Varun Patankar

Varun Patankar A marketing & sales professional with a keen understanding of premium consumer behaviour; fuelled by the promise of creating & scaling relevant consumer forward brands. Experience Founding Member – RUOSH (Sara Suole Pvt Ltd / Samar Lifestyle Pvt Ltd) June 2011 - December 2019 Roles Held: Head – Large Format Stores (RUOSH – Florsheim – Attilio) December 2017 – December 2019 Key Highlights: Driven 60% Y-o-Y Growth & 38% L-2-L Y-o-Y Led the 360 degree launch of a new mid premium footwear brand ‘ATTILIO’ in 4 partners (96 Doors) Launched Special EPP Range across Partners for RUOSH Responsibilities: Sales Target Delivery across 220 doors Channel Level P&L & EBIDTA Target Delivery Team Management – 2 Backend Members + 5 Team Managers + 220+ Store Staff Channel Marketing Responsibility Promotion Strategy + Team Incentive / Retention Strategy Customer Experience Delivery – Partner Relations Key Initiatives: Lifestyle ‘Step In Style’ Festival Sponsorship & Attilio Launch Team Incentives, Rewards & Recognition Negotiated Special Margins for exclusive ‘SMU’ Range with partners (45% STR) Cost Reduction Initiative Drive Employee Retention Strategy & Launch: ‘Samar Investment Plan’ Staff Rating System Development – ‘Samar Army’ Head - Exclusive Brand Outlets: Sales & Operations October 2016 – November 2017 Key Highlights: Overachieved the sales target by 3% H1 FY17-18 Led the launch of 6 new EBOs Successful New Category Launch – Large Leather Goods Responsibilities: Sales Target Delivery Channel Level P&L & EBIDTA Target Delivery Team Management – 4 Backend Members + 5 Cluster Managers + 100+ Store Staff Promotion Strategy + Team Incentive Planning Customer Experience Delivery – In-store + Post-sales SPSF Target Delivery Project Head - Uvanera (a women’s footwear brand) August 2016 – June 2017 Key Highlights: On Time Launch 1st Apr 2017 8% Contribution in Q1 FY17-18 Responsibilities: Market Research & Concept Creation Concept Viability Analysis Consumer & Pricing Research Product & Price Strategy Brand & Communication Strategy Store Experience, Staff Training Conceptualisation & Delivery Brand Launch & Sales Delivery Business Head – Online April 2014 – Sept 2016 Key Highlights: Tailored the Business Strategy Set up the Delivery Team Delivered 10X growth over 2 Financial Years (w/o cannibalising existing channels) 1st Company Level Out-Right Sales Deal 1st Channel Specific Product Range Conceptualisation and Production Responsibilities: Business Strategy Key Account Management Brand Communication & Promotions Vendor Management Margin & Term Negotiation Business Expansion P&L Responsibilities Brand Manager - RUOSH June 2011 - March 2014 Highlights: Released the popular ‘ Pity we don’t make shoes for women’ Campaign Led Contextual Communication Change in the Footwear Industry ‘RUOSH Cine Advertising’ Drove the Brand Collaboration Agenda Education: Degrees & Diplomas: Masters in Marketing: Australian National University, Canberra –Australia (2009-10) Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune-India (2008-09) Bachelors of Commerce (Marketing): Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce, Pune-India (2005-08) Diploma in Liberal Arts: Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts, Pune-India (2006-08) Certifications: Marketing & Analytics for the E-Commerce Industry: Indian School of Business, Hyderabad-India (2016) Key Account Management Programme: Indian School of Business, Mohali-India (2015) Passion: Board Member: Karnataka Rugby Football Union (2014 – 2019) Secretary & Player: Bangalore Rugby Club (2012 – 2019) Level 2 : World Rugby Certified Rugby Union Coach (2014) Level 1 : World Rugby Certified Rugby Union Referee (2014)