Saurabh Maini
P&L Owner, Category Specialist, Channel Management, Business Strategy, Building Teams
Mumbai
Summary
Category, Channel and Revenue leader with 15+ years of experience across consumer, retail and digital commerce ecosystems. Deep expertise in Go-To-Market execution, multi-channel sales leadership and media planning spanning offline, ECOM and QCOM platforms. Proven track-record of driving competitive and profitable growth through data-led consumer insights, channel optimization and high impact investments. Strong cross-functional leader partnering with sales, finance, marketing and analytics teams. Experienced people manager leading large, diverse teams.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Customer Strategy & Planning Head | B&W
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
04.2024 - Current
- Own end-to-end Customer and Channel Strategy for a $1.7B portfolio across Skin Care, Hair Care, Cosmetics and Wellness categories
- Lead GTM and channel-specific growth strategies across GT, MT, ECOM and QCOM
- Drive Customer category growth plans with strong focus on digital, premium and emerging commerce platforms.
- Partner with marketing, media, sales, finance and analytical teams to plan investments to revenue and ROI outcomes.
- Lead and develop 35+ managers and executives, fostering high performance and accountability.
Consumer Cluster Head | Mumbai Pune
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
01.2022 - Current
- Headed a 4000 Cr (~$500Mn+) business owning revenue, execution and market share.
- Led multi-channel sales strategy across GT, MT, ECOM and emerging formats.
- Co-created cost to serve and channel efficiency models, making the cluster to be the 2nd fastest and profitable for HUL
- Drove culture transformation and built a consumer=obsessed, gender-diverse front line organisation.
Sr. Marketing Manager | Vaseline | Skin Care
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
02.2019 - 01.2022
- Led brand strategy, media planning and communication for a 800 Cr Vaseline India business.
- Delivered 10+ TV and digital campaigns, integrating media with commerce outcomes.
- Repositioned the brand to drive penetration across Tier 2 and 3 markets.
- Improved Gross margin by 200bps through portfolio and pricing optimisation.
Trade Marketing Manager | Skin Care
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
06.2017 - 02.2019
- Built trade and shopper marketing frameworks linking consumer insights to channel execution.
- Designed and implemented launch and evaluation models across ECOM, MT and Traditional Trade.
- Delivered 2 years of market-beating category growths.
Multiple Sales Roles | Modern Trade | Rural | General Trade
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
05.2008 - 05.2017
- Hands-on experience across diverse geographies and channels.
- Led mega consumer events, assortment optimisation and in-store premiumisation initiatives.
- Piloted sales digitisation initiatives for real-time performance tracking
- Consistently rated high on leadership and people development metrics
Education
MBA -
Symbiosis International University
Pune 04.2001 -
Skills
Online and Offline Channel Expertise
Strategy X Execution
GoToMarket Planning
Consumer Journeys
P&L Management
Building Teams
Interests
Distance Running (Half Marathons), Music (Amateur guitar player), Travel Coffee and Single Malt Lover, Sunday Cook
Timeline
Customer Strategy & Planning Head | B&W
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
04.2024 - Current
Consumer Cluster Head | Mumbai Pune
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
01.2022 - Current
Sr. Marketing Manager | Vaseline | Skin Care
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
02.2019 - 01.2022
Trade Marketing Manager | Skin Care
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
06.2017 - 02.2019
Multiple Sales Roles | Modern Trade | Rural | General Trade
Hindustan Unilever Ltd
05.2008 - 05.2017
MBA -
Symbiosis International University
04.2001 -