SARAVANAN NATARJAN
Chennai
Summary
Experienced with team leadership, strategic planning, and operational management. Utilizes effective communication and organizational skills to drive project success. Track record of fostering productive work environments and achieving set goals.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager - Indirect Procurement
Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances
10.2024 - Current
- Overlooked indirect and CAPEX procurement for Butterfly, and also handled a few procurement activities for Crompton.
- Specialized in Marketing, HR, Admin, R&D, Finance, and Factory procurement.
- Plan, direct, and manage procurement activities.
- Develop a sourcing strategy and review RFPs/bids.
- Manage supplier relationships, and qualify new vendors.
- Lead projects focused on cost reduction.
- Execute category strategies, and manage the procurement process.
- Successfully completed four product launches in the southern states and received appreciation from the client.
- Conduct supplier evaluation, negotiation, and selection.
- Develop collaborative relationships with stakeholders to optimize sourcing and vendor management solutions.
- Developed strategic initiatives resulting in improved product delivery timelines.
Sourcing and Category Enablement Specialist - Media & Creative
Accenture Solutions Private Limited
06.2022 - Current
- I work as a specialist in Creative Productions Procurement. I validate and process purchase requests for internal and external customers, as well as create and manage the purchase orders.
- I plan, direct, and manage procurement activities, which includes sourcing strategy, RFP/bid review, and supplier management. I qualify new vendors for the requirements, and manage the complete procurement process for end users.
- I'm responsible for leading projects of varying complexity, including projects focused on cost reduction. I execute category strategies and manage the entire procurement process, which results in the best possible terms for value, quality, service, and delivery.
- I also oversee global sourcing for Luxurious Automobile brand. I'm responsible for supplier evaluation, negotiation, and selection. Finally, I develop collaborative relationships with stakeholders to strategically develop, implement, and optimize sourcing and vendor management solutions.
Assistant Manager - Media & Non-Media
Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre
12.2019 - 06.2022
- Specialist in Media, Non-Media, Digital, POSM, Merchandise, Events, Market Survey Procurement
- Validating and processing the purchase request of external and internal customers
- Create and manage the purchase orders
- Plan, direct and manage procurement activities including sourcing strategy, RFP/bid review, supplier management, etc
- Qualify new vendors for the requirements
- Managing the complete procurement for end user
- Responsible for leading projects of varying complexity including those focused on Cost Reduction
- Executing category strategies and manages the entire procurement process resulting in the best possible terms for value, quality, service, and delivery
- Ensure the benefits from the strategic sourcing process are sustained and extended during the period of the contract through ongoing improvement strategies and initiatives post sourcing
- Continuously evaluate the purchasing process to identify opportunities for improvement and streamlining
- Releasing the purchase orders (SAP based application)
- Managing suppliers like OMD, TBWA, Law and Kenneth, Digitas, TVS, One Direct, Perfect Relations, Edelman, Concentrix, Ipsos, Kantar IMRB, Car Dekho, Car Wale and regional vendors
- Managing and executing the SOW/Change orders / Addendum contracts with OEMs
- Governing the product delivery, GRN reports and Vendor payments
- Preparing and providing periodic spend reports and presentations for the business based on the audits
- Preparing weekly purchase reports with budget vs spent analysis report
- Budget planning and forecasting - Opex
- Preparing business reports - MS Excel and PPT which describe service quality and performance based on requirements
- Taking corrective and preventive actions for the Internal and External complaints
- Managing client and user escalations
- Work on continuous improvement activities to achieve quality services
Freelancer
Idea24
08.2017 - 12.2019
- Responsibility was handling regional brands like Lion Dates, Annai Food Products, Srinivasa Fashions, and Cavinkare.
- Working alongside the Media Head and providing communication solutions to external and internal clients.
- Serving as a part of the market expansion beyond metro initiatives and developing a successful model to assist clients in helping with marketing strategies, tracking competitive brands, and online and offline activities.
- Making and evaluating plans, getting integrations, and sponsorships.
- Coordination with creative directors for all kinds of product shoots and promotions.
- Maintaining a cordial relationship with the client's team and media vendors.
- Working with the digital team and looking for more innovative ideas to promote the brand.
Media Group Head - Investment Growth Path
OMD
01.2017 - 07.2017
- Joined as Media Group Head Investments
- Responsibility was handling brands like Renault, Home Credit, and SC Johnson Non-TV Buying
- Additional responsibility of HP brands - Printers, Consumer & Commercial PC & Laptops - TV, Print, and Radio & OOH - Planning & Buying
- Working along with AVP Buying and providing communication solutions to external and internal clients
- Maintaining cordial relationship with client’s team & media vendors
- Working along with digital team and looking for more innovating ideas to promote the brand
- Highlights: Holds the distinction of: Launching of the HP Stylus Laptop & OMEN Gaming Laptop and got appreciations from the client
- Identifying new opportunity areas - Digital & Analytical expertise - and building new business partnership with local Agency to drive business and revenue growth.
