PRASHANT KUMAR KOVVURU
Head Of International Buisness
Bangalore
Summary
A global sales professional with more than 24 years experience in International Sales & Marketing / Exports, Private Label Sales, Brand Sales, Business Development and Customer/Distributor Relationship. Rich experience in building and managing strong and profitable customer relationships across all continents. Global network of customers in food & beverage and alcobev industries
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Head – International Business
John Distilleries Pvt Ltd., Bangalore
04.2019 - Current
- Head and manage the company’s International Sales, Marketing and Business Development efforts for Paul John Single Malt Whisky and Indian Made Foreign Liquor brands – Original Choice, Mont Castle, Black Pelican and Goana’s Wine
- Identify, appoint and manage distributors in every country and strategically drive sales and ensure consistent business growth. Currently working with distributors in more than 50 countries
- Manage, guide and lead Regional Managers in USA, UK, Europe & India to drive sales across these regions
- Work closely with the Marketing team and Digital & PR team to implement marketing and promotional activities and digital campaigns in every country
- Manage, guide and lead a team of Assistant Managers in India to drive sales (for rest of the world), shipments and other logistics related activities, timely execution of orders as per customer/market requirements
- To keep developing and entering new markets / countries and successfully launch the brand.
- To keep identifying new channels to ensure sales growth
- Responsible for the overall profitability of the International Sales Department
- Responsible for devising annual and long-term business plan for every country
- Devise the annual budget & objectives, and ensure to achieve them
- In 2 years, successfully grew the International Business by 50% to USD 8mn, added 10 new countries to the list and successfully launched 8 new skus
- Report to – Chairman & COO
General Manager – Head – International Sales – Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Russia
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
04.2015 - 03.2019
- Manage the company’s international sales / exports, marketing and business development efforts in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions. Specific focus on developing the Private Label supermarket and Food Distributor segment of the business through profitable new customers, distributors and products.
- Strategically develop the Middle East, Africa & Russia markets – USD 10mn
- Generate sales and strategize business development in the Asia Pacific markets. USD 10mn in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand
- Generate sales and strategize business development in North America – USD 15mn
- Service a range of requirements in the retail (private label), food service as well as repack segments
- Work on new product initiatives based on market demand and internal capabilities.
- Devise the Annual Operating Plan for the designated markets based on previous performance and future plans.
- Ensure timely execution of orders as per the customer’s requirements. This entails appropriate planning and co-ordination with a cross-functional teams based on availability of all required raw material
- Devise strategic plans for market development based on agreed annual budget and operations & logistics requirements
- Plan, conceptualize and participate in various Food Shows held in different countries
- Continuously ensure personal and professional development of the team members
- (Food Division of the Avantha Group)
- Report to – CEO
- Team – 3
Deputy General Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific & Middle East
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
04.2012 - 03.2015
- Consistently grew the Asia Pacific and North American region by adding new countries, customers and products. Lead the team to achieve an average growth of 25% per annum in Asia Pacific
- Developed the Middle East & GCC markets in a span of 1 year starting from 2013.Roped in top foodservice clients. Started the business with USD 0.50mn sales in the first year
- Spearheaded the entire packaging development, apart from co-ordination on other issues, for the company’s strategic entry into some of the well-known Private Label Retail chains in North America and Asia Pacific.
- Streamlined the order servicing process and ensured improved customer service
- (Food Division of the Avantha Group)
- Report to – VP Sales
- Team – 3
Senior Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific, Europe & Russia
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2009 - 03.2012
- Generated sales with existing and new customers in USA and Canada, Asia Pacific, Europe and Russia
- Maintained and serviced North American, Asia Pacific, Europe and Russia markets – maintained customer relationships, ensured timely execution of orders, worked on new product initiatives, ensured 100% customer service
- Headed the packaging development section – developed new packaging by coordinating with the vendors and customers
- Customer Complaints: Communicated all new complaints to Quality Assurance etc. internally, worked on resolving complaints with concerned depts. by way of CAPA review, and send responses to customers
- Was a core member of the team responsible for launching the company’s own brand ‘honest’ in Germany in Oct 2009
- (Food Division of the Avantha Group)
- Report to – VP Sales
- Team – 1
Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2006 - 06.2009
- (Food Division of the Avantha Group)
- Report to – GM Sales
Assistant Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2004 - 06.2006
- (Food Division of the Avantha Group)
- Report to – DGM Sales
Executive – Sales – North America, Asia Pacific, India
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2002 - 06.2004
- (Food Division of the Avantha Group)
- Report to – DGM Sales
Key Accounts Executive
Vitage Systems Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
04.2001 - 06.2002
- (A Business Partner for IBM, HP, Cisco, Sun Microsystems providing hardware and software solutions)
Education
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) - Marketing & Systems
St. Joseph’s College of Business Administration
Bangalore03.2001
Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) - Marketing
Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Business Management
Bangalore04.1997
Skills
Leadership
Accomplishments
- Grew Private Label & Foodservice business in the Asia Pacific market @ 20% and Middle East market from scratch to USD 10mn in a span of 4 years
- Introduced new customers and new products to boost / increase sales in existing countries and developed new markets / countries with a clear strategy for the coming year and later
- Strategically developed and introduced one the biggest QSR chains in the Asia Pacific and Middle East region. This required a detailed study, plan and strategize end to end requirements
- Developed Japan Private Label market and strategically grew business by more than 100% within a year
- Successfully appointed distributors wherever required
- Ensured a successful participation at all Food Shows
- Spearheaded the team responsible for the website development and design
- Promoted and inducted to the company’s Leadership Team
- Successful in ensuring people development – professionally and personally
Timeline
Head – International Business
John Distilleries Pvt Ltd., Bangalore
04.2019 - Current
General Manager – Head – International Sales – Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Russia
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
04.2015 - 03.2019
Deputy General Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific & Middle East
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
04.2012 - 03.2015
Senior Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific, Europe & Russia
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2009 - 03.2012
Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2006 - 06.2009
Assistant Manager – International Sales – North America, Asia Pacific
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2004 - 06.2006
Executive – Sales – North America, Asia Pacific, India
Global Green Company Ltd., Bangalore
07.2002 - 06.2004
Key Accounts Executive
Vitage Systems Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
04.2001 - 06.2002
Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) - Marketing
Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Business Management
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) - Marketing & Systems
St. Joseph’s College of Business Administration