Sushil Sonawane
Nashik
Summary
Management professional with a strong track record of leading teams to achieve operational efficiency and measurable results. Expertise in strategic planning and process improvement, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence. Recognized for adaptability in meeting evolving organizational needs.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Category Lead- Seeds
ITC Ltd
Bangalore
09.2025 - Current
- Managing brand wheat seed sales, ensuring availability, demand planning, and market penetration.
- Leading new product development for Wheat Seeds (Private Label & Own Seeds) for ITC Seeds portfolio.
- Associated with PL & Own Seed product launch, enhancing product portfolio.
- Led vendor/organizer selection, seed production planning, and commercial negotiations for seed multiplication, ensuring timely and cost-effective production.
- Managing regulatory compliance, quality standards, and certification processes for seed commercialization.
- Trained sales and agronomy teams on product features and benefits.
- Created 5-year business projections and crop expansion strategy for private label and proprietary seeds portfolio, aligning with market demand.
- Worked with cross-functional teams to achieve goals.
- Expanding brand portfolio by introducing new crops such as Soybean under the brand sales vertical.
- Conducted comprehensive research and data analysis to support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
- Conducted ongoing market research and competitive analysis to possess in-depth knowledge of markets, procedures and customers.
Operation Manager- ITCMAARs
ITC Ltd
03.2025 - 09.2025
- Led FPO formation process across MH state, currently overseeing 150+ FPOs.
- Facilitated wheat procurement through formed FPOs, achieving 1.5% savings compared to ITC trader model.
- Achieved 60% growth in Wheat Procurement in 2025-26 through FPOs for MH while adhering to Quality parameters of ITC.
- Achieved 65% growth over last year in the Input seeds business through FPOs with 0% Sales return.
- 77% FPO Activation in the Output Business & 75% in Input business.
- Established Agriculture Input Model for FPOs under ITC-MAARS for selling Seeds, CPCN & fertilizer through FPOs.
- Managed Credit business through Providing Credit to FPOs and to their Farmers under ITC-MAARS through banking partner and GTM activities.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Created strategic plans to improve operational efficiency and streamline workflow processes.
- Monitored compliance with laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Category Manager
Agrostar
02.2022 - 02.2025
- Developed and executed the category strategy to drive growth and profitability, working closely with suppliers, product development teams, and sales teams to align cotton seed offerings with customer needs and business objectives.
- Launched 5 AgroStar Brands in Cotton in 2023-24 with GTM implementation.
- Conducted market research to identify customer brand preferences, informing product development and marketing strategies.
- Developed detailed sales forecasts based on historical data, allowing for proactive inventory management decisions.
- Managed a diverse portfolio of products, ensuring optimal mix between high-margin items and cost-effective options for customers.
- Monitored industry trends to identify new business opportunities and emerging product categories for expansion.
- Negotiated with vendors and optimized product assortments, leading to reduced inventory costs and increased profitability.
- Collaborated with sales, marketing, and support teams to ensure timely and budget-compliant product launches, enhancing market presence.
- Collaborated with sales teams to develop effective training materials that drove increased product knowledge among staff members, resulting in higher close rates.
- Maintained positive vendor relations to build strong partnerships.
Territory Manager
Bayer CropScience Ltd
10.2018 - 01.2022
- Collaborated with farmers, trade representatives, agricultural department officials, ginning mills, NGOs, and seed company employees to implement BT-Technology in cotton.
- Achieved sales goals and service targets by cultivating and securing new customer relationships.
- Cultivated relationships with key decision-makers, enhancing trust and loyalty across assigned territory.
- Cultivated relationships with key accounts in territory and provided support to drive customer satisfaction.
- Provided tailored solutions to clients, significantly increasing customer satisfaction levels.
- Demonstrated exceptional presentation skills during client meetings, showcasing product benefits and value propositions effectively.
- Managed operations across Jalgaon, Dhule, and Nandurbar regions.
- Conducted market surveys including demand estimation, hybrids growth and de-growth, illegal cotton, hybrid index, and dipstick surveys, tracking placement versus achievements of BT cotton sales in territory with 98% accuracy.
