Kishore Shirekar
Seasoned Senior Professional
Navi Mumbai
Summary
I am a seasoned professional with over 36 years of distinguished experience in the television and broadcast industry, having held several senior positions throughout my career. My journey is marked by continuous professional growth, a wealth of leadership experience, and a consistent record of achievements in driving and implementing innovative, cost-effective sales and marketing strategies. I am recognised for my ability to identify and seize business opportunities, remain composed under pressure, and deliver on committed objectives with dedication. I am widely regarded as trustworthy, honest and highly respected among peers and stakeholders, interfacing positively and professionally at all organisational levels.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Country Manager- India and South Asia (Semiconductors for STBs/voice Activation and Recognition)
Hangzhou NationalChip S&T Co. Ltd.
07.2022 - 12.2024
- Joined NationalChip to establish Sales/Support/Development/local OSAT operations for the region
- New projects at Jio and Akash DTH (Bangladesh), POCs at Airtel and GTPL
- Maintained and increased market share at Sun Direct DTH
- Left due unfavourable business conditions for Chinese companies
- Led cross-functional teams to implement semiconductor solutions for STBs, driving product innovation and customer satisfaction.
- Developed key partnerships with local manufacturers, optimizing supply chains and increasing efficiency in product delivery.
- Conducted comprehensive market analysis to identify growth opportunities in the South Asian semiconductor sector, influencing strategic decisions.
- Established strong relationships with key industry players for business growth and expansion.
General Manager- Asia Pacific
BrightBlue GmbH
Mumbai
09.2020 - 10.2021
- Responsible for establishing the organization and developing the market for the cable oriented OTT and IPTV solutions
- Parent company Deutsche Glasfaser decided to wind up BrightBlue business in Sept 2021 due market conditions affected by Covid
- Championed cross-functional collaboration to align regional initiatives with corporate goals, fostering a unified approach to business growth.
- Spearheaded regional operational strategies to enhance market penetration, significantly improving customer engagement across diverse segments.
- Directed the execution of comprehensive market analysis, providing actionable insights that informed strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
Vice President- Global Sales
Vimmi Communications Ltd.
04.2019 - 08.2020
- Managed global sales for the OTT system solutions and applications
- Covid forced to scale down the operations and change the business strategy
- Spearheaded global sales strategies that enhanced market penetration, resulting in significant revenue growth across diverse regions.
- Established strategic partnerships that expanded market reach and enhanced brand visibility, contributing to long-term growth objectives.
- Leveraged data-driven insights to refine sales forecasting and pipeline management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and maximizing profitability.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align sales strategies with product development, enhancing market responsiveness and innovation.
- Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic initiatives and long term goals.
- Built high-performance teams through effective recruitment practices focused on competency alignment coupled with ongoing performance management processes.
Senior Director of Sales- SAARC
Nagra Media Pvt. Ltd
Mumbai
12.2011 - 03.2018
- Managed sales and revenue generation with Tier 1 and 2 operators for products and solutions in the SAARC region.
- Handled Tier 1 and 2 key account management, solution selling, and both new and within-account business development.
- Drove new product strategies and marketing initiatives.
- Established strategic partnerships to achieve organic sales growth.
Country Manager- India and Regional Sales Director- South Asia and Middle East
OpenTV India
Mumbai
07.2008 - 11.2011
- Set up the office in India and built a team for pre and post-sales support, sales, project management, account management, and business development.
- Oversaw end-to-end business responsibilities in the region, including developing an ecosystem around OpenTV Middleware solutions.
- Led and deployed region-specific product and sales strategies.
- Spearheaded regional sales strategies, enhancing market penetration across South Asia and the Middle East.
- Cultivated partnerships with key stakeholders, resulting in increased product adoption and customer loyalty.
- Directed cross-functional teams in executing high-impact marketing campaigns, driving brand awareness and revenue growth.
- Analyzed market trends and competitive landscape to inform strategic planning and product development initiatives.
- Collaborated with product development teams to align offerings with regional customer requirements and preferences.
- Led negotiations with major clients, securing long-term contracts that enhanced overall business profitability.
- Managed budgets, financial planning, and forecasting to optimize profitability for the country operations.
- Established strong relationships with key industry players for business growth and expansion.
- Coached and mentored team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
- Managed cross-functional teams to ensure seamless operations and drive business objectives.
- Recruited, trained, and coached 6 member team to support company growth.
- Led the successful launch of new products in local markets, driving revenue growth and brand recognition.
General Manager- India
NDS (Synamedia/Cisco)
Mumbai
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Established the office with sales, marketing, business development, and support teams to operate efficiently with Tier 1 and 2 DTH and Cable Operators as well as broadcasters.
- Managed sales, marketing, business development, and pre/post-sales support, ensuring support for existing clients and ongoing projects.
- Achieved significant project wins including Bharti DTH and DEN Cable projects.
- Strengthened and stabilised relations with existing customers such as Tata Sky and Hathway.
- Developed and executed an Indian cable-specific marketing plan, guiding management for Indian cable-specific product development.
- Oversaw budget management and resource allocation, optimizing financial performance while ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.
- Conducted market analysis to identify growth opportunities, informing strategic decision-making and long-term business planning.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, enhancing organizational reputation and facilitating partnerships that drove business expansion.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
- Implemented effective cost-saving measures to reduce overhead expenses without compromising quality or service.
