Vignesh Raja

Srirams Gangothri, *E, South Avenue,Kamaraj Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600041

adg4qw@r.postjobfree.com Mobile: +91-984**-*****

Master of Management Studies BITS, PILANI alumnus with 15+ years of Business Research, Analytics & Consulting expertise in Manufacturing, Services & E-Commerce Sectors [Food & Beverage, Consumer Goods & Services, Kitchen & Home Appliances, Retail, e-commerce, Rural]

Skills & Expertise

Business Research Competitive Intelligence Business Analytics Product Management Market Analysis Facilitator / Workshops Market Research Growth Strategy Sales Prospecting CXO Interaction Strategy Consulting Professional Speaker Winfluentials Techno Solutions LLP

Product Head / Strategy Consultant

Chennai, India

Feb 2020 - Current

Responsible for driving Growth initiatives and building Business Partnerships across various Industry sectors to help companies in their Data & Digital Transformation journey

Conceptualized online webinars to enhance brand visibility of our business among participants keen to learn more about data science, thereby enabling our team monetize through our Data Analytics Training workshops

Signed an MoU with SRM Institute of Management to facilitate internships for their students, whilst we become education partners to provide educational workshops and seminars for the period 2020-21

Empanelled Trainer with Madras Management Association [MMA] conducting Training Workshops, Master Classes and webinars on varied themes covering Business, Data & Insights for Students, Industry Professionals, Faculty and Business leaders / Entrepreneurs

Industry Panelist in "Careers in Business Analytics" {SRM University: b-school}; Invited Speaker on Business Analytics & R for Faculty of NIFT, Chennai; Professional Speaker, Guest Faculty in B-Schools, Management Forums

Provide Business Strategy Consulting support services to:- o Knowledge Management Company (Go-to Market Strategy, Pricing & Competitor Intelligence) o Tech-Product Company: (Content Strategy: Using effective business & information intelligence to compile most appropriate Product Brief)

o Training Company: (Course Modules, Workshop Facilitation, Effective Participant Engagement Strategies) o e-Commerce Startup: HR / Operations Support [Streamline business functions and on-boarded roles with a mix- of full-time / contract and intern positions / devised Digital as a Sales Strategy] o Industry Associations & Pro-bono Projects [BITSAA International / Chennai - Chapter Lead / Host / Community Engagement of Alumni for BITSians Day, Colours of Glory - Technology, Digital Assistance, Member Engagement, Project Puthri - Career Coach, Master Trainer] Inthree Access Services Pvt Ltd

Manager (Special Projects) / Product Growth Manager / Data Manager Chennai, India

Oct 2014 – Jan 2020

On-boarded as a Manager (Special Projects), handled multiple roles (Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Development, Account Management - Microfinance / NBFC Business Partnerships, Investor Business Pitch Deck Presentations, Product Growth Manager - Retail Business) and specializing on Business & Data Analytics

As a Product Growth Manager of Retail Business, drove initiatives to support front-end sales team using schemes, new products, new brand partnerships etc. increasing business from 20 INR lakhs to INR 1.25 crores per month

Travelled across Rural Villages of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to understand local market insights, interacting with diverse stakeholders which make up the rural commerce ecosystem [business partners, customers, business owners, vendors, Microfinance companies, women self-help groups, NGOs etc]

Carried out Customer Interactions and Interviews (Internal & external stakeholders) to understand the pain points and introduce newer product & process enhancements, most appropriate for the rural markets

Recruited Data Analysts and created a team “Data & Insights” team, which serves as the beacon of business intelligence supporting the Top Management & serving the various Functional Teams, thereby establish ‘single source of truth’

Conducted extensive Customer Intelligence Audit, market and competitor analysis, proposed key changes to revamp the way data was being captured in our Database. The critical insights to the Technology team helped ensure the in-house product “Abayomi” CRM was made “rural first”

Spearheaded the project on creating Interactive Dashboards deploying Data Visualization Techniques, using Power BI

Introduced culture of Data Collection drives across all Business functions, and helped them end to end: designing questionnaires, surveys to capture data / collect and analyze - present insights for effective business decision making

