relations, industrial policy, and institutional partnerships ✔ Brand transformation and go-to-market innovation If you're building something ambitious in an emerging market — or scaling an established business that needs a reset — let's talk. 📩 rguppy01@icloud.com | 🌍 Johannesburg, South Africa
Stackforce AI infers this person is a strategic leader in the automotive and logistics sectors with a focus on emerging markets.
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Experience: 26 yrs 11 mos
Skills
- P&l Management
- Business Transformation
- Go-to-market Strategy
- Sales And Marketing
- Product Launch
- Brand Development
- New Business Development
Career Highlights
- Transformed Mahindra South Africa into a Top-10 OEM.
- Achieved 19% CAGR against industry growth of less than 1%.
- Built South Africa's largest single-OEM SKD plant.
Work Experience
Mahindra South Africa
Chief Executive Officer (8 yrs 4 mos)
Mahindra & Mahindra
Head Commercial Vehicles and Rural Sales (2 yrs 9 mos)
Head of Marketing (5 yrs 1 mo)
Piaggio
Head-Marketing (3 yrs 2 mos)
AFL Pvt. Ltd.
National Marketing Manager (1 yr 9 mos)
Monsanto
Manager Media & Marketing Services (2 yrs 3 mos)
Territory Manager-Sales (3 yrs 11 mos)
Education
Mahindra Universe Programme at Harvard Business School
PGDM at Goa Institute of Management (GIM)
Bachelor of Agriculture Science B.Ag.Sc at Jawaharlal Nehru Vishvavidyalaya