- Managed a diverse team of professionals, fostering a positive work environment and high employee satisfaction.
Country Manager and Director- Sales and Marketing for India and South Asia
Scopus Video Networks
01.2001 - 12.2006
- Established a regional office in India, reporting directly to headquarters in Israel.
- Increased sales from 0.5 million US dollars to 9 million US dollars a year.
- Developed new products tailored to Indian market requirements.
- Positioned Scopus as a major player in the region.
- Secured major DTH projects such as Dish TV (India), Doordarshan (India), Videocon d2h (India), and CBNsat (Sri Lanka).
- Penetrated the Cable TV market through key deals, including the Siti Cable (WWIL) agreement.
- Spearheaded strategic sales initiatives that increased market share across India and South Asia, enhancing brand visibility.
- Developed comprehensive marketing strategies that drove customer engagement and improved product adoption in diverse markets.
- Led cross-functional teams to implement innovative solutions, resulting in enhanced operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Established key partnerships and alliances that expanded distribution channels and strengthened client relationships within the region.
- Analyzed market trends and competitor activities to inform strategic decision-making and identify growth opportunities.
- Cultivated a high-performance sales culture by mentoring staff and implementing training programs that improved team capabilities.
- Streamlined reporting processes by leveraging CRM tools, providing accurate forecasts and insights for executive leadership.
- Managed budgets, financial planning, and forecasting to optimize profitability for the country operations.
- Implemented process improvements, streamlining workflows and increasing team productivity.
- Delivered exceptional customer service by addressing client concerns promptly and effectively.
- Coached and mentored team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
- Managed cross-functional teams to ensure seamless operations and drive business objectives.
- Recruited, trained, and coached 10-member team to support company growth.
Dy. General Manager- Systems & Marketing
MCBS Pvt. Ltd.
01.1997 - 12.2000
- Started and headed Systems Division for providing end to end solutions to broadcasting and security industry
- Managed about 20 engineers/technicians in the team
- Secured prestigious tie ups with BARCO, Tandberg, Newtec, Foxcom and Tadiran Scopus
- Executed major projects with VSNL, ISRO, BEL, industries and Defence establishments
- Initiated ISO certification process for the company and division
- Sales and marketing training at various stages at BARCO, Tandberg, Newtec, Scopus, Foxcom
Manager- Sales & Marketing
MCBS Pvt. Ltd.
01.1994 - 12.1996
- Expanded sales to include prestigious broadcasters.
- Introduced new products based on market requirements, leading to significant revenue growth.
- Developed new products for import substitution, increasing profitability.
- Supported the company in building a new design and development team.
Design and Development Engineer
MCBS Pvt. Ltd.
01.1989 - 12.1993
- Developed new designs for video/audio distribution amplifiers, switchers, and matrix systems using monolithic ICs, successfully introducing them to the market.
- Integrated microprocessors such as Z80 and 8085 in design processes.
- Promoted the use of PCs and compilers in product development.
- Collaborated with component manufacturers for specific requirements
Education
M. Sc - Physics, with Specialization in Electronics
M. S. University of Baroda
Vadodara07-1988
Skills
- General management
- Budget and Operations management
- Technology Implementation
- Team motivation and management
- Networking
- Client relationship management
- Sales and marketing strategies
- Sales support and marketing management
- Sales process, productivity and efficiency management
- Key account management
- Business Development
- Market analysis
- New product development and management
- Negotiations
- Strategic partnerships
- Customer centric focus
Cultural management
Human capital management
International sales management
Factory relationships
Cross-functional teamwork
Salesforce management
Performance management
Workforce management
Clear communication
Relationship building
Coaching and mentoring
Complex Problem-solving
Accomplishments
- Established organizations and built teams to deliver revenues in access of 50M US$
- Built Scopus in the region and won major DTH and cable projects, grew annual revenues from 0.5M US$ to 9M US$ in 4 years with EBITDA of more than 50%
- Won major DTH and Cable projects and established healthy sales funnel resulting into the revenues in excess of 50M US$ at NDS
- Implemented new product strategies, acquired new customers and drove revenues up to 22M US$ at Nagra
Timeline
Country Manager- India and South Asia (Semiconductors for STBs/voice Activation and Recognition)
Hangzhou NationalChip S&T Co. Ltd.
07.2022 - 12.2024
General Manager- Asia Pacific
BrightBlue GmbH
09.2020 - 10.2021
Vice President- Global Sales
Vimmi Communications Ltd.
04.2019 - 08.2020
Senior Director of Sales- SAARC
Nagra Media Pvt. Ltd
12.2011 - 03.2018
Country Manager- India and Regional Sales Director- South Asia and Middle East
OpenTV India
07.2008 - 11.2011
General Manager- India
NDS (Synamedia/Cisco)
01.2007 - 01.2008
Country Manager and Director- Sales and Marketing for India and South Asia
Scopus Video Networks
01.2001 - 12.2006
Dy. General Manager- Systems & Marketing
MCBS Pvt. Ltd.
01.1997 - 12.2000
Manager- Sales & Marketing
MCBS Pvt. Ltd.
01.1994 - 12.1996
Design and Development Engineer
MCBS Pvt. Ltd.
01.1989 - 12.1993
M. Sc - Physics, with Specialization in Electronics
M. S. University of Baroda