Business Head - Packaged Drinking Water

Location : Mumbai

Reporting to : Joint Managing Director & CMO

- The Business Head for the Packaged Drinking Water Division will be responsible for making the business sustainable, competitive, and profitable. This role requires a visionary leader who can develop and implement business strategies, plans, and tactics that maximize revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction. The candidate will be expected to balance short-term operational success with long-term growth strategies, moving between day-to-day management and future business building.

- This role also requires strong cross-functional leadership, driving collaboration across departments, and navigating a matrix reporting structure to align key stakeholders around a shared vision and growth roadmap.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & Business Growth:

- Develop and execute a comprehensive Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy to achieve strategic objectives, focusing on revenue, market share, and profitability.

- Take ownership of the Top line and Bottom line for the business.

- Lead the development of a 2-year and 5-year business roadmap, ensuring sustainable growth and market leadership.

- Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including expanding distribution networks into new markets, cities, and towns.

- Balance operational focus on today's business with the strategic vision of future market growth.

2. Franchise Operations:

- Build and strengthen the Franchisee network (Manufacturing and Distribution), ensuring alignment with the business plan.

- Develop strong relationships with franchisees, offering support on technical and commercial matters.

- Work with franchisees and technical teams to evaluate capacity utilization, quality, and cost-saving measures, ensuring operational efficiency.

- Regularly conduct reviews of franchisee performance in collaboration with the Sales and Technical teams.

3. Customer-Centric Approach:

- Customer-First Strategy: Lead efforts to instill a customer-first approach, focusing on delivering superior customer experiences across all touchpoints.

- Develop strategies to increase customer satisfaction and drive long-term loyalty through targeted product offerings and service improvements.

- Explore new customer segments and channels, such as HoReCa, airlines, and corporate sales, while maintaining a high presence in traditional retail markets.

4. Cross-Functional Leadership:

- Foster a culture of collaboration across functions, working closely with departments such as Sales, Marketing, Technical, R&D, Supply Chain, and Finance to drive business success.

- Matrix Reporting: Effectively manage relationships and align priorities across different teams and functions, navigating the complexities of a matrix structure to ensure seamless coordination and execution.

- Ensure cross-departmental collaboration for delivering against strategic objectives, maximizing operational efficiency, and supporting innovation.

5. Market Analysis & Competitive Strategy:

- Analyze market trends, identify new opportunities, and devise strategies to counter competition.

- Drive product innovation and differentiation based on customer insights and market needs.

- Regularly review key marketing metrics and promotional effectiveness to ensure strong ROI on marketing spends.

6. People & Capability Development:

- Lead efforts to build a high-performing team, focusing on capability building, training, and succession planning.

- Ensure the training and development of both franchisee teams and internal staff to maintain a competitive edge.

- Promote a culture of employee satisfaction, encouraging engagement and workforce development.

7. P&L Responsibility:

- Responsible for managing the P&L for the Packaged Drinking Water Division, ensuring sustained revenue and profit growth.

- Lead efforts in cost management and work with technical and supply chain teams to optimize product costs.

8. Risk Management & Business Continuity:

- Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring the business is prepared for any disruptions.

- Develop and implement contingency plans for business continuity, particularly in supply chain, operational, and regulatory challenges.

We are looking for:

- 15+ years of experience in channel sales, business development, and franchise operations within the FMCG/Beverages industry, with at least 3+ years in a leadership role.

- Proven success in P&L management and business development in a distributed, multi-geography setup.

- Strong track record in franchise operations, ideally within the beverages or FMCG sector, with a deep understanding of market dynamics and operational complexities.

- Demonstrated ability to drive business growth, innovate, and achieve results in highly competitive markets.

- A strategic thinker with strong leadership, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

- Experience navigating matrix reporting structures and leading cross-functional teams.

- Strong understanding of market trends, customer behavior, and competitive landscapes.

Why Join Us:

- Be part of a growing, high-potential business in the packaged drinking water segment.

- Lead a dynamic team that values innovation, collaboration, and market leadership.

- A role with high visibility and impact, directly contributing to the company's growth strategy.

- Work with a leading brand in the Indian FMCG market with opportunities for long-term career growth.