Arnab Chatterjee : Focussing On Food And Wellness Through Sharp Insight Driven Brand & GTM Strategy
Arnab Chatterjee
CEO
Few practitioners lead with a strategic mindset and an understanding of the consumer experience; who can create brands that are culturally authentic and future proofed in a commercial way. This combination of intuition, discipline, and long-term brand thinking is what characterizes the leadership style of Arnab Chatterjee, CEO, UMA Global Foods.
Arnab brings to the table 30 years of experience having worked with several of the most reputable global FMCG and food brands such as Britannia, Nestle, and Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Nissin Foods, Unibic Biscuits and Mother Recipe group.
Throughout his years, he has managed to establish and grow businesses, introduce market-defining products, run P&L operations, distribute all over India, the SAARC, Southeast Asia, setting up operations in two African countries, and carried out successful brand turnarounds.
Currently as the CEO of multinational in Singapore that specializes in nutrition and wellness, UMA Global, Arnab uses his vast experience in developing sustainable consumer-centric brands, market-growth and enhancing the mission of providing healthy and nutritional experiences to its customers worldwide.
We are delighted to engage in an exclusive interview with Arnab, who takes us through his extensive professional journey and insights on leadership.
What is your vision for the future of community nutrition and wellness initiatives?
Nutrition and wellness will remain central to India’s future, given the rise in lifestyle-related health risks.
I focus on strengthening access to healthier food through nutrition-led product innovation at Uma Global Foods. Our
founders and team were deeply involved to develop a 40 percent millet content atta, high protein atta, sugar control atta, etc. At Unibic, we were the first to introduce Indian-made sugarfree cookies, multigrain cookies, oats and digestive cookies. We also launched Chavanprash cookies which was a pathbreaking innovation about a decade back.
What quality control measures have you implemented to ensure the highest product standards in the food and nutrition industry?
We follow best-in-class quality control practices that go beyond basic compliance requirements. In addition to meeting all Indian regulatory standards, we proactively pursue internationally recognized certifications to ensure our processes and products align with global benchmarks.
For example, our facilities have secured some of the highest certifications awarded by reputed authorities across the world. This dual commitment to national and international standards ensures that we consistently deliver products of the highest quality in the food and nutrition industry.
What guidelines or methodologies do you follow to successfully lead your team?
Effective leadership cannot be defined by a single style; it must adapt to the situation. In fast-growing or resource-constrained environments, a leader needs to be hands-on, execution-driven, and closely involved in day-to-day operations.
In more mature organizations, the focus shifts to strategic thinking: identifying growth oppor -tunities, expanding channels, entering new markets, and driving innovation.
What are your views on integrating Gen Z into the workforce?
I believe integrating Gen Z into the workforce is essential for any organization’s long-term growth. As senior employees progress into advanced roles, fresh talent becomes vital to sustain momentum and innovation.
In every assignment, have focused on actively recruit young professionals through structured engagement with selected management institutes. Each year, based on our requirements and budget, we hire graduates who bring new perspectives, energy, and skill sets. This approach ensures a continuous pipeline of capable young talent while aligning with the organization’s evolving needs.
How do you stay updated on current industry trends?
Staying updated with industry trends is essential for any leader.
What quality control measures have you implemented to ensure the highest product standards in the food and nutrition industry?
We follow best-in-class quality control practices that go beyond basic compliance requirements. In addition to meeting all Indian regulatory standards, we proactively pursue internationally recognized certifications to ensure our processes and products align with global benchmarks.
For example, our facilities have secured some of the highest certifications awarded by reputed authorities across the world. This dual commitment to national and international standards ensures that we consistently deliver products of the highest quality in the food and nutrition industry.
What guidelines or methodologies do you follow to successfully lead your team?
Effective leadership cannot be defined by a single style; it must adapt to the situation. In fast-growing or resource-constrained environments, a leader needs to be hands-on, execution-driven, and closely involved in day-to-day operations.
