Blesson John
Chennai
Summary
Entrepreneurial senior business leader with proven leadership skills and a track record of driving organizational growth. Experienced in strategic planning, business development, operational management, and team leadership. Notable success in capitalizing on new business opportunities, increasing profitability, and managing business relationships. Instrumental in achieving corporate goals through hands-on involvement in all aspects of business operations.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director - Williams Lea India GCC
Williams Lea
05.2022 - 04.2025
- Led India GCC growth from 550+ FTE to 4,000+ FTE (Williams Lea & Tag).
- Improved GCC margins by over 100% while quadrupling logos served.
- Led India's GCC expansion into the Tier 3 city of Kochi with a world-class facility at a reduced cost.
- Led India, GCC, to win the Great Place to Work certification in 2025.
- Led the Innovation Lab with a focus on automation and AI.
- Board Director for WL India, reporting to the Global CEO and a member of the Global ExCo.
- Custodian of WL India’s organizational workings, policies, and procedures.
- Leadership for all business and functional deliverables.
- Supported the PE owner with the growth, sale, and transition of the business to strategic.
Director Operations
Williams Lea & Tag
01.2018 - 04.2022
- Tasked with the restructuring of Creative Production to deliver a progressive user experience and financials.
- Focus on banking and legal to surpass EBIT targets with new operational strategies, talent engagement, and stretch targets.
Vice President - Banking & Legal Operations
Williams Lea
02.2016 - 01.2018
- I led client relationship, service delivery and account profitability for Fortune 500 clients.
- EBIT targets were surpassed whilst maintaining costs within benchmarks.
- Made successful investments in key talent with no strings attached 100% sponsorship for higher education, English language coaching, lean management and quality training.
Head - Service Delivery (BFSI)
Williams Lea
02.2015 - 01.2016
- I led a diversified talent group servicing top institutional lenders and law firms across mortgage underwriting, default management services, litigation support, customer service and sale of foreclosed properties.
- Scripted 150% positive EBIT variance and top line organic growth of 20% Y-o-Y.
- Catapulted end client CSAT scores to top slot for record time period.
- Front ended business development opportunities with comprehensive go to market propositions with an eye on developing new from existing and new from new businesses.
Head - Business Operations Support (Creative Services Group)
Williams Lea
02.2015 - 01.2016
- Institutionalized specialist teams to drive OpEx, Analytics, PR & Comms., Production Development, Production Support, Business co-ordination and Change Programs for the Tag side of the business.
- Envisioned and implemented projects driving culture change, improved engagement with internal and external communication, process re-engineering and innovation.
Sr. Operations Manager (BFSI & Creative Services Group)
Williams Lea
04.2012 - 02.2015
- Recouped and fortified service delivery and client relationship for a top Global Professional services firm resulting in amplified revenues through increased and new business.
- Launched LiME as a platform for innovative ideas, 150+ ideas generated in the first year off which 70+ ideas stood implemented with changes in client systems.
- Loan cycle time halved with process reengineering, eliminating of multiple hand offs, thereby enabling customer to top the end client league tables opening up avenues for increased business.
Operations Manager (BSFI)
Williams Lea
11.2008 - 04.2012
- Put together the first Mortgage Banking team for the organization, expanded service footprint from a single service line, process and end client to 3 service lines, 15 end clients and 100+ sub processes.
Asst. Manager
Zenta Knowledge Services (Accenture)
06.2007 - 11.2008
- Led transition and build of a customer service team for a top asset management client headquartered in New York.
- Led transition and build of a Loan processing and underwriting team for a top US lender.
Service Delivery Lead
Sutherland Global Services
01.2006 - 05.2007
- Led knowledge transfer, multi-location training and operations of underwriting teams for the BFSI projects, re-engineered and automated processes resulting in repurposing of 100+ FTEs and adoption of best practices by client at their offices.
Team Leader
Choice Connex
04.2003 - 09.2005
- Established and led B2B, B2C contact center operations for UK, US and Australia geographies.
- Converted loss making campaigns to profitable ones with restructuring, training, quality initiatives and stakeholder engagement.
Auditor
Praful, Ramesh and Narayanan Chartered Accountants
01.2001 - 01.2003
- As an auditor I worked across varied industries and was responsible for the full audit cycle including risk management and control management over operations effectiveness, financial reliability and compliance with all applicable directives and regulations.
Education
Post Graduate Diploma - Business Administration
Pune University, Symbiosis
PuneBachelor's Degree - Commerce & Economics
Mumbai University
MumbaiLean Six Sigma Black Belt - Process Quality Engineering
KPMG
FHA programs - Loan Origination and Underwriting
Department of HUD-FHA
U.S.ASkills
- Strategic planning
- Business development
- Financial management
- Change management
- Operational excellence
- Innovation management
- Organizational agility
- Digital transformation
- Sustainable business models
- Corporate governance
- Negotiation
- Solution innovation
- Complex Problem-solving
- Stakeholder engagement
Hobbies and Interests
Reading
Music
Kayaking
Badminton
Squash
Table Tennis
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Tamil
- Malayalam
- Marathi
Industry Sectors
- Investment Banking
- Professional & Legal Services
- Mortgage Services
- Presentations & Creative
- Voice & Non voice support
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Hindi
Proficient (C2)
C2
Marathi
Proficient (C2)
C2
Tamil
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Malayalam
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Timeline
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director - Williams Lea India GCC
Williams Lea
05.2022 - 04.2025
Director Operations
Williams Lea & Tag
01.2018 - 04.2022
Vice President - Banking & Legal Operations
Williams Lea
02.2016 - 01.2018
Head - Service Delivery (BFSI)
Williams Lea
02.2015 - 01.2016
Head - Business Operations Support (Creative Services Group)
Williams Lea
02.2015 - 01.2016
Sr. Operations Manager (BFSI & Creative Services Group)
Williams Lea
04.2012 - 02.2015
Operations Manager (BSFI)
Williams Lea
11.2008 - 04.2012
Asst. Manager
Zenta Knowledge Services (Accenture)
06.2007 - 11.2008
Service Delivery Lead
Sutherland Global Services
01.2006 - 05.2007
Team Leader
Choice Connex
04.2003 - 09.2005
Auditor
Praful, Ramesh and Narayanan Chartered Accountants
01.2001 - 01.2003
Post Graduate Diploma - Business Administration
Pune University, Symbiosis
Bachelor's Degree - Commerce & Economics
Mumbai University
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt - Process Quality Engineering
KPMG
FHA programs - Loan Origination and Underwriting
Department of HUD-FHA