Vivek Dhir: Leveraging His Global Experience To Yield Prolifically Efficacious Outcomes
Vivek Dhir
CEO - International Business
Engaging in an exclusive interaction with CEO Insights, Vivek throws a gleeful glance towards his illustrious past mean while hopefully waiting for his promising future ahead.
Tell us about the journey so far at Emami. What are the major challenges faced by you in your professional journey so far and how did you overcome those to evolve as a business leader?
In my current role with Emami, I have been able to drive strategic value to stream line the business, and expand it across existing and new geographies. By establishing a strong focus on strategy and its seamless implementation, we have delivered vigorous progression over the last 14 quarters and even managed to acquire & grow a five decades old heritage German Brand Creme21. Creme21 also added the vast range of skincare moisturizing products into our portfolio.
Another focus area has been to bring structural changes to business operations and launch new products suitable to compete in global markets. Introducing innovative changes, ensuring cost efficiency, releasing more money to build
ourbrands in different geographies and establishing stronger bonds with our customers & consumers, we have been able to realign and reorient company resources to build a strongersense of responsibility and accountability in the organization. We have also infused new talent across various levels to bring wider and focused expertise and drive stronger business growths.
What are the major drawbacks you encountered while working with Emami? Also, tell us about your achievements and thebusiness transformations you led via those achievements?
Driven by strong family values, the culture at Emami is very warm and welcoming to people. The company has some very dedicated and great talent, who are motivated with higher responsibilities and career prospects. However, sometimes we have come across individuals who have been in roles that may need to be reskilled, realigned and re-oriented to respond to evolving market situations. We worked extensively to reevaluate the best fit for the roles and reinforce higher account ability to drive a strong performance oriented culture.
Personally, it has been a pleasure to work with the founders and the promoter family of the Emami group to understand their vision for global expansion. To strengthen the base of the operations, we have worked on horizontal and vertical expansion strategy to drive robust growth. This includes a detailed evaluation of the existing business, including people, organization structure, brands, products, categories, geographies of operations, localized manufacturing and detailed financial planning.
As the CEO, what strategies have you laid to enhance the functionalities of the organization post-pandemic?How have the strategies implemented by you transformed your work culture and client relationships?
The pandemic showed us the hidden, unused strengths of the organization and righteousness of the new chalked vision by introducing a lot of agility into the entire organization with recreating of supply chains, with innovative and relevant products, revisiting cost structures, and using the status quo was the last resort. We implemented changes to respond quickly and effectively to the newly emerged environment. Without reducing any headcount and people costs in the international markets, we not only quickly recovered the business and profits in 5-6 weeks, but by end of the financial year 2020-21, we reached decent annual growths in both top-line and bottom-line. Our conviction on the business
We implemented changes to respond quickly and effectively to the newly emerged environment
What are the major drawbacks you encountered while working with Emami? Also, tell us about your achievements and thebusiness transformations you led via those achievements?
Driven by strong family values, the culture at Emami is very warm and welcoming to people. The company has some very dedicated and great talent, who are motivated with higher responsibilities and career prospects. However, sometimes we have come across individuals who have been in roles that may need to be reskilled, realigned and re-oriented to respond to evolving market situations. We worked extensively to reevaluate the best fit for the roles and reinforce higher account ability to drive a strong performance oriented culture.
Personally, it has been a pleasure to work with the founders and the promoter family of the Emami group to understand their vision for global expansion. To strengthen the base of the operations, we have worked on horizontal and vertical expansion strategy to drive robust growth. This includes a detailed evaluation of the existing business, including people, organization structure, brands, products, categories, geographies of operations, localized manufacturing and detailed financial planning.
As the CEO, what strategies have you laid to enhance the functionalities of the organization post-pandemic?How have the strategies implemented by you transformed your work culture and client relationships?
The pandemic showed us the hidden, unused strengths of the organization and righteousness of the new chalked vision by introducing a lot of agility into the entire organization with recreating of supply chains, with innovative and relevant products, revisiting cost structures, and using the status quo was the last resort. We implemented changes to respond quickly and effectively to the newly emerged environment. Without reducing any headcount and people costs in the international markets, we not only quickly recovered the business and profits in 5-6 weeks, but by end of the financial year 2020-21, we reached decent annual growths in both top-line and bottom-line. Our conviction on the business
model and structures have grown stronger after exposure to the pandemic.
