Praveen Rao

Praveen Rao Mob: -; Email:-PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Founder and Director, India June 2015 – till date Grow Store Services Private Limited (Bangalore) – Technology Start-up focussed on retail inventory tracking app called Count.  Build business plans and pitch to VCs, PEs  Generated global marketing plan and go-to market strategy including all Digital, ATL and BTL activities  Built branding and design led approach for the app  Manage product development with UI/UX designers, developers (Android and ios platforms)  Build and manage alliances for SDKs  Customer facing sales and feedback generation  Pitched the product to Louis Philippe, Wildcraft, Chamundi Silks etc. Managing Director, India Dec 2012 – May 2015 ElecoSoft India Private Limited (London/Bangalore) – An AIM listed, INR 630 Crore Software and Building Systems Company with subsidiaries in the UK, India, South Africa, Sweden and Germany.  Originate sales, manage P&L for the Asian subsidiary Built a team of 8 employees in the Asian start-up  PR face and evangelist for ElecoSoft in the construction software sector  Set up an all-India reseller and channel sales network for software products  Reported to the UK Board Achievements  Sales from 0 to INR 65 crores  Built a team from scratch and led sales, marketing (ATL, BTL and Digital) and operations. Team was spread across India, Singapore and Philippines  Business development ensured a stellar client roster of real estate clients including Godrej, TATA, Total Environment, Lodha Group etc.  Online lead generation and digital push in order to keep a lean opex  Established a brand recall with all major real estate players in India.  Pipeline developed to the tune of INR 280 crores  Global Marketing Manager Nov 2011 – Nov 2012 Aspect Enterprise Solutions Limited (London) – A privately held INR 890 Crore Global Commodities Software Company with 350 employees  Responsible for marketing strategy, design and execution of ATL, BTL and Digital activities and lead generation efforts (B2B)  Product Management and marketing of AspectDSC solution to commodity trading houses  Build strategic alliances and partners to grow the AspectDSC solution  Manage and mentor 2 marketing executives and 3 sales executives Achievements  Increased monthly online lead generation by about 15%  Increased brand presence in China, Russia and US markets  Roped in Eloqua - a new marketing automation management system and integrated it with Salesforce leading to complete marketing automation  Customer retention increased by 18% due to the automation  Brought in MABUX and ARGUS two key data partners into AspectDSC resulting in a 15% increase of client signups Global Digital Marketing Manager Nov 2009 – Oct 2011 Temenos SA (London) – A SIX listed, INR 6600 Crore Banking Software Company with over 56 offices globally and 3,500 employees.  Managed a marketing budget of INR 40 Crores  Led Digital Marketing globally but responsibilities included ATL, BTL and Go-TO Market planning and execution  Managed and mentored 2 marketing executives, 2 graphic designers, 2 SEO/PPC executives and a data executive Achievements  Increased online lead generation by about 35% in just one year  Created a stand-alone business unit “Temenos Learning” in less than a year turning in revenues of about INR 90 Crores  Modified the main Temenos website and created 4 regional language microsites and increased visitor traffic by about 40% leading to Inside Sales qualifying almost INR 700 Crores pipeline globally  Changed and implemented a new email management system to ensure company-wide cultural change  Initiated a Salesforce CRM implementation process in an organisation that had no CRM system or database management resulting in a globally transparent sales team and better sales analytics  Segmented and created a target audience road map in order to firm up global marketing strategy that is still in use  Developed digital marketing strategy and successfully gained consensus to support existing business goals of reaching $1 billion in the next 3 years Group Marketing Manager Sep 2007 – Sep 2009 Eleco plc (London) – An AIM listed, INR 630 Crore Software and Building Systems Company with subsidiaries in the UK, India, South Africa, Sweden and Germany.  