Kunal Deore
Category Management - Buyer & Product Development
MUMBAI,MAHARASHTRA
Summary
Category Management, Sourcing & Product Development professional with 10+ years of experience in the consumer electronics industry, currently managing Refrigerator and Air Conditioner categories. Experienced in category planning, sourcing, vendor management, and product development with a focus on quality, cost efficiency, and timely delivery. Committed to driving business growth and profitability through effective budgeting, supplier collaboration, and process improvement
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Senior Manager - Buying & Product Development
Infiniti Retail Ltd - TATA CROMA
Mumbai
04.2023 - Current
- Manage end-to-end category operations including strategy, sourcing, pricing, and supplier development for Refrigerator and AC categories.
- Plan and execute category growth strategies aligned with business and profitability targets.
- Price negotiations, contract management, and new product introductions to enhance assortment, margins, and market competitiveness
- Conducted comprehensive market benchmarking analysis that identified fine new suppliers, resulting in a 4 to 5% reduction in buying cost enhanced product offerings across categories to improve overall competitiveness.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Merchandising, Marketing, Logistics & Sales) to ensure timely product development, procurement, and delivery.
- Analyze market trends, consumer insights, and competitor activities to optimize product mix, New product identification and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Procurement forecasting, inventory control, and category performance to achieve sales and budgeted objectives.
- Drive supplier performance improvement, ensuring quality, cost, and service compliance across the supply chain
- Prepare annual category budgets in coordination with finance through data driven decision-making and continuous process optimization.
Sourcing Manager
Reliance Retail Ltd
Mumbai
08.2019 - 04.2023
- Managed sourcing and procurement for key consumer electronics categories, ensuring cost efficiency and timely product availability.
- Partnered with category teams on product line-up finalization, vendor negotiations, and pricing alignment to meet business goals.
- Collaborated with suppliers to ensure product evaluation, quality compliance, and adherence to company standards.
- Supported new product introductions by coordinating with vendors, quality, and merchandising teams.
- Built strong supplier relationships, improving sourcing efficiency and contributing to category profitability
- Managed cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches and timely delivery of goods.
Senior Engineer
Innolux (Sharp)
Mumbai
09.2018 - 08.2019
- Spare parts procurement and inventory management.
- Negotiate and maintain relationships with key suppliers
Senior PCB Design Engineer
Shakti ElectroTech
Aurangabad
06.2017 - 08.2018
- PCB design, layout development, and Manufacturing
- Contributed to process improvements and manufacturing validation.
NPI Engineer
Videocon Industries
Aurangabad
07.2015 - 06.2017
- Managed new product development and lifecycle activities for ODM/SKD mobile and TV models.
- Conducted hardware evaluation, testing, and quality validation across design and production stages.
- Coordinated compliance testing, BOM release, and documentation with internal and external stakeholders.
- Drove cost improvement, localization of parts, and resolution of design and field issues
Education
MBA - Marketing Management And Research
Ramachandran International Institute of Management
Pune, India 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Engineering - E&TC
Deogiri Institute-Engineering & Management Studies
Aurangabad, India 04.2001 -
Diploma - E&TC
National Institute of Electronics & IT
Aurangabad, India 04.2001 -
Skills
Category & Sourcing Strategy
Vendor-Price Negotiation
Product Development & Market Research
Inventory & Forecast Planning
Supplier Management
Critical Thinking
Data-driven decision making
Relationship building
Timeline
Senior Manager - Buying & Product Development
Infiniti Retail Ltd - TATA CROMA
04.2023 - Current
Sourcing Manager
Reliance Retail Ltd
08.2019 - 04.2023
Senior Engineer
Innolux (Sharp)
09.2018 - 08.2019
Senior PCB Design Engineer
Shakti ElectroTech
06.2017 - 08.2018
NPI Engineer
Videocon Industries
07.2015 - 06.2017
MBA - Marketing Management And Research
Ramachandran International Institute of Management
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Engineering - E&TC
Deogiri Institute-Engineering & Management Studies
04.2001 -
Diploma - E&TC
National Institute of Electronics & IT
04.2001 -