In more mature organizations, the focus shifts to strategic thinking: identifying growth oppor -tunities, expanding channels, entering new markets, and driving innovation.
What are your views on integrating Gen Z into the workforce?
I believe integrating Gen Z into the workforce is essential for any organization’s long-term growth. As senior employees progress into advanced roles, fresh talent becomes vital to sustain momentum and innovation.
In every assignment, have focused on actively recruit young professionals through structured engagement with selected management institutes. Each year, based on our requirements and budget, we hire graduates who bring new perspectives, energy, and skill sets. This approach ensures a continuous pipeline of capable young talent while aligning with the organization’s evolving needs.
How do you stay updated on current industry trends?
Staying updated with industry trends is essential for any leader.
I believe ‘Continuous Learning Is The New Currency’ and I consistently invest in upgrading my skills through targeted certification courses, especially in areas like digital and AI. I also maintain a habit of extensive reading across disciplines to broaden my perspective. Additionally, I attend curated industry forums to understand emerging developments and engage in both mentorship and reverse mentoring. These practices help me stay relevant, informed, and adaptable in a rapidly evolving environment.
What future roadmap have you envisioned for yourself?
My future roadmap is centered on building strong, sustainable brands, particularly in the nutrition and wellness space. I aim to create brands that are resilient, impactful, and capable of enduring long beyond my tenure. Establishing such lasting value is the legacy I hope to work toward, and while the outcome may evolve, this remains the direction I am committed to pursuing.
What advice would you like to pass on to the upcoming leaders of tomorrow?
The most important advice I would offer future leaders is to embrace mistakes as part of growth. A CV highlights achievements, but real development comes from acknowledging and learning from failures. If someone is not making mistakes, it often means they are not pushing themselves hard enough. Young professionals especially should take risks, explore boldly, and use every setback as an opportunity to improve. This mindset builds resilience, confidence and long-term leadership capability.
Arnab Chatterjee, Chief Executive Officer, UMA Global Foods: a 100 percent subsidiary of UGF Singapore
Arnab blends deep consumer and market insight with strategic brand-building excellence, consistently transforming complex nutrition trends into culturally authentic, future-ready food brands that drive sustainable growth in the wellness industry.
•Hobbies: Reading, traveling, listening to music, walking, writing, playing, lawn tennis, and recently learning to play the key board.
•Favorite book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance? By Lou Gerstner, and The 5th Discipline by Peter Senge.
•Favorite cuisine: Cuisines from all parts of India
•Favorite travel destination: India
What future roadmap have you envisioned for yourself?
My future roadmap is centered on building strong, sustainable brands, particularly in the nutrition and wellness space. I aim to create brands that are resilient, impactful, and capable of enduring long beyond my tenure. Establishing such lasting value is the legacy I hope to work toward, and while the outcome may evolve, this remains the direction I am committed to pursuing.
What advice would you like to pass on to the upcoming leaders of tomorrow?
The most important advice I would offer future leaders is to embrace mistakes as part of growth. A CV highlights achievements, but real development comes from acknowledging and learning from failures. If someone is not making mistakes, it often means they are not pushing themselves hard enough. Young professionals especially should take risks, explore boldly, and use every setback as an opportunity to improve. This mindset builds resilience, confidence and long-term leadership capability.
Arnab Chatterjee, Chief Executive Officer, UMA Global Foods: a 100 percent subsidiary of UGF Singapore
Arnab blends deep consumer and market insight with strategic brand-building excellence, consistently transforming complex nutrition trends into culturally authentic, future-ready food brands that drive sustainable growth in the wellness industry.
•Hobbies: Reading, traveling, listening to music, walking, writing, playing, lawn tennis, and recently learning to play the key board.
•Favorite book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance? By Lou Gerstner, and The 5th Discipline by Peter Senge.
•Favorite cuisine: Cuisines from all parts of India
•Favorite travel destination: India