BALAJI RAMAKRISHNAN

Strategic Finance business partner

• Doubled turnover to AED 700mil with 4x stores (16 to 64) in 18 months; with LFL growth of 15% (AED 600mil LFL sales)
• Successful integration of aswaaq Retail (AED 250m) acquisition
• Controlled critical P&L levers to ensure delivery of planned financial performance and improved LFL profitability by AED 35mil
• Omnichannel Business – led strategic partnerships with Top 2 e-com aggregators to improve Commercials by 25-30%
• Supply chain – improved on-shelf availability (500bps) and lower inventory days through Central Distribution Centre and OTB pilot program
• Strategic Planning: Advised Board and key stakeholders financial aspects for long term strategic plan, new market / brand and e-com strategy
• Feasibility and financial / commercial negotiation to enable pioneered brands tie-ups e.g. Eric Kayser, Emirates Flight Catering

Digital Transformation

• Grew Gross margin by ~5% through Transformation initiatives – ERP implementation (SAP ECC) rollout in 5 months,
• Digitized reporting in Power BI for decision making, automated tools including store feasibility, wastage control,

Finance Planning & Control

• Improved intake margin 3% by optimized pricing control, promotion management, synergies across aswaaq Retail and GMG supplier contracts
• Saved 7mil+ Opex and 12% capex p.a. in Procurement Cost through automation, centralization, vendor development and cost benchmarking

Governance

• Successfully managed audit for four legal entities - statutory and internal audit
• Drafted and reviewed company policies, DOA and process reviews across multiple functions including Procurement, Operations, Supply Chain, Inventory, Asset Protection, Financial processes and vendor related processes.

Strategy and Category Commercial Head – Apr ‘19 to Oct '20

Head Business Finance – Hypermarket - Oct ‘20 to Oct '21

VP Finance – Head of Financial Control, Tax, Treasury and Transformation (Shared Services) - Nov'21 to Sep'22

FINANCE: Vast experience as Business Finance, Finance Control (reporting, tax, treasury) & transformation. 950 stores; INR 5000 cr revenue

• Business finance : P&L ownership of India's fastest growing Hypermarkets ~Rs.1500cr FY22E revenue; projected path to 5x in 5 years
• Rolled out strategic e-com business partnership w/Amazon – finance, SCM & operations – grew 6x in value, reach 25% share in 2 years
• Treasury : Cash flow / treasury management to manage liquidity; Raised INR 5 billion bank funding in challenging environment
• Finance Transformation: Reduced finance team cost by 30% through org design, digitization and centralized shared services

Strategy & Planning:

• Lead P&L Annual plan / budgeting, performance management insights, MIS, business transformation (digitization and automation) and cost saving initiatives; Competitive analysis and performance benchmarking with industry
• PMO Project Midas - led large scale EBITDA transformation program by 400bps i.e. Rs.200Cr across P&L lines during COVID-19

Governance and Investor Relations

• Implemented ERP, review IFC requirements and set internal audit agenda to improve governance and controls
• Managed Investor relations, banks and rating agencies, shareholder and Board reporting to ensure sustained favorable credit rating

AVP (Head-Strategy), Director's Office - Feb '17 – March '19

M&A:

• Strategic sale of the Food & Grocery Retail business to a PE consortium backed by Amazon.
• Managed end-to-end process including roadshow, structuring, diligence, negotiation and post deal integration. Deal Value: ~USD 700mm
• Worked on bringing leading global fashion brands to India through licensing / distribution arrangements and M&A acquisitions

STRATEGY:

• PMO to MD to drive key strategic projects on revenue growth (Business of ~INR 60 billion), profitability & e-commerce initiatives;
• Project Managed strategic projects with inhouse / external consulting teams – opportunity sizing (growth), value discovery (cost) projects;
• Growth: Lead development of Long range strategic plan, growth strategy , M&A, implementation roadmap incl. KRAs and milestones

Investor Relation:

• Supported CFO in quarterly earnings review, press release and investor / analyst calls and conference presentations

“Outstanding Contribution” award from Group Business Director within first year - One of 5 individuals to win award

• Investor Relations and stakeholder management - Governance and reporting: Accountable to Board for overall P&L, Growth, Operations (incl
• Startup team), executing Growth Strategy of Manpower Services business by 8x in 3 years to Rs.500 mil.
• Operations : 5 major Distribution Centre operations of MORE Retail with ~ 1000 employees and serving 300+ stores

• Part of “Reliance Accelerated Leadership Program” and graduated to the “Career Acceleration Program” for top 1% of the participating employees (both sponsored by Chairman to develop high-potential leadership pipeline)

FINANCE/ IR:

• Worked with Investor Relations team on two quarterly results release and investor presentations for CFO

M&A and STRATEGY:

• M&A - Signed/closed deals: Sale of East Africa OMC: ~$350mm; Sale of US Shale Midstream JV stake: ~US$1bn
• Post-merger: Portfolio review of Network18 media to identify synergies / unlock value. Resulted in sale of non-core assets
• Strategic review of RIL portfolio - identified non-core businesses and originated M&A idea for sale of Retail verticals e.g. dairy
• Entry / growth strategy for Petrochemicals (identify value buy opportunities), e-commerce, digital and telecom businesses;
• Formulation of Payments Bank basic business model framework and roll-out strategy

• Part of Investment Banking team advising Board on strategic opportunities of leading groups including TVS, Apollo, Hindujas
• Completed Deals: Four transactions worth $200mn including private equity fund raise, M&A (sell side and buy side – sector agnostic - Consumer, Retail, Internet, TMT, Auto, Wind Energy); BD / deal origination: Secured four mandates in 2 years
• Promoted to Senior Associate in half the normal time from Associate level with independent responsibilities

• Initial investing team of new $500mn consumer focused PE fund
• Invested $15mn for a 25% stake in Trent's Landmark specialty retail chain; evaluated 50+ opportunities in Indian Consumer sector

• Advised on investment/capital structuring of financial transactions (Tax, FEMA, FDI, Company Law) to CXO level

• Rank: 7 / 440 | GPA: 3.82/4 | GMAT 760
• Dean's List Winner
• Merit List Winner
• ISB merit scholarship Winner (top 5% in batch)

• All India Rank 26 in Foundation
• All levels 1st attempt