Manager - The Exchange
Mindshare
05.2016 - 01.2017
- Looked after Extension and OTC Brands of GSK
- Served as a part of Centralized Planning Team
- Deriving media plan approaches for Launch and sustenance campaigns
- Handling extension brands like Mother Horlicks, Lite Horlicks, Women Horlicks, Horlicks Oats & OTC brands like Voltaren.
Manager - Planning & Buying
DDB Mudra Group
08.2015 - 05.2016
- Was handling brands like Tata Gold Plus, Wildcraft, Duroflex, Kirtilal Jewellery & Ashok Leyland
- Have done AFP for the brand OLD TAVERN SODA, the program was Nuvve Bade Khilladi in Suvarna
- Have done promotional activities in Print, Radio, OOH & Digital for Tata Gold Plus - Shimoga Store Launch with a very limited budget and got appreciation from the client
- Media review of the brands (Quarterly/Half Yearly/ Annually)
- Inform and update client on competition strategy and thus providing appropriate solutions
- Motivating the team to deliver the best possible result for the client.
Senior Executive
Interface Communications Group
04.2014 - 04.2015
- Overlooked brands like Skore Condoms, Style Spa, Burnt Umber, and Lion Dates.
- Media review of the brands (quarterly, half-yearly, annually).
- Inform and update the client on the competition strategy, thus providing appropriate solutions.
- Got Lion Dates as a new client in the company for the creative work.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
Media Buyer
Lion Dates
12.2012 - 04.2013
- Handled all Lion brands, such as Lion Dates, Lion Squash, Lion Dates Jam, Mixed Fruit, Lion Honey, Lion Oats, and Lion Dates Syrup.
- Integrated 360 Media communications for the client consist of ATL and BTL activities.
- To be updated with new properties, value adds, and innovative ways of implementation in different mediums.
- Coordinating with ad film producers and creative agencies.
- Responsible for day-to-day client requirements and maintaining a good relationship with the client.
- Highlights: Holds the distinction of launching new products in the market, such as Lion Dates Jam, Lion Dates Squash, and Lion Dates Halwa.
- I have been part of a prestigious award for Lion Dates Jam in the Limca Book of Records, as the first brand to make jam with dates.
Ad Sales Executive
SUN Network Ltd
01.2011 - 12.2012
- Managed entire Delhi and Regional market
- Focused on acquiring new clients.
- Consistently achieved and surpassed monthly goals
- Well connected with the regional and national media agencies.
- Ensured implementation of various activities collections.
- Developed and implemented strategic approaches to sell a diverse range of media options.
- Signed multiple retail-level deals with corporate clients.
- Signed annual deals with national based agencies.
- Generated innovative strategies to acquire and expand business.
Education
Graduation - Commerce
Madras University
Chennai, TN06-2008
Skills
- Offline Media Planning & Buying
- Digital Media
- Proficiency in Media Software's BARC, TAM, MAP, IRS, BEROE & S2C
- Indirect Procurement
- Contract Management
- Strategic Sourcing
- Benchmarking
- Vendor Management
- Supplier Negotiation
- Internal & External Stakeholders Management
Accomplishments
- Worked directly with Nissan MD for the OOH campaign for the launch of Nissan Magnite in 2020.
- Have received multiple awards for CR performance in Renault and Nissan. CR performance was through 50% FTE reduction in creative agency which resulted in 35 MINR savings and yearly renewal of PR agency.
LANGUAGES
English, Hindi, Tamil: First Language
English: C2 Proficient
Hindi: C2 Proficient
Tamil: C2 Proficient
Timeline
Manager - Indirect Procurement
Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances
10.2024 - Current
Sourcing and Category Enablement Specialist - Media & Creative
Accenture Solutions Private Limited
06.2022 - Current
Assistant Manager - Media & Non-Media
Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre
12.2019 - 06.2022
Freelancer
Idea24
08.2017 - 12.2019
Media Group Head - Investment Growth Path
OMD
01.2017 - 07.2017
Manager - The Exchange
Mindshare
05.2016 - 01.2017
Manager - Planning & Buying
DDB Mudra Group
08.2015 - 05.2016
Senior Executive
Interface Communications Group
04.2014 - 04.2015
Media Buyer
Lion Dates
12.2012 - 04.2013
Ad Sales Executive
SUN Network Ltd
01.2011 - 12.2012
Graduation - Commerce
Madras University
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Watching movies., Playing cricket, Travelling
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Date of birth: 1986-11-12