International trade executive with 28 years of experience in global sourcing, product development and business management of diverse product categories - home textiles, apparels and hard goods, out of multiple product locations around the world. Together with a Master of Business Administration in International Business, a high performing executive with extensive travel exposure and proven track record of accomplishments in setting up liaison offices of reputed brands in India, leading teams and setting up long term partnerships with reliable vendors identified through years of market research and development. Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management.
· Leading and managing operations of company’s India sourcing offices based in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai
· Overseeing development, implementation and enhancement of strategies, policies and procedures for business sourcing initiatives including system development, process improvements, monitoring, forecasting and budgeting
· Leading teams in identifying opportunities and developing resolution strategies, especially focused on achieving expectations around price, quality and delivery
· Investigating, diagnosing and taking necessary action to handle any claims/challenges
Director - Sourcing (April 2014 - May 2015)
· Set up JLA’s India sourcing office by identifying and reviewing real estate locations, liaisoning with legal and financial experts, banks, and relevant government authorities
· Worked on key sourcing initiatives to enhance growth of direct business out of India, Pakistan region
· Responsible for all of company’s direct import business out of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
· Directed costing strategy to support corporate sourcing plan and facilitated price negotiations on major programmes with vendors
· Based on company’s target IMU goals and volume requirements, sourced and selected right combination of products and factories from various production locations – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.
Merchandise Manager - Soft Home, Apparels (Sep 2009 - April 2012)
· Supervised team of merchandisers, ensuring order tracking activities and meeting product specification and on-time expectations
· Monitored supplier and factory performances - identified new factories and evaluated existing vendors for annual planning of product allocation
Buying Contractor (Jan 2009 - Aug 2009)
· Set up Dollar General’s India liaison office:
Legal: Liaised with legal representatives and accountants in India and head office
Real Estate: Reviewed and worked with real estate companies on prospective office spaces and finalized on DG’s eventual office location
Recruitments: Hired requisite staff for the office
· Worked on direct import sourcing opportunities out of India & Pakistan
(Short tenure was due to sudden closure of ALL Global HOME teams as a business repositioning measure by top management in 2008)
· Headed home textiles and hard goods division for South Asia region
Senior Merchandiser – Home Textiles (July 2004 – June 2005)
Merchandiser – Home Textiles (Jan 2003 – June 2004)
· Led a team of Senior Merchandisers and Merchandisers handling North American retailers - Meijer, Shopko, Loblaws and southern hemisphere retailers like Edcon (South Africa), Myer (Australia)
· Global Market Representative for Meijer: Responsible for total direct import business of Meijer’s home textiles through Li and Fung, with reporting from other LF offices – Shanghai, HK, Taiwan and Pakistan.
· Handled home textiles business of North American retailers like Meijer, Shopko, and Loblaws
· Worked aggressively for growth of direct import business with all retailers
· Worked with retailers like Belk, Fred Meyer, Shopko, Meijer and Loblaws towards growing their direct import business out of India
· Worked with senior team members on business development and execution for design oriented customers like Spiegel Catalogue (USA) and Heinrich Heine (Germany)
· Marketed for products of company at various domestic and international fairs including IHGF, Heimtextil, Domotex (Germany), etc.
· Co-ordinated production with various sub-vendors spread across multiple centers across India
· Worked with senior team members on business execution of European retailers Esselunga Spa (Italy) and Oppermann, Hach (Germany)
· Successfully setting up and operating regional sourcing offices for US based multinationals in India - JLA Home, Dollar General
· Specially appointed Global Market Representative for Meijer, USA, for their entire direct import business out of Asia, with reporting from multiple Li & Fung offices
· Explored and established business relationships with home textiles and apparel factories from different parts of the globe – India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and Kenya
· Developed advanced knowledge of global sourcing, relationship management, QA and audit systems, freight forwarding, sales/distribution channels and customs regulations