Anoop Prakash Saxena
Bengaluru
Summary
Results-driven manufacturing leader with 21 years in the distillery sector. As General Manager, oversees operations for multiple distilleries and a bottling unit, focusing on process optimisation and cost efficiency. Implements best practices from Scottish distilleries to elevate operational standards across India.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Distillation & Maturation Technology Leader
Diageo India
Bengaluru
05.2024 - Current
- Managed pan India distillation and maturation projects, coordinating with utility teams to ensure seamless operations.
- Supported innovation and craft spirit production, including gin, agave, and grain spirit distillation and maturation.
- Contributed to upgrading grain neutral spirit production from 60 klpd to 160 klpd.
- Contributed to malt distillation and cask maturation for strategic projects, optimising product development and conducting cost analyses for new and existing products.
- Collaborated with senior management to define technology strategies, aligning them with business goals and revenue targets to drive innovation.
- Led digitalisation initiatives to improve efficiency in distillation and maturation processes.
- Explored opportunities for productivity savings and frugal automation in distillation and maturation.
- Supported cross-functional teams in delivering software products on schedule and within budget to enhance customer satisfaction.
General Manager (Process Head)
Diageo India
Nanded, Maharashtra
12.2020 - Current
- Designed and implemented processes and SOPs for cost savings and wastage reduction, achieving substantial reductions in overhead and production costs.
- Oversaw smooth and efficient operation of a 100 KLPD molasses distillery, 60 KLPD grain distillery, and 12 KLPD malt spirit distillation processes, including MPR distillation, liquefaction, and co-product production. Managed utilities such as multi-effect evaporator, DDGS dryer, condensate polishing unit, water treatment plant, and CO2 plant.
- Managed overall manpower at the distillery, focusing on HR and skill development while conducting technical and functional training programmes.
- Managed procurement of raw materials and quality assurance for raw materials and finished products, generating reports on consumption, production, and scraps while conducting training programmes, purchasing schedules, internal audits, costing, and accounting.
- Liaised with Excise, MPCB, irrigation, DISH, IBR, and other statutory bodies to maintain statutory compliance.
- Co-ordination with other functional heads of supply chain, marketing, materials, packaging, commercial.
- To ensure best quality extra neutral alcohol and malt spirit.
Sr. Manager - Engineering
United Spirits Ltd
Bangalore
02.2019 - 11.2020
- Executed Diageo global best practices across all malt spirit plants, enhancing operational standards.
- Oversaw budgeted spirit production, conversion costs, and achieved productivity savings from distilleries.
- Managed PAN India MENA, GENA, malt spirit, and grape spirit operations and maturation.
- Managed Capex and cash flow according to the annual plan.
- Led new projects, expansion, and revamping of processes for the ZLD plant.
- Diageo Group
Sr. Manager-Process
United Spirits Ltd
Nasik
08.2011 - 01.2019
- Won best Distillery Award in 2018 in Diageo Global.
- Commissioned 24 KLPD malt spirit plant, achieving desired spirit yield and quality for whisky distillation and maturation.
- Spirit quality improvement - equivalent to Scotch New Make Spirit, Modified spirit as per Diageo Global Requirement.
- Commissioned 300 KLPD UFRO & 250 M3 CSTR digester.
- Handling & managing inventory of required age - Cask Maturation & HBS production.
- Visited Diageo's Scotland distilleries for further learning of best practices and quality improvement projects.
- Installed and commissioned 250 kWh biogas plant, enhancing renewable energy production capabilities.
- Installed and commissioned 995 kWh solar plant, contributing to sustainable energy initiatives.
- Assisted with daily operations at Diageo India.
Manager - Process
United Spirits Ltd
Aurangabad
10.2007 - 08.2011
- Commissioned 700 KL CSTR digester, 160 TR VAM machine, maturation facility, and heat pump; contributed to boiler modification.
- Revamped 35 KLPD wash to ENA plant, achieving commissioning at rated capacity.
- Successfully stabilized & operated continuous fermentation at high brix.
- Modified and stabilized Malt process at rated capacity (12 KLPD) and achieved maximum recovery with improved quality.
- Collaborated with Diageo India on multiple projects, enhancing operational synergies.
Assist Engineer
Jagatjit industries Ltd
Humira
07.2001 - 09.2007
- Managed India’s first multi-pressure ENA plant on DCS - Alko, Finland (dual feed - molasses & grain ENA), ensuring operational efficiency.
- Executed fed batch high brix fermentation (molasses) with yeast recycling system, enhancing fermentation consistency.
- Applied knowledge of grain spirit plant operations and malting processes to optimise production workflows.
- Handled 36KLPD Malt spirit plant.
Trainee
Central Distillery & Breweries ltd
Meerut
08.2000 - 09.2001
- Operated secondary distillation plant processing 35KLPD, enhancing production efficiency.
- Oversaw 20 KLPD RS plant using batch fermentation techniques to optimise production outcomes.
- Shadowed daily activities of office staff to gain understanding of scope of work.
- Maintained organised and updated file systems for easy staff use.
- Contributed to project management tasks, tracking progress and coordinating with team members for timely completion.
Education
Short Duration course - Brewing & Distilling
International center of Brewing Distilling, Heriot Watt University
Edinburgh, UK01-2010
Diploma - Chemical technology
UPBTE
01-1999
Graduate - Chemistry
Rohilkhand University
Bareilly01-1996
Skills
- Distillation technology
- Process optimisation
- Process improvement
- Process automation
- EHS standards
- Compliance management
- ISO 22K
- SAP & DELTA
- PLC & DCS
- Data analysis
- Strategic analysis
- Cost reduction
- Budget Management
- Project Management
- Risk assessment
- Innovation management
Languages
Hindi
Marathi
English
Personal Information
Age: 44
Certification
- Distillation & Maturation
Timeline
Distillation & Maturation Technology Leader
Diageo India
05.2024 - Current
General Manager (Process Head)
Diageo India
12.2020 - Current
Sr. Manager - Engineering
United Spirits Ltd
02.2019 - 11.2020
Sr. Manager-Process
United Spirits Ltd
08.2011 - 01.2019
Manager - Process
United Spirits Ltd
10.2007 - 08.2011
Assist Engineer
Jagatjit industries Ltd
07.2001 - 09.2007
Trainee
Central Distillery & Breweries ltd
08.2000 - 09.2001
Short Duration course - Brewing & Distilling
International center of Brewing Distilling, Heriot Watt University
Diploma - Chemical technology
UPBTE
Graduate - Chemistry
Rohilkhand University