- Provided technical support and coordinated with 50+ Sub-licensees ie (Seeds companies) selling Bt Cotton seeds of Monsanto Technology
- Participated & leveraged Govt Platform, Sub licensee's platform for training to their Officials & farmers on Cotton
- Devised SWOT analysis of multiple Hybrids of cotton seed companies.
- Associated with Agriculture dept to educate stakeholder on IRM front and Technology perspective ( Ie.JDA, ADO, DDA, Dean of University, Scientists).
Product Executive
Dhanuka Agritech Ltd
05.2016 - 10.2018
- Led product and business development planning for new product 9(3) in Dhanuka portfolio by applying market strategies, conducting market research, performing primary surveys, and analyzing market and sales data, focusing on herbicide segment in Western Maharashtra.
- Streamlined product development process to shorten time-to-market and strengthen competitive advantage.
- Conducted interviews, surveys, and focus groups to gather insights into buyer preferences, informing product development and marketing strategies.
- Conducted market surveys across various crops and geographies to identify product opportunities and fitment, including carrot (UP), onion (Maharashtra, Bihar, UP, West Bengal, Orissa, Rajasthan), sugarcane (Maharashtra, UP), and others.
- Worked in Herbicide segment for North & East India Trained field sales team, farmers for upcoming new products.
- Conducted demo and field days, and farmer meetings for herbicide and insecticide products.
- Conducted market surveys, demos, field days, and farmer meetings for 9(3) herbicides.
- Advising and coordinating with the publicity team for finalization of label of new products - Herbicide.
- Established pricing strategies that maximize profits while remaining competitive in the marketplace.
Summer Intern
Dhanuka Agritech Ltd
05.2015 - 07.2015
- Conducted survey on Targa Super and Agil to assess market positioning and identify improvement opportunities.
- This project includes study of Targa Super and Agil molecule Markets in Satana, Malegaon,Kalwan, Nandgaon pockets of Nasik District to be able to get suggestions for Targa Super volume improvement.
- Studied current market scenario of Targa Super and competitive product Agil Herbicide.
- Evaluated perceptions of over 60 dealers, sub-dealers, and farmers regarding Targa Super to inform marketing strategies.
- Developed comprehensive marketing strategy for Dhanuka Agritech Ltd. to enhance product visibility and market penetration.
- Gained valuable industry knowledge through attending seminars, workshops, and conferences related to the field of expertise during the summer internship program.
- Maintained a strong work ethic and positive attitude throughout the summer internship program, earning recognition from supervisors for outstanding performance and commitment to team success.
- Managed multiple tasks and met deadlines during the internship.
Education
PGDM - Agri Business Management
VAMNICOM - Pune (MH)
Pune (MH)04-2016
Bsc. Agriculture -
College Of Agriculture.
Baramati, Pune (MH)05-2014
Skills
- Product development and management
- New product development
- Market research and analysis
- Category development
- Market positioning
- Business strategy
- Data analysis
- Complex problem solving
- Decision-making
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Team leadership
- Time management
- Relationship building
Accomplishments
BAYER - BAYCHAMP Award - 2020 and 2021.
Hobbies
1) To Play Basketball & Cricket
2) Photography
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Marathi
Additional Information
- Winner of prestigious award of BAYCHMP in Gold Category for Best performance in the year 2020
- Winner of BAYCHAMP in Silver Category for best Performance in the year 2021.
- Winner of prestigious award from "AGROSTAR- MADE IT DIFFERENCE" for exceptional growth achievement in Cotton Business- 2022-23
- "CHAMPION of The Quarter" Award for Cotton sales in 2023-24
Timeline
Category Lead- Seeds
ITC Ltd
09.2025 - Current
Operation Manager- ITCMAARs
ITC Ltd
03.2025 - 09.2025
Category Manager
Agrostar
02.2022 - 02.2025
Territory Manager
Bayer CropScience Ltd
10.2018 - 01.2022
Product Executive
Dhanuka Agritech Ltd
05.2016 - 10.2018
Summer Intern
Dhanuka Agritech Ltd
05.2015 - 07.2015
PGDM - Agri Business Management
VAMNICOM - Pune (MH)
Bsc. Agriculture -
College Of Agriculture.