Awarded and Recognized with the “Goldminer Award” during the period 2018-19 for Excellence at work Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances

Executive: Procurements (Business Analyst)

Sivagurunathan Industries (A Butterfly Gandhimathi Group Company) Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner

Chennai, India

Nov 2011 - Aug 2014

As an In-house Business Analyst, assist Senior Management on Sourcing Support & Various Cost Saving Initiatives undertaken Key Projects:

Based on Sales Projections & SAP records, engage with Vendors on timely supply of Imported Finished Goods

Negotiated & Sourced Products for Promotion Scheme (USD60,000:FY14-15 against Budgeted INR40 lacs/USD 66,667)

Make-buy Analysis on Cost-Savings identified by importing components vis-à-vis in-house Production (Estimated Savings: INR 7.0 crores / USD 1.17 million per annum)

Quality Standardization Initiative across Product Categories to improve Printed & Master Corrugated Carton box received in factory (Account value: INR 15.0 crores / USD 2.50 million per annum)

As a Member of New Product Development (NPD) Steering Committee, implemented a process mechanism which underlines each member’s responsibility, timeline & accountability (3 man-days savings achieved across the delivery period)

Provide Strategic Market Intelligence & Competitor Insights on Products, Process / Technologies, Competitors, Regulatory

& Business Issues affecting the Home Appliances Industry in India & Globally Represent on behalf of the Managing Partner issues relating to Internal & External Stakeholders of the Company Key Projects:

Create key business metrics across 4 Business Divisions (Manufacturing, Trading, OEM & Retail Showroom)

Engaged actively with the Butterfly Group to increase share of business contribution for Carton box & Rubber Gaskets supplies (introduced 20+ new SKUs resulting in INR 1.20 crores / USD 200,000 per annum)

Based on market visits, Identified new SKU categories to be introduced viz. spare parts of LPG Stoves, Mixie & TTG

New Product Development of a Small Home Appliance product with International Partners completed in Q3, 2013

Front-headed the Sales Team in closing an Institutional business deal valued at INR 20 lacs (USD 33,334) Frost & Sullivan Pvt. Ltd: Chemicals, Materials & Foods (CMF) Industry Analyst

Chennai, India

March 2010 – Oct 2011

Responsible for Client Engagement, Project Management, Training Research & Consulting Analysts Research Panel Member engaged in Analyzing & Nominating Companies for Frost & Sullivan India Excellence in Chemicals, Materials & Food Awards Banquet (A Best Practices Event to Recognize Movers & Shakers in the Indian CMF space) Key Projects:

Case Studies of Consulting Projects executed:

a) Value Chain Analysis & Evaluation of Opportunities for a Fortune 500 US-based Chemical Company b) Market Potential & Growth Opportunities Assessment in India for a Global Lab Equipments Company c) Pricing Strategy for the Indian Premium Paints Industry executed on behalf of a giant US Paint Manufacturer d) Economic Snapshot of the Indian Auto, Infrastructure, Consumer Electronics Industry for a Fortune500 Company e) Lead Analyst Coordinating Latin American & Chinese deliverables for a Global Chemicals Project f) Global potential of human milk fat replacers and infant nutrition for a South East Asian Pharmaceutical company

Researched, Analyzed & Authored 3 Research Reports: a) Emerging Trends in Personal Protective Equipments Markets b) Indian Personal Protective Equipment Markets

c) North American Gas Detection Markets

Mentored Strategic Analysis of the Polypropylene Compounds Market & Indian Water-based Adhesive Market Garivaan Research & Consulting Sdn Bhd - Senior Consultant Malladi Malaysia Sdn Bhd - Scientific Analyst

Malladi Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd - Manager (Corporate Affairs & Business Strategy) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Nov 2008 – Dec 2009

Chennai, India

Aug 2008 – Nov 2008

Business Development, Project Management & Client Engagement Key Projects:

Consulted a prominent US Consulting firm in their European Policy building project providing Global Market Analysis & Intellectual Property (IP) landscaping of Assistive Technologies used for the elderly

Assisted SMEs across Industry Sectors such as Healthcare, Agricultural-Biotechnology, Aquaculture & Cosmetics

Research based projects delivered to map Market Sizing, Growth Potential, Competitive & Regulatory Insights Subject Matter Expert & support Country Manager in Various business initiatives Key Projects:

Compiled White Papers on Cost comparisons between Malaysia & India to conduct bio-analytical & bio-equivalence

(BA/BE studies) clinical studies

Developed a Comprehensive Database on Pharmaceutical drugs going off-patent (patents expiring) 2010 onwards

Identified Companies participating Bio-Europe which could be a potential Strategic Business Partners

Invited speaker & Panelist on Strategic Sourcing in Asia Business Forum Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Manage Government Relations & Stakeholder Relations reporting to Vice President (Business Strategy) Key Projects:

Point of contact liaising with Media, Government, Promoters & various Internal / External Stake holders

Successfully compiled Business Plan with Senior Management & obtained Bionexus Status (an initiative to promote investment in Biotechnology per Malaysia’s IX Annual Plan) to set-up Greenfield Clinical Research Organization (CRO)

Interacted with funding agencies (debt & equity financing) & obtained debt funding approval of USD 850,000

Mediate & co-ordinate with local teams to ensure smooth facilitation of due-diligence audits for visiting delegates Accenture Services Pvt Ltd. Accenture Research - Growth & Strategy Analyst - Consumer Goods & Services

Bangalore, India

June 2007 – July 2008

Member of Consumer Goods & Services (CG&S) team providing business research & insights to Accenture Consultants Gained accolades for contributions towards a Retail Project nominated for the prestigious Ken Ernst Innovations Award Key Projects:

Authored Global Points-of-View Deliverables (White Papers & Market Reports) providing in-depth industry overview of a) Packaged Food markets

b) Alcoholic Beverage markets

c) Home & Personal Care markets

Proficient working knowledge in use of secondary database search sources such as ‘Factiva’, ‘Onesource’, ‘ISI Emerging Markets’, ‘Euromonitor’, ‘MarketResearch: Profound’, ‘Gartner’, ‘IDC’, ‘Dialog’, ‘Bloomberg’, ‘Reuters’ etc

Lead Analyst contributing for High Performance Business content for CG&S industry

Featured in Accenture mailers for CSR Initiatives Team Miles4Smiles to raise funds for Child Rights & You (CRY) Frost & Sullivan Pvt. Ltd. - Food & Beverage Ingredients Business Unit Research Analyst

Chennai, India

July 2005 – June 2007

Responsible for analyzing the food and beverage ingredients market developing expertise for Australian & New Zealand Region Awarded the ‘Analyst of the Month’ in January ’07 for demonstrating excellence in research deliverables Key Projects:

Using Primary & Secondary Research Methodologies, Analyzed & Authored four Research Reports:- a) Strategic Analysis of Australian & New Zealand Enteral Nutrition Market b) Australian & New Zealand Animal Feed Additives Market c) Asia Pacific Omega-3 and Omega-6 PUFA Ingredients Market d) Strategic Analysis of the Australian and New Zealand Nutraceuticals Market

Lead Speaker and Presenter in a Thirty Minute Web-Seminar on the topic “The ‘Omega-3 Story’ in Asia: Growth Amidst Uncertainty” for a global audience comprising major food ingredient manufacturers

Interviewed & quoted in leading industry publications like Food Navigator, Yahoo Business online etc.

Developed study modules for “Continuing Professional Development” for all Research Analysts based in Chennai

Initiated in-house Central Repository database for collaborative work during Global Project Assignments JPMorgan Chase,

Practice School II Industry - Management Trainee

Mumbai, India

July 2004 - June 2005

Management Trainee assigned to improvise processes in Trade Settlements Team (Asia Pacific) Custody business

MIS reporting for the Regional Trade Team’s key Risk Indicators

Recipient of Team award for Efficiency Award Forth Quarter in Investor Services

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