Mar 2022 – Apr 2024 · 2 yrs 1 mo · India · Remote

• National Sales Manager – Healthy Foods FMCG Start-up
• Launched and led Pan-India sales, distribution, marketing, and business development operations for an early-stage FMCG start-up in the healthy foods segment. Built the entire sales infrastructure from scratch, establishing scalable systems, distribution networks, and go-to-market strategies across B2C and B2B channels.
• The company specializes in cashew processing and sale of nuts, dry fruits, and nutritious snacks, including roasted and flavored cashews, smoked and salted almonds, pistachios, peanuts, flavored foxnuts, and other premium dry fruit products. Managed branded retail sales as well as bulk supply of broken cashew varieties to bakery, biscuit, ice cream, namkeen, and snack manufacturers.
• Key Contributions & Achievements:
• Spearheaded end-to-end setup of sales infrastructure and nationwide distribution across General Trade and Modern Trade, while simultaneously developing B2B channels.
• Expanded alternate sales channels including railway canteens, restaurants, bars, educational institutions, transport hubs, cinema halls, tourist locations, and hospital canteens.
• Successfully executed product launches, ensuring distribution expansion, merchandising excellence, brand visibility, promotions, objection handling, and operational problem solving across channels.
• Led New Product Development (NPD) initiatives and onboarded vendors to support scaling operations.
• Built and managed on-roll and off-roll sales teams to drive execution excellence.
• Secured and negotiated contracts with major key accounts across industries, including leading biscuit, bakery, ice cream, and snack manufacturers, as well as large retail chains.
• Scaled business revenue from ₹2 crore annually to ₹30 crore annual turnover within two years, demonstrating strong market expansion and execution capability.
• Reported directly to the Company Director and played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s commercial growth strategy.

Jun 2020 – Feb 2022 · 1 yr 8 mos · Pune Division, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• Experienced Sales & Business Consultant specializing in Nutrition, Food Fortification, and FMCG sectors across Domestic and International markets.
• Engaged as a Sales Consultant in the Nutrition space, driving market development for:
• Micro Nutrient Powders (MNPs) addressing nutritional deficiencies among children, pregnant and lactating women
• Food Fortification Premixes for Food & Beverage industry clients
• Successfully generated strong market awareness, developed strategic sales pipelines, and converted prospects into confirmed business orders.
• Consulted FMCG start-ups across categories including:
• Breakfast cereals
• Hot beverages (Food Service channel)
• Healthy & nutritious snacks
• Worked closely with founders to align business vision with actionable go-to-market strategies, sales execution plans, and growth roadmaps.
• In addition to business consulting, served as a Trainer and Mentor for All India Competitive Exams (SSB), guiding aspirants through structured preparation and performance enhancement.

May 2018 – Mar 2020 · 1 yr 10 mos · India · On-site

• Nutrivita (Part of Nutriset, France)
• Led National & International Sales, Business Development and Strategic Alliances for fortified Ready-to-Use Therapeutic & Supplementary Foods (RUTF/RUSF) addressing severe malnutrition among infants and vulnerable populations.
• Owned end-to-end revenue growth, institutional partnerships, global tender participation, pricing strategy, export compliance, private label development, packaging finalization, forecasting, collections and cross-functional execution. Reported to CEO with strategic alignment to the French parent group.
• Built and expanded institutional business with global humanitarian and public health stakeholders including UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP), UNHCR, USAID, Action Against Hunger, Médecins Sans Frontières, International Committee of the Red Cross, along with Tata Trusts, Adani Foundation, Godrej Foundation, hospitals and government departments (government Health department & Women and Child Development).
• Represented the organization at international humanitarian platforms including Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition and drove brand positioning in the global nutrition ecosystem.
• Impact Delivered:
• Scaled revenue from ₹25 Cr to ₹60 Cr within 2 years (140% growth)
• Generated single largest order of 540 MT ( 20 x40ft containers) worth 12 crores.
• Increased volume share across existing institutional accounts
• Opened new domestic & export channels
• Strengthened strategic alliances across public health and social impact sectors
• Played a critical leadership role in stabilizing and saving the company during a high-risk phase
• Strategic business leader with deep expertise in institutional sales, global procurement systems, humanitarian supply chains, and mission-driven revenue growth.

