Rajesh Ramakrishnan is a nurturing and transformative leader with an illustrious 30-year career in driving business and people growth. With a proven ability to balance strategic thinking and operational excellence, Rajesh is known for effectively managing complexities to deliver consistent results with speed and impact. His personal mission is to “positively impact and inspire people”, and he leverages his vast experience to provide business consulting and mentoring, helping senior leaders unleash their full potential.
A distinguished alumnus of BITS Pilani (Engineering) and XLRI Jamshedpur (MBS), Rajesh further honed his expertise through the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD, France. His professional journey spans leading organizations like Reckitt, Marico, PepsiCo and Perfetti Van Melle including senior leadership roles in Marketing, Transformation and General Management. His last stint was as the Managing Director of Perfetti Van Melle India from 2018 to 2023, earning him accolades such as the Economic Times Inspiring CEO Award (2022) and the ET Ascent CEO of the Year Award (2023).
With his extensive experience across Sales, Marketing, Innovation, Business Transformation, and General Management, Rajesh consults organizations on key strategic projects, driving sustainable and profitable growth that is both business and people centric. As an ICF Certified Coach, he coaches senior leaders to excel in personal and organizational growth. He has coached people from diverse industries including FMCG, Energy, Services, Pharmaceuticals and Infrastructure across India, the UK, the Netherlands and Singapore. He has also been a mentor with BD Foundation for the last 8 years, helping women in mid-to-senior management roles to advance in their careers.
Rajesh designs and delivers impactful workshops for senior leaders in areas such as Leadership Development focusing on Mind, Body, Heart and Soul; and Lessons from Photography for Leadership, Team Building and Creativity. He has conducted leadership development workshops for senior leaders in companies like Nestle, Perfetti van Melle, PepsiCo, Brillon and ICICI.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Rajesh leads a holistic life fuelled by his passions for yoga, photography, travel, and trekking. He has embarked on challenging treks to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, and Mt. Kilimanjaro, embodying his belief in resilience and continuous growth. He is also an award-winning photographer.
A dedicated advocate for social impact, Rajesh is the co-founder of My Daughter is Precious, a non-profit organization that has supported the graduation of over 85 deserving girls, fostering their education and empowerment.
The session was really good. His candidness was so good. The perspective he gave us about his work at FMCG was absolutely different and new for us.
ICICI Bank for Rajesh Ramkrishan