How do you keep yourself updated with the recent industry trends?
Through my various assignments, I have had the opportunity of working in various markets across the globe, that allowed me to learn immensely. By reading relevant news articlesand macroeconomic indicators, it helps to stay updated with global developments and trends as a part of my daily routine. Also, having a strong listening ear and staying close to the ground keeps me connected to the pulse of market and consumers. As the industry evolves, our continuous efforts to form strong connections with the consumers whether in terms of habits and aspirations, media platforms and research reports,gives us an edge for understanding and delivering products & services that are focussed on strong insights. Our team therefore makes a continuous effort of understanding the needs of our consumers and service providers.
In your journey so far, which are the milestones that bestowed you with utmost satisfaction both as an individual and a CEO?
As a professional, the measure of my milestones is in terms of results for the organization that drives value for our business partners, distribution networks, suppliers, employees and most importantly, consumers. In my journey as an FMCG professional, I have been fortunate to get an extensive understanding of diverse consumer groups, global markets and sharp financial acumen to create a long-lasting value and strong brands that touch the consumer’s life on daily basis.
I have always tried to maintain the highest standards of unbiased fairness, transparency and accountability while conducting business. I am very proud of the innumerable strong relationships that I have forgedwith wonderful professionals, colleagues, co-workers and business partners who have all contributed to my learning, growth and development.
Vivek Dhir,CEO, Emami
Having done his M.Sc.(Chemistry) & MBA (Marketing & Finance), Vivek is an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, Indian School of Business, and Kellogg School of Management and has attended various leadership & executive education programs. Commencing his professional voyage with Dabur Group as a Management Trainee, Vivek has been instrumental in accelerating consumer consumption driven growths, on various assignments entrusted to him during his long tenure with Dabur. Having gone through various diverse roles in his previous assignments in areas of Marketing, Sales, and Business Strategy, Vivek is currently the CEO of the International Business of Emami Limited.
How do you keep yourself updated with the recent industry trends?
Through my various assignments, I have had the opportunity of working in various markets across the globe, that allowed me to learn immensely. By reading relevant news articlesand macroeconomic indicators, it helps to stay updated with global developments and trends as a part of my daily routine. Also, having a strong listening ear and staying close to the ground keeps me connected to the pulse of market and consumers. As the industry evolves, our continuous efforts to form strong connections with the consumers whether in terms of habits and aspirations, media platforms and research reports,gives us an edge for understanding and delivering products & services that are focussed on strong insights. Our team therefore makes a continuous effort of understanding the needs of our consumers and service providers.
In your journey so far, which are the milestones that bestowed you with utmost satisfaction both as an individual and a CEO?
As a professional, the measure of my milestones is in terms of results for the organization that drives value for our business partners, distribution networks, suppliers, employees and most importantly, consumers. In my journey as an FMCG professional, I have been fortunate to get an extensive understanding of diverse consumer groups, global markets and sharp financial acumen to create a long-lasting value and strong brands that touch the consumer’s life on daily basis.
I have always tried to maintain the highest standards of unbiased fairness, transparency and accountability while conducting business. I am very proud of the innumerable strong relationships that I have forgedwith wonderful professionals, colleagues, co-workers and business partners who have all contributed to my learning, growth and development.
Vivek Dhir,CEO, Emami
Having done his M.Sc.(Chemistry) & MBA (Marketing & Finance), Vivek is an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, Indian School of Business, and Kellogg School of Management and has attended various leadership & executive education programs. Commencing his professional voyage with Dabur Group as a Management Trainee, Vivek has been instrumental in accelerating consumer consumption driven growths, on various assignments entrusted to him during his long tenure with Dabur. Having gone through various diverse roles in his previous assignments in areas of Marketing, Sales, and Business Strategy, Vivek is currently the CEO of the International Business of Emami Limited.