Mar 2014 – Apr 2018 · 4 yrs 1 mo · Pune District, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• Entrepreneurial Venture – FMCG Distribution & PropTech
• Built and scaled a wholesale FMCG distribution model servicing under-penetrated markets on the outskirts of Pune. Sourced multi-brand food products through cash-and-carry and wholesale channels to ensure competitive pricing and higher margins in territories underserved by company distributors.
• Executed structured market coverage using PJP (Permanent Journey Plan) principles, focusing on disciplined routing, retailer engagement, and consistent service cycles. Despite aggressive undercutting and intense competition, achieved an average monthly turnover of ₹15+ lakh.
• Strategically diversified operations by adding:
• Real estate consulting
• Domestic money transfer services
• This improved infrastructure utilization, increased local visibility, and expanded revenue streams within the same catchment area.
• Early-Stage PropTech Involvement
• Commertia Internet Pvt Ltd
• Actively contributed to building a commercial real estate technology platform focused exclusively on commercial properties.
• Key Contributions:
• Onboarded leading builders, promoters, developers & channel partners
• Listed 10,000+ commercial properties
• Integrated ecosystem service providers including law firms, furniture vendors, and electrical/electronic suppliers
• Helped position the platform as a one-stop solution for commercial real estate stakeholders
• This journey strengthened expertise in entrepreneurial execution, multi-stakeholder partnerships, ecosystem building, and growth strategy in competitive markets.

Jun 2013 – Feb 2014 · 8 mos · Pune/Pimpri-Chinchwad Area · On-site

• First Energy (Offshoot of BP)
• Led business expansion for biomass-based clean cooking fuel solutions designed for commercial kitchens and institutional heating applications. The company manufactured renewable biomass pellets from agricultural waste such as bagasse, cotton stalk, groundnut shells, and rice husk—offering a cost-effective, safe, and sustainable alternative to commercial LPG.
• Focused on HoReCa and institutional segments, positioning the solution on:
• Significant cost savings vs commercial LPG cylinders
• Cleaner combustion (odorless & smokeless)
• Enhanced food taste and operational efficiency
• Sustainable, eco-friendly fuel adoption
• Expanded installations across:
• Large industrial canteens
• Institutional caterers
• Hotels & restaurants
• Operated on an FMCG-style distribution model managing primary and secondary pellet sales, channel development, demand generation, and account servicing.
• Impact Delivered:
• Scaled monthly revenue from ₹22 Lac to ₹37 Lac
• Achieved 68% growth within a short span
• Strengthened institutional adoption of renewable fuel solutions
• Built strong distributor and key account networks
• The company was subsequently acquired by Thermax, reinforcing the long-term viability of the business model and market opportunity.

Apr 2011 – May 2013 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Pune · On-site

• Lavazza – Bean-to-Cup Coffee Vending
• Led exponential business growth for freshly brewed Bean-to-Cup coffee vending machines across three core verticals: Institutions/HoReCa, Public Places and Corporates, along with retail (B2C) coffee bean sales.
• Drove new installations (rental & outright) across:
• Star hotels & premium restaurants
• Caterers and institutional kitchens
• Schools, colleges, hospitals, cinema halls, bus stands & religious sites
• IT/ITES, manufacturing, engineering firms, SMEs & commercial establishments
• Established strong market dominance with 90%+ share in star hotels and premium A-grade restaurants within the territory.
• Ensured high machine uptime and service quality, strengthening brand reputation in the premium coffee segment.
• Impact Delivered:
• Increased average monthly turnover from ₹24 Lac to ₹35 Lac (46% growth)
• Reduced credit cycle from 30 days to 7 days through tighter delivery terms and operational discipline
• Improved cash flow and operational efficiency
• Recognized as one of the top achievers in the West Zone
• Demonstrated strength in B2B sales, key account acquisition, HoReCa leadership, distribution management, and working capital optimization.