Overhauling of all ATL, BTL, Digital marketing practices of 13 subsidiaries, including internal communication strategies to bring brand-led thinking  Managed marketing strategies for Software and Building Systems divisions  In charge of Investor Relations communication strategy  Initiated and built an online platform to ensure regular updates from all subsidiaries to implement in all marketing outputs  Lead subsidiaries in customer retention strategies and upselling from existing customers Achievements  Rebranded four subsidiaries in just one year – Downer, 3D Architect, Eleco Timber Frame, Eleco Visualisation  Commissioned and changed 8 websites in a span of one year  Outsourced design and advertising requirements thus cutting turn-around-time, and costs by 26%  Developed branding, vision and messaging for holding company in order to be seen cohesively by analysts and the city audience  Increased web visits for 3D Architect from 100 to 20000 visitors a month purely by online marketing efforts  Developed Market entry strategy for Asia Pacific regions single-handedly including identifying potential JV partners and a road map for the next 2 years Director - Marketing and Business Development (Contract role) Oct 2006 – Sep 2007 Cynosure International Group (Glasgow, UK) – An INR 180 Crore leading, Asian premium health and hospitality venture into health tourism and hospitality.  Research, analyse, and develop strategic market-entry options into the UK and European markets Lead all business development opportunities including lead generation, business alliances, JV and external funding efforts  Responsible for building and managing a marketing budget of INR 10 Crores  Research and develop investment strategies for the overall group to grow and diversify  Manage a 3-member team based in India and reported to the Chairman and MD Achievements  Successfully created consensus for a digital marketing strategy with key stakeholders  Built a pipeline of INR 170 Crores of which 50% was converted  Organised over 5 events in Asia for generating brand exposure  Built a network of travel and tourism operators as affiliates for the proposition  Built a road map for the brand in the European market  Marketing Consultant (Contract role) Jan 2006 – Sep 2006 Alfred McAlpine Business Services (Glasgow, UK) – A BU of Carillion (INR 3500 Crores), providing solutions to the built environment in the areas of facilities management, asset management and outsourcing services. Achievements  Successfully developed an Integrated Marketing Communications’ Management strategy covering ATL, BTL, Digital and internal communications  Initiated a brand audit study for insights that has now become a benchmark in the business  Segmented the target market into focussed verticals in different sectors according to spends and buying cycles  Introduces Email automation and CRM system into the business unit  Helped reduce costs by about 15% in the marketing spend by integrating teams and processes Associate Creative Director Jan 2003 – Aug 2005 MAA Communications Bozell Limited (Bangalore) – An Integrated Marketing Communications agency, part of the Interpublic Group, which provides marketing and strategic communication solutions to blue chip clients.  Led creative teams to plan and develop strategic and creative communication solutions for a varied clientele in software, pharma, automobiles and QSR verticals  Developed marketing strategy, market research & sales programs, branding and positioning for clients who needed 360° solutions including online media  Analysed and interpreted marketing research data to develop suitable creative strategies for clients  Worked closely with strategic planners, made new business pitches and reported to the Senior VP  Recruitment, management and mentoring of 6 creative professionals Account Manager (2 Reports) Jan 1999 - Dec 2002 Synopsis Design Consultants (Bangalore) Education Master of Business Administration (MBA) – November 2006 University of Strathclyde Graduate School of Business, Glasgow, UK Specialisation: Integrated Marketing Communications Corporate Strategy, New Venture Creation Management, Programme & Project Management, Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) – April 2003 Bangalore University, Bangalore, India Specialisation: Marketing and Finance Major achievements      Alfred McAlpine Scholar 2005 at the Strathclyde Graduate School of Business Founder member of the Strathclyde Business Forum at the University of Strathclyde Achieved third place in the Annual Scottish Business Strategy Challenge 2006 held at Glasgow Founder and ex-secretary for Collective Chaos, an independent and non-profit organization for alternative filmmaking and the first film collective in India. Was instrumental in hosting the first ‘International Short Film Festival’ & the ‘NEW’ film festival in Bangalore Managed P&L and reporting for a project at Concern India Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation funded by SAP Labs.