SHANKAR PHANSEKAR

Nuvama Group (16 OCT 2017 till date) Designation- Deputy Vice President-

Pioneering Travel Management & Operational Excellence:

• Strategically led end-to-end travel services, from meticulous vendor management and contract negotiation with airlines and hotels, consistently securing optimal terms and substantial cost savings.
• Directed all facets of MICE procurement and event coordination, expertly managing destination shortlisting, planning, and flawless execution of annual corporate events and conferences.
• Authored and implemented a comprehensive, organization-wide travel expense policy, establishing clear guidelines and procedures that enhanced compliance and efficiency.
• Oversaw dynamic daily travel operations, ensuring seamless booking arrangements, proactive query resolution, and successfully managed escalations to guarantee timely and satisfactory outcomes for all travel-related issues.
• Orchestrated robust expense management and budget reviews, conducting regular analyses with Edelweiss entities to optimize travel spend and generating critical MIS reports for executive decision-making.
• Championed technological adoption, successfully implementing and promoting self-booking and expense management tools, driving employee utilization of digital platforms, and streamlining travel processes through automation.
• Drove critical automation initiatives, specifically for efficient handling and reconciliation of airline GST invoices, significantly improving accuracy and operational flow.
• Masterminded crisis management and communication protocols for all travel-related incidents, ensuring paramount employee safety and issuing timely advisories to maintain compliance and informed travel.

Strategic Procurement & Financial Stewardship (Non-IT):

• Managed a comprehensive All-India Procurement portfolio, with a sharp focus on Capex & Opex, Admin & Facility Management, Project Procurement (Office fit-outs), Corporate and Professional Services, and Logistics.
• Accountable for a substantial Rs. 70 Crore spend, effectively leading and mentoring a team of 4 procurement professionals.
• Spearheaded financial budget creation and management, robust financial reporting, risk & compliance, Governance, and stringent SLA Management across all procurement functions.
• Implemented a rigorous supplier performance review mechanism across all India regions, utilizing detailed scorecards to measure performance against agreed KPIs, track compliance, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Cultivated influential relationships with key senior business stakeholders, providing expert advice and guidance to optimize spend behavior.
• Ensured absolute compliance with global procurement policy by meticulously managing all procurement process documents and requirements.
• Expertly managed RFQs, RFIs, RFPs, and contracts across diverse categories, empowering the team to achieve highly efficient procurement outcomes.
• Redefined negotiation strategies, consistently securing superior pricing and contractual terms that delivered tangible value.
• Executed comprehensive supplier Contract Lifecycle Management, proactively engaging with stakeholders to identify and secure optimal supply solutions.
• Guaranteed high leverage in supplier selection, approval, negotiations, and performance management, underpinning robust and cost-effective supply chain operations.

• Managed operations for five departments: Ticketing, Leisure, Visa, Invoicing, and Supplier Management across Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi.
• Led ticketing team of 14 in issuing tickets, processing refunds, and managing staff travel.
• Oversaw leisure team of 3 for FIT hotel bookings, medium group handling, and car rentals.
• Supervised visa team of 8 in document scrutiny and online submission processes.
• Directed invoicing team of 10 to generate invoices for three branch locations efficiently.
• Identified suppliers while optimizing revenue and managing existing supplier relationships.
• Conducted product testing and implementation for three technology products across West and North regions.
• Ensured adherence to client policies by communicating budgets and SLAs to all stakeholders.

• Joined Musafir as an Asst. Manager Operations & vendor Management.
• Task is to set up operation team, assign staff role & functions.
• Vendor Management- I.e. tie up vendors like car, forex, visa, hotel contracting.
• Corporate fare contracting with airlines.
• Understand corporate need and Implementation of new process as per the corporate requirement.
• Set up a channel between operation team, accounts, sales team for smooth process.
• Also visit corporates with sales team to covert leads.
• Amend online corporate booking tool.
• To set up billing & invoicing process for corporates.
• Staff reported 12.
• Managing visa team. I.e. Dubai visas and other country visas.
• Train staff for international routings, systems, reports, client management etc.
• Implementation of targets.
• Escalations management, Service quality control.
• Prepare report- Call report, conversion report. Investor presentation.
• Responsible for cross selling the products like hotel and insurance.

• Headed the implant location for PWC India (western region) with a team of 5 across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Pune.
• Managed international and domestic reservations, ticketing, visas, passports, and hotel packages.
• Coordinated MICE events for corporate clients.
• Tracked billing and invoice submissions, conducted MIS verification.
• Negotiated with hotel and airline suppliers.
• Built strong client relationships and ensured consistent service delivery.
• Managed staff, provided necessary training for smooth operations.
• Successfully set up a new travel/admin portal for PWC.
• Implemented customized processes as per client requirements.

• Led a team of 17 members in travel operations.
• Managed air travel operations, including online/offline bookings, deal negotiation, and API integration.
• Handled online escalations, MIS preparation, and reconciliation.
• Recruited new team members and built client relationships.
• Prepared reports and deals to drive business growth.
• Promoted and marketed the business in new markets.
• Managed budgets and financial records.
• Sold travel products and sourced destinations.
• Conducted familiarization visits to gather consumer insights.
• Liaised with travel partners for bookings and schedules.
• Ensured customer satisfaction and efficient business operations.

• Oversaw Implant Head operations at WNS Global Services, managing account payments and accounting processes.
• Developed business diversion strategies to preferred dealers, suppliers, and airlines.
• Utilized CRS Amadeus to enhance reservation and ticketing efficiency.
• Prepared cost-effective itineraries for global conferences, optimizing travel plans.
• Coordinated visa and passport issuance for corporate clients.
• Provided customer service support to address inquiries and resolve issues.
• Managed reservations for air tickets and hotels tailored to corporate needs.
• Arranged sightseeing excursions for corporate travelers during business trips.

• Led team of 18 professionals in handling ticketing operations for SKY BIRD TRAVEL.
• Managed international bookings and reservations to ensure timely service delivery.
• Issued tickets using Amadeus, Sabre, and Galileo systems for seamless transactions.
• Pioneered back office operations in Mumbai as first employee at USA's largest consolidator.

• Worked with FCm from last 01 year And three months as a Travel Consultant in Back office. Looking after all kinds of Travel queries use to issue 150 -200 tickets.
• Then started Handling implants and FCm branches and their ticket issuance and other queries. Knowledge of E ticketing both net base and GDS as well, Paper Ticketing, Airline fare rules, auto refund on GDS.
• Knowledge of Amadeus, Galileo both GDS system.
• Handles Implants Travel desk for 6 months.
• Making of Best Itineraries, Hotel and Car Bookings.
• Handled Passport, Visas and Forex.

• Worked with TCI's Chembur Branch in Back Office as Travel Executive. And having the responsibility of implants operation.
• Then again started to Work with TCI for 08 months in MICE department as Operation Executive at their Head Office i.e. Nariman Point.
• Is responsible for all event arrangement and other services.
• Venue Arrangements, Conference Room, hall arrangements.
• Looking after all event movements e.g. arrangement, event control etc.
• Handle Travel desk on different events.
• Sight seeing arrangements for Foreign Passenger.