Nov 2007 – Mar 2011 · 3 yrs 4 mos · Pune · On-site

• Early-Stage FMCG Frozen Seafood & Snacks Startup
• Built the entire distribution system from scratch for a frozen seafood and ready-to-fry snack brand. Led a team of 5 sales officers and one distributor to drive business across General Trade and HoReCa in Pune.
• Key Achievements:
• Grew revenue from ₹0 to ₹1.8 Cr p.a., exceeding primary and secondary sales targets
• Benchmarked and matched distribution network against market leaders in frozen non-veg segment
• Executed sales promotions, BTL campaigns, and brand awareness initiatives
• Strengthened client acquisition, key account management, and institutional sales
• Developed route-to-market strategy and optimized sales coverage for consistent demand generation
• Despite operational challenges and supply-demand constraints leading to closure, successfully demonstrated entrepreneurial execution, market penetration, and strategic sales leadership in a competitive FMCG segment.
• Core Skills: Institutional Sales · Distributor Management · Client Relations · Lead Generation · Revenue Growth · Team Leadership · Cross-functional Coordination · Customer Acquisition · Go-to-Market Strategy · Sales Performance · Strategy Implementation · Business Relationship Management

Sep 2005 – Oct 2007 · 2 yrs 1 mo · PUNE. ( Liability Sales - Retail & Corporate Sales) B2C & B2B · On-site

• Handled Branch Banking, Household Department, Retail Business Development (RBD), and Corporate Salary Accounts (New Customer Acquisition & Existing Relationships) across Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, and Solapur.
• Key Achievements:
• Started as Branch Manager for a A+ category branch with a daily walkin of approx 3000+ customers, managing operations, customer service, and business growth
• Led Household Dept. sales of savings, FDs, RDs, life & general insurance, gold, and demat accounts; grew territory by 80% YoY
• In RBD, mobilized funds from existing customers via cross-sell & upsell of deposits, insurance, mutual funds, demat accounts, and gold; achieved 45% growth
• Managed Corporate Salary Accounts, acquiring new corporates and servicing existing ones; grew business 100% YoY
• Organized sales promotions, initiatives, and cross-functional coordination to ensure consistent targets
• Built and led large on-roll and off-roll sales teams
• Recognized by top management for ranking 3rd nationally in fund mobilization
• Core Skills: Branch Banking · Retail & Corporate Sales · Customer Acquisition · Relationship Management · Cross-Selling & Upselling · Fund Mobilization · Sales Strategy · Team Leadership · Business Growth

Sep 2000 – Aug 2005 · 4 yrs 11 mos · Pune/Pimpri-Chinchwad Area · On-site

• July 2004 – August 2005: Managed Rest of Maharashtra & Goa for Vending Division, including “Café Nescafé” outlets. Optimized resources to achieve 2X growth with average turnover exceeding ₹1 Cr/month. Installed vending machines in HoReCa, public places and corporates.
• September 2000 – June 2004: Started in General Trade & Key Accounts, covering Pune (partial) and full Ahmednagar, Beed, Latur & Nasik districts. Handled the full product portfolio and distributor network.
• Key Achievements:
• Consistently exceeded primary & secondary sales targets
• Expanded territory 37% YoY through distributor management, re-distributor appointment, and last-mile van operations
• Implemented Sales Promotions, merchandising, branding, stock rotation, and ensured <0.5% bad goods
• Introduced Alternate Trade Channels, small trial packs, and van operations in smaller towns and villages
• Managed new product launches, demand planning, and large on-roll/off-roll teams
• Delivered average monthly turnover of ₹80 Lac, doubling revenue after adding Nasik
• One of the top performers in confectionery sales in the branch.
• Recognized as a top performer by Branch Head and senior management.
• Handled all verticals - culinary, dairy, beverage, chocolate & confectionery, nutrition, packaged drinking water, speciality imports, food service & vending.
• Core Skills: Regional Sales Leadership · Distributor & Key Account Management · Trade Promotions · Territory Expansion · Team Leadership · Revenue Growth · Confectionery & FMCG Sales

Jun 1998 – Aug 2000 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Pune

• Handled B2B sales of print advertisements for Tata Press Yellow Pages and other group publications through cold calling and direct client engagement.
• Key Achievements:
• Consistently ranked as a top performer in the branch
• Booked premium Front & Back page advertisements for two consecutive years (₹1.5 Lakh & ₹1 Lakh)
• Achieved 3X growth in advertising sales within tenure
• Built strong client relationships across commercial establishments and local businesses
• Core Skills: B2B Sales · Cold Calling · Client Acquisition · Advertising Sales · Revenue Growth · Relationship Management