Job Search Status
Networking onlyDesired Job Title
Director of OperationsDirector of SalesDirector of Business DevelopmentWork Type
ConsultingLocation Preference
RemoteHybridLocation: Mumbai, INBengaluru, KA
Open to relocation: No
Abhishek Bekal
Mumbai
Work Preference
Summary
Dynamic business leader with ten years of experience transforming a craft-led design studio into a multi-vertical enterprise. Expertise in establishing new business verticals, optimising operations, and driving sustainable revenue growth across diverse sectors, including airports and hospitality. Recognised for merging creative vision with commercial acumen, leading high-performance teams, and executing complex projects in founder-led settings.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Operating Officer
Baaya Design
Mumbai
06.2024 - Current
- Led company-wide restructuring to unify operations, sales, and delivery teams under a growth model.
- Engineered approximately 30% year-over-year revenue growth through workflow optimization and supply chain rationalization.
- Established airports vertical, delivering landmark installations at Lucknow and Gwalior airports, generating multimillion-rupee revenue.
- Expanded presence in hospitality by securing collaborations with luxury hotels and flagship five-star projects.
- Repositioned retail as a differentiated experience centre, curating collections and community-led programming for brand enhancement.
- Institutionalised standard operating procedures across project execution and sales to enable scalable artistic integrity.
Head of Business Development
Baaya Design
Mumbai
02.2023 - 06.2024
Opened new B2B opportunities in healthcare, airports, and premium residential segments, diversifying revenue channels.
Enhanced proposal win rates from approximately 25% to 45% by implementing rigorous qualification frameworks and design-centred pitching.
Established strategic alliances with architects, consultants, and influencers, resulting in a 60% increase in referral-led business.
Retail Manager
Baaya Design
Mumbai
04.2021 - 04.2023
- Established customized retail vertical for bespoke artworks and consultancy to B2C clients and interior designers.
- Designed scalable processes to optimize artwork production, balancing high-volume sales with limited design capacity.
- Achieved approximately 20% same-store sales growth through enhanced merchandising pricing clarity and consultative selling strategies.
- Built and mentored a 15-member sales team, integrating design-led and solution-oriented sales practices.
Assistant Retail Manager
Baaya Design
Mumbai
12.2017 - 04.2021
- Streamlined inventory management and retail operations, reducing stock-outs by approximately 40%.
- Introduced CRM-driven customer engagement, increasing repeat business from 18% to 28%.
- Supported transition from boutique retail to installation-led B2B growth, establishing foundation for future vertical expansion.
Business Development Manager
Nestopia
Mumbai
05.2016 - 07.2017
- Developed strong commercial and client-facing foundations in interior and design businesses, with a focus on lead conversion, pricing strategy, and high-value residential projects.
- Expanded luxury residential interiors footprint by ~30%, securing 12 high-value projects.
Business Development Manager
Apex Projects
Mumbai
09.2015 - 04.2016
- Improved conversion rates by ~15% through competitive analysis, pricing strategy, and client qualification.
Education
Creative & Cultural Businesses Programme -
IIM Ahmedabad
01.2024
MBA - Business Administration
Welingkar Institute of Management
01.2020
BA - Interior Design
ITM
01.2015
BE - Mechanical Engineering
Finolex Academy
01.2012
Skills
- Strategic leadership
- P&L management
- Market expansion
- Founder-led scaling
- Operational excellence
- SOP design
- Workflow optimization
- Quality and delivery systems
- Business growth
- Airports and hospitality sectors
- Key account management
- Partnership development
- Creative direction
- Art and design installations
- Brand storytelling
- Experiential retail development
Personal Information
Title: Chief Operating Officer | Business & Operations Leader
Leadership Intent
Seeking a leadership role where my experience scaling a founder-led business can evolve into deeper partnership-building verticals, embedding structure, and contributing to long-term value creation and enterprise growth alongside founders.
Impact And Credentials
- Lucknow Airport | 130 ft textile mural + ~200 ft 3D installation depicting 24 monuments and 15 ghats of Uttar Pradesh, executed using 30+ regional textile and embroidery techniques; coordinated architects, designers, and 50+ artisans for durable, high-traffic public installations., Gwalior Airport | Delivered two large-format cultural murals - Musical Gharana (71 ft × 12 ft) and Mixed 3D Jharokhas (57 ft × 21 ft) - narrating Gwalior's musical and architectural heritage; completed two weeks ahead of schedule., Airports - Orders Closed & Pipeline: Closed additional airport art installation orders for Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Bhogapuram, and Lucknow, strengthening long-term credentials in large-scale infrastructure projects; currently close to breakthrough discussions with Agra and Varanasi Airports., TATA Bombay House, Mumbai | Delivered multiple bespoke corporate art installations including metal, resin, textile, and string art, translating the Tata Group's legacy into large-scale, high-finish workplace environments., 5-Star Hotel: End-to-end delivery of a landmark art installation integrating architecture, art, and brand narrative., Vertical Growth Initiatives: Actively building a corporate real estate art vertical, alongside continued growth in Hospitality and a signature art vertical within the premium residential segment., IIM Ahmedabad, Creative & Cultural Businesses Programme, 2024, Welingkar Institute of Management, MBA, Business Administration, 2018-2020, ITM, BA, Interior Design, 2012-2015, Finolex Academy, BE, Mechanical Engineering, 2008-2012, Certification, Generative AI for Management, Strategic Leadership: P&L Ownership
- Market Expansion
- Founder-Led Scaling, Operational Excellence: SOP Design
- Workflow Optimisation
- Quality & Delivery Systems, Business Growth: Airports & Hospitality Verticals
- Key Accounts
- Partnerships, Creative Direction: Art & Design Installations
- Brand Storytelling
- Experiential Retail Development, Multiple India's Best Design Awards (2021-2024) for public and corporate installations, Featured Speaker, IIM Ahmedabad - CCBP Symposium (2024)
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
Baaya Design
06.2024 - Current
Head of Business Development
Baaya Design
02.2023 - 06.2024
Retail Manager
Baaya Design
04.2021 - 04.2023
Assistant Retail Manager
Baaya Design
12.2017 - 04.2021
Business Development Manager
Nestopia
05.2016 - 07.2017
Business Development Manager
Apex Projects
09.2015 - 04.2016
Creative & Cultural Businesses Programme -
IIM Ahmedabad
MBA - Business Administration
Welingkar Institute of Management
BA - Interior Design
ITM
BE - Mechanical Engineering
